Limerick City and County Council has just completed another phase of conservation to the medieval town wall in Kilmallock.
Funded by the Heritage Council through the Irish Walled Towns Network Fund, roughly 30 metres of the town wall on the west side of the town has been consolidated.
The Irish Walled Town Network was set up by the Heritage Council in 2005 to unite and co-ordinate the efforts of local authorities in the management and conservation of historic walled towns across Ireland. There are currently 25 member towns.
“In Kilmallock, there were two projects in 2008 and 2009 to cut back and control the vegetation and allow a more extensive survey to be carried out on the wall,” explained Sarah McCutcheon, Executive Archaeologist, Limerick City and County Council.
“In addition, since 2008, there have been 6 separate projects to consolidate various sections of the town wall under threat, over 340 metres of wall has had works carried out to it of varying types. These projects are vital to preserve the nationally important town defences that survive in Kilmallock,” she added.
The Kilmallock town walls were originally 1700 metres long and enclosed an area of 13 hectares (32 acres).
The walls and gates defined the town politically, economically and spatially, and to this day they retain a very strong influence in the modern urban environment.
Limerick City and County Council is committed to their protection and consolidation and to making them accessible to the wider public, both as a daily amenity and a tourist attraction.