In the County Limerick in western Ireland, in the province of Muster

 “There was an Old Man with a beard

Who said, “It is just as I feared!”
Two Owls and a Hen
Four Larks and a Wren,
Have all built their nests in my beard!”
-- Edward Lear
====================================================================
(in County Limerick in western Ireland, in the province of Munster) A limerick is a five-line verse, either smart or silly, popularized by Edward Lear in the 19th century; yet there is nothing silly about County Limerick. The county is located in the midwest, which comprises part of the Southern Region. Limerick borders four other counties: Kerry to the west, Clare to the north, Tipperary to the east and Cork to the south. The River Shannon flows through the city of Limerick into the Atlantic Ocean at the northern end of the county. Below Limerick city, the waterway is known as the Shannon Estuary. Since the estuary is shallow, the county's most important port is several kilometers west of the city, at Foynes. (Limerick City is the county town and is also Ireland's third-largest city.)

+ Limerick county's low-lying farmland is framed on its southern and eastern boundaries by swelling uplands and mountains. Limerick city is boisterously urban in contrast and has enough historic and cultural attractions for a day's diversion. About 15km (~9.5 mi.) south of the city are the haunting archaeological sites around Lough Gur, while about the same distance southwest of the city is the cute thatched village of Adare.

+ Lowland Limerick is mainly a rolling landscape with a variety of glacial drifts diversified by hills, including a number of isolated volcanic hills. The peat bog that formerly covered parts of the lowland has been largely removed, and pastoral farming dominates. There are remains of round towers at Ardpatrick and Dysert, of prehistoric monuments at Lough Gur, and of numerous monasteries in Limerick city and elsewhere.

+ Excluding the city of Limerick, about half of the county’s population live in towns and villages. Much of Limerick lies within the Golden Vale, famed for its rich pastures and dairy products. Although County Limerick was not a traditional tourist destination, tourism became increasingly important at the end of the 20th century. (The county is served by the international airport in Shannon.)

+ Sitting at the mouth of the River Shannon, Limerick city is the third largest urban center on the island. It is also the hardest to pin down -- it formed a bleak backdrop to Frank McCourt’s autobiography Angela's Ashes, but it is now a revitalized city full of art galleries, slick new hotels, and the legendary Thomond Park, the home of Munster’s passionate rugby union team. One moment, you find yourself wandering through the Middle Ages at King John’s Castle. The next, you are in the Milk Market, a rejuvenated bazaar of fresh, local produce that comes direct from the producer. You will explore old Georgian townhouses, and perhaps then sip cocktails in the glamorous Marcopolo. (There is no way to put Limerick in a box, and the locals would not have it any other way.)