Limerick is the third-most populous urban area in Ireland, located along the picturesque River Shannon in the mid-west of the country.
Vikings founded the settlement around 812 AD to 922 AD. The city received its royal charter in 1197, making it older than the city of London.
Thomond Bridge is an old stone arch bridge over River Shannon, leading directly toward King John's Castle, a 13th-century fortress.
King John's castle experienced five brutal sieges during the 17th century, including the most brutal 1642, 1651, and 1690-1691 sieges.
1651 was the Cromwellian Siege that caused more than severe damage to the castle. General Henry Ireton led English Parliamentarian forces against Limerick, subduing the city through starvation and plague.