Description
Garryowen is a neighbourhood in Limerick, Ireland. The word Garryowen is a transliteration of the Irish Garraí Eoin - "the garden of John" - and relates to the association in the 12th century between St John's Church and the Knights Templar whose house in Limerick was dedicated to John the Baptist. In medieval times Garryowen was located just outside the Irishtown area of the walled city of Limerick. The citadel (located in the grounds of St John's Hospital) was the Irishtown's main fortification. In 1690, it was the scene of a heroic Jacobite defence-the battle of the breach-which was fought nearby during the Williamite War of 1688–91. The sally port of the original stronghold has been incorporated into the structure of St John's Hospital. Other parts of the city walls can still be seen within the hospital grounds. The Citadel remained in use as a military barracks until 1752. St John's Gate was situated on the main roadway, nearby, but no trace of it now remains.St John's Cathedral is located in the area and dates from 1861 and has Ireland's tallest spire at 94m. St John's Hospital is located adjacent to the cathedral which dates back to 1780 and was founded by Lady Hartstonge and other benefactors as a Fever and Lock Hospital and treated epidemics during the Great Famine (1845-1847). St John's Square is located across the way from the cathedral and was Limerick’s first example of fashionable architecture and civic spaces and was completed in 1751. For a time the area was considered one of Limerick's most fashionable residential areas.
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