placenames.ie
County

Limerick

Luimneach

Limerick’s county history extends from an estuary boundary into inland districts with their own market towns and territorial names.

Recorded locationLimerick52.46994° N · 8.66139° WInteractive map supplied by OpenStreetMap.
Recorded place location · Logainm.ieOpen in OpenStreetMap ↗

The name

A reliable full-name meaning has not been established here. The recorded Irish and English forms are given without an unsupported translation.

Recorded forms

  • Luimneach · Irish · main form · validated name
  • Limerick · English · main form

Place & story

An estuary boundary

County Limerick lies south of the Shannon estuary, adjoining Tipperary, Cork and Kerry. The estuary connected its riverside communities with shipping routes beyond the county. [2]

Names within the county

Lewis’s territorial account records Pubblebrien, Owneybeg, Kenry and Connello among the county’s older district and barony names. His administrative description also records subdivisions of the large Connello baronies. [2] [3]

Folklore & tradition

Knockfierna and the cost of disrespect

Croker’s Legend of Knockfierna follows Carroll O’Daly towards Kilmallock. After seeing a traveller climb the hill to visit the fairies, O’Daly investigates an opening into their supposed dwelling. He throws a stone inside; it rebounds and injures him. The story, printed in the 1844 edition, associates the Limerick hill with supernatural danger and a warning against arrogant interference. [4]

Geographic information

Place type
County
County
Limerick
Coordinates
52.46994, -8.66139
Mapped area
2,755.36 km²
Logainm ID
100022 ↗

Population over time

County Limerick, including its cities

County population, 1841–2022

209,536people · 2022

0100K200K300K400K 1841: 330,029 people18411851: 262,132 people1861: 217,277 people1871: 191,936 people1881: 180,632 people1891: 158,912 people1901: 146,098 people19011911: 143,069 people1926: 140,343 people1936: 141,153 people1946: 142,559 people1951: 141,239 people19511956: 137,881 people1961: 133,339 people1966: 137,357 people1971: 140,459 people1979: 157,407 people1981: 161,661 people1986: 164,569 people1991: 161,956 people1996: 165,042 people2002: 175,304 people2006: 184,055 people2011: 191,809 people2016: 194,899 people2022: 209,536 people2022

Figures cover the whole county including its cities. CSO recommends this series for long-term comparison, although minor boundary changes have occurred.

View population figures
County Limerick, including its cities — census population
Census yearPopulation
1841330,029
1851262,132
1861217,277
1871191,936
1881180,632
1891158,912
1901146,098
1911143,069
1926140,343
1936141,153
1946142,559
1951141,239
1956137,881
1961133,339
1966137,357
1971140,459
1979157,407
1981161,661
1986164,569
1991161,956
1996165,042
2002175,304
2006184,055
2011191,809
2016194,899
2022209,536

Source: CSO F1001 — Population at Each Census. CC BY 4.0. Retrieved 2026-10-25.

People & family history

Census figures refer to the matched historical census area for each year. Boundaries and spellings can change over time.

Explore this county

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Sources & further reading

  1. Logainm.ie — Limerick. Place names and geographic record, licensed under CC BY 4.0.
  2. County Limerick — A Topographical Dictionary of Ireland (1837)
  3. Limerick towns and baronies — A Topographical Dictionary of Ireland (1837)
  4. Thomas Crofton Croker, Fairy Legends and Traditions of the South of Ireland: Legend of Knockfierna (1844)
  5. Boundary geometry retains its source attribution and licence in the downloadable geographic record. Map tiles © OpenStreetMap contributors.

Name record retrieved 2026-10-25 · Source record modified 2025-01-10. How this page was prepared.