"My Mother's Hometown" a Limerick Travel Page by RickinDutch

Limerick seems to be made up of two groups of people. The affluent, that feel Frank McCourt was a great fiction writer, and the not-so-affluent, that know McCourt as a great historian.

I have family from both sides of the divide, but my mother relates strongly to Angela's Ashes as a very real account of her youth. She moved to the US years long ago, but I enjoy returning and exploring my Irish half and especially spending time with the many cousins living in Limerick.

Limerick is starting to soften some of her rough edges as the economic boom that has hit Ireland shed some benefit her way. The EU money pumped into the University of Limerick has made it into one of the largest and best regarded colleges in the country. Lots of new hotels and restaurants popping up and the young seem to be having an easier time finding work without leaving Ireland.

Limerick's reputation of "stab city" had more to do with a family fued than a general danger to the public. Regardless, the town was not a tourist spot because of their reputation. With the growth of IT industries around Limerick and the University real change had taken place. Just take a look at real estate prices! So much for my retirement plan.

I'm getting emails from so many people that correct what I've written here - hotel demolished, bars changed, etc. - that I need to warn any reader that these pages are more a memory than facts to rely on.