It is thought that humans established themselves in the Lough Gur area as early as 3000 BC, while megalithic remains date back further to 3500 BC. The arrival of the last Celts around 400 BC brought about the division of the county into petty kingdoms or túatha. From the 4th to the 11th century, the ancient kingdom of the Uí Fidgenti (Collins and O’Donovan) was approximately co-extensive with what is now County Limerick.

St. Patrick came to Limerick area in the 5th Century. Various annals record that he quarreled with the chief of the Ui Fidgenti (who, though hosting St. Patrick, had his horses stolen as he journeyed into their territory) but he was embraced by the chief’s brother.

Limerick city was established by the Danes in 922AD. The Normans captured Limerick in 1195 and built King John's Castle. They confiscated and then granted the Uí Fidgenti  lands to the Fitzgerald’s. Distrust by England of the leading Fitzgerald families precipitated a…