Westropp — Ancient Castles of the County of Lhnerick. 79 



capture C. by a mine from St. Nicholas' graveyard (C.S.P.I., 1672-3). 

 1691 In the siege a battery, ten guns and seven mortars, played on the 

 bridge and C. It was suiTendered with the city to Ginckell, and has 

 since been continuously used as a garrison. 



Fabric, — It Avas designed for defence towards Thorn ond and the 

 bridge, and was poorly fortified towards the city, till the strained 

 relations with the citizens compelled the Government in 161 1 to make a 

 bastion next the town. It has strong and lofty round towers to each 

 of the north angles. The north-east tower is well preserved ; but 

 the " Bridge Tower " is scarred by cannon shot, and the upper part 

 is removed. In the centre of the north curtain wall between two 

 half towers " is a fine gateway. There is a low round tower at the 

 south-west angle next the river. The other buildings (save the 

 curtain walls next the last-named tower) are modern. No detailed 

 plan or description of this most interesting fortress is as yet accessible. 

 For a striking sketch plan, see Pacata Hibernia. 



2. Thom Core. It stood in the Irish Town at the junction of 

 Mungret-street and John-street, and appears in the 1580 map 

 (Hardiman 57). 1402 T. Balbeyn, called " Cor," leaves in his will, 

 dated March 28th, my castle which I built in the suburbs of 

 Limerick," leaving it to the Corporation, if his brother Henry, of 

 Bristol, should not care to live in Limerick (Arthur MSS., Len., 

 p. 236). 1650-54 Capt. T. Holmes repaired Core castle at a cost of 

 £70. Also paid J. Tomson *'for repair of Tom Core C." (Acct. R. 

 12b 13). 1657 It was held by Dr. T. Arthur, and was then a 

 'cytadle" (C.S.,xxviii., p. 6). 1659 The C. and the three citadels were 

 garrisoned by 200 men (C.S.P.L, p. 687). 1668 Lord Orrery was 

 granted the front stone house adjoining Tho : Core's C. (Act. Sett.). 

 1696 A market house ordered to be built on the site of Thom Core C, 

 which is to be demolished (White MSS., Len., p. 295). This was 

 done at a cost of £210. 



3. St. John's Gate. 1657 "The cytadle about St. John's Gate . . . 

 a great stone house with a cross-house ; the great castle on the gate, 

 and a lardge waste plot " (C.S., xxviii., p. 10). It is also shown in 

 some detail in the 1580 map as a tower two stories high, with two 

 stepped gables, the gateway being underneath, 



4. St. Mary's House. 1630 " The little C. pertaining to the house 

 of the B.Y.M." was granted by Edm. Sexten to Eev. N. Lillies for 

 forty-one years (Inq. Chan. 219), along with a little close, and 40 feet 

 of the body of a ruinous church (St. Mary and St. Edward of the Holy- 



