Limerick Libraries has been busy digitising and developing its new local studies website at limericklocalstudies.ie.
Among the wide range of material now freely available on the site are 23 publications in the free digital books collection. These include Margaret Franklin’s Bibliography of Limerick, Tom Toomey’s definitive account of the history of The War of Independence in Limerick, Limerick City Street Names by Gerry Joyce, and Limerick Snapshots of the Treaty City and County 1840 - 1960, by Tom Donovan and Vincent Carmody.
The latter (here) is a heavily illustrated book containing informative articles about a range of industries and retail outlets, including Limerick's Bacon Merchants, Undertakers, Jewellers, Furniture makers, Brewers and Iron foundrys, and will be of certain interest to those with ancestral connections to the city.
Added only a couple of days ago is a rare book – Historical Notes on Adare, by Rev. T. E. Bridgett that was published in 1885.
Separately, there is also (here) the downloadable Histories of Protestant Limerick 1912–1923, a collection of ten original essays edited by Seán William Gannon (Limerick City and County Library Service) and Brian Hughes (Department of History, MIC) which explores the experience of Limerick’s Protestant communities during the Irish revolutionary period.
Family historians should also be sure to check out the Genealogy section of the site as this includes online indexes to the following:
- 1829 Freeholders in Limerick City and Environs (4,275 entries)
- 1837 Electors List
- 1885 Register of Electors (5949 entries)
- Trades and Street Directories, 1769 to 1976, of Limerick City and County (78,491 entries to 1969
- Obituaries: All notices of deaths contained in the Limerick Chronicle (and other local newspapers) from 1781 to 1951. The database consists of death notices, obituaries, funeral reports and news stories pertaining to the death of Limerick persons. (34,310 entries)
I could go on...
Dive in, but be sure to come up for air every now and again.