A Guide to Tracing Your Limerick Ancestors

Limerick is a pleasant, largely rural county with prosperous farms centred around the historic city of Limerick, and the market towns of Askeaton, Abbeyfeale, Kilmallock, Newcastle West, Raheen and Rathkeale. Popular Limerick surnames include Ahern, Bourke, Cussen, Hayes, O'Brien, O'Connor, O'Donnell, O'Shaughnessy, McEnery, McNamara, Madigan, Murphy, Ryan, Walsh, and Woulfe. Many of its people have emigrated, particularly in the aftermath of the Great Famine. Its population dwindled from 330,000 before the Famine to 158,000 in 1891. This updated edition sets out the records available, where they can be obtained and how to use each to best effect. It includes numerous illustrations.