Main song
Limerick - By the Shannon and the Stone
A warm Irish city song about Limerick, where Shannon water, Treaty Stone, castle walls, cathedral bells and Georgian streets come together in the living memory of the Treaty City.
County Limerick • Song
Limerick - By the Shannon and the Stone
A warm Irish city song about Limerick, where Shannon water, Treaty Stone, castle walls, cathedral bells and Georgian streets come together in the living memory of the Treaty City.
About this song
About Limerick - By the Shannon and the Stone
"Limerick - By the Shannon and the Stone" is a warm Celtic heritage song about a city shaped by river water and old stone. It follows the Shannon through Limerick's historic heart, past King John's Castle, the Treaty Stone, St Mary's Cathedral, Georgian streets, market voices and the living culture of the city. The song carries Limerick as a place of memory and movement: a Treaty City, a river city, a city of bells, bridges, art, markets and western light. Its chorus is gentle and uplifting, like a small anthem for Limerick, while the verses open the city piece by piece: Shannon, castle, cathedral, stone, market, street and song.
SONG LYRICS
Limerick - By the Shannon and the Stone lyrics
By Shannon water, by Treaty stone,
Limerick calls the river home,
Castle wall and cathedral bell,
Old city, rise and tell.
Where the Shannon widens to the tide,
The city stands by the river side,
Quay and bridge in morning rain,
Old streets waking soft again.
Not only castle, not only name,
But working doors and window flame,
A market voice, a riverside,
A living heart the stones still hide.
And the river remembers,
And the old stones know,
The quiet streets of Limerick
Where deep songs grow.
Limerick, Limerick, by Shannon's flow,
Where castle walls and church bells glow,
By Treaty Stone and western rain,
Your living heart sings on again.
Limerick, Limerick, through light and storm,
In Georgian streets and hearth still warm,
From King's Island to the quay,
Ireland hears your song in me.
On King's Island the towers still stand,
King John's Castle by the strand,
Eight hundred years of river air,
Stone keeps watch in silence there.
St Mary's rises, old and still,
Where royal ground met holy will,
Since eleven sixty-eight in prayer,
Bells have crossed the Shannon air.
Limerick, Limerick, by Shannon's flow,
Where castle walls and church bells glow,
By Treaty Stone and western rain,
Your living heart sings on again.
Limerick, Limerick, through light and storm,
In Georgian streets and hearth still warm,
From King's Island to the quay,
Ireland hears your song in me.
Across the river stands the stone,
Sixteen ninety-one is known,
The Treaty City keeps its name,
Through river mist and evening flame.
Newtown Pery streets were drawn,
In Georgian lines of brick and dawn,
Pery Square and city light,
Holding centuries in sight.
Not every strength is loud or proud,
Some lights shine softly through the cloud,
Christ-light under cathedral stone,
Mercy keeping hearts at home.
By work and prayer, by loss and grace,
The river gives the city space,
And every bridge from shore to shore
Remembers those who crossed before.
The Milk Market wakes with voices bright,
Fresh bread, flowers, morning light,
Three Bridges carry steps along,
Where Shannon water shapes the song.
At Hunt old treasures keep their place,
In galleries new colours wake,
Through art and street and river rain,
Limerick sings itself again.
Limerick, Limerick, by Shannon's flow,
Where castle walls and church bells glow,
By Treaty Stone and western rain,
Your living heart sings on again.
Limerick, Limerick, through light and storm,
In Georgian streets and hearth still warm,
From King's Island to the quay,
Ireland hears your song in me.
By Shannon water, by Treaty stone,
No old name stands alone,
Castle, market, bell and rain,
Limerick sings her name again.
Limerick, Limerick, river-born,
Through evening light and morning storm,
By stone and song, by bridge and flame,
Ireland remembers your name.
By Shannon water, by Treaty stone,
Limerick still calls her children home.
