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Paul O'Brien

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Summerville Houseplaceholder image

The rich history and notable residents of Limerick's Summerville House

IF WALLS COULD TALK: Dr Paul O’Brien steps back in time at one of Mary Immaculate College’s most historic buildings

Paul O'Brien

Woodbine/Castleville/Violet Villa captured in 1956 with its fanciful white tower I PICTURE: National Library of Irelandplaceholder image

Limerick house evolves through two centuries with different names and owners

The Linwood Gallery of Pictures in Needlework (c.1810), Leicester Square, London I PICTURE CREDIT: Yale Center for British Artplaceholder image

The Limerick needlework exhibition that captivated Europe

From Fitzgerald and McGregor, Limerick County Gaol (1827). The elaborate gatehouse was not built as plannedplaceholder image

The Limerick born detective turned notorious highwayman of the 19th century

Bellefield House, c.1910. Showing members of the Ievers family in the garden I PICTURE: Courtesy of Karen and Norman Ieversplaceholder image

Bellefield House: A lost Limerick mansion and its remarkable residents

Conjectural drawing of Moylish House by Matthew Clarke, 3rd year student School of Architecture, University of Limerickplaceholder image

Moylish House: From longhouse to learning hub in Limerick city

Conan Gallagher only has eyes for the train set as he admires the incredible range of vintage toys       PICTURE: Kieran Ryan-Bensonplaceholder image

Limerick revives magical vintage Christmas window - If Walls Could Talk

No 37 Catherine Street photographed in 2003placeholder image

A Catherine Street home for notable Limerick residents who left their mark on lo...

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A Limerick nautical pioneer: The daring life of Lady Ernestine Hunt

Exterior image of Williams’s Stores courtesy of Deirdre Powerplaceholder image

Georgian gem awaits revival in the heart of Limerick city centre

Willow Bank, c.1930s. Courtesy of Norman and Karen Ieversplaceholder image

If Walls Could Talk: The rise and fall of Castletroy’s forgotten grandeur

Killeely House as it stands todayplaceholder image

Grace, grandeur, and generations at Limerick's Killeely House

If Walls Could Talk with Paul O'Brien - a trip down memory lane in Limerick

Paul O'Brien

As far back as November 1969 councillors eyed Little Ellen Street for pedestrianisation I PICTURE: Adrian Butlerplaceholder image

Little Ellen Street is Limerick's small lane with a big past

Baron Spolasco, c.1840 called himself the ‘Prince of medicine, the emperor of physicians and the surgeons’ king’placeholder image

If Walls Could Talk: The charismatic quack who bewitched Limerick

Clino Cottage (1970): Frank, Kathleen, Gerard, Derek and Joseph Mulcahy Photo credit: Dr Derek Mulcahyplaceholder image

If Walls Could Talk: A ‘good marriage’ and the beauty of Clino Cottage in Limeri...

I am indebted to Matthew Clarke, student at the School of Architecture, UL for the conjectural drawings, and Paddy Waldron for additional genealogical informationplaceholder image

If Walls Could Talk: Singing the praises of the Limerick townland of Singland

The only known image of Rockspring is taken from an aerial photo (taken in 1956)placeholder image

If Walls Could Talk: Manor was home to Limerick’s first anti-vaxxer

Eden Terrace, North Circular Road photographed during one of Paul O'Brien’s walking toursplaceholder image

If Walls Could Talk: Thomas Revington belonged to an ambitious group of pioneeri...

Aerial view of a portion of Ballinacurra Creekplaceholder image

If Walls Could Talk: Beautiful Ballinacurra has such a unique history

One of a pair of substantial gates and pillars at the Potato Marketplaceholder image

If Walls Could Talk: Trip back in time to the once bustling Potato Market

An early view of 19 Shannon Street, now home to Flannery’s Pub I PICTURE: Limerick City Museumplaceholder image

If Walls Could Talk: The early years of Limerick’s Shannon Street

Limerick Regional Hospital nearing completion in 1955 I PICTURE: National Library of Irelandplaceholder image

If Walls Could Talk: Regional Hospital Limerick was just what the doctor ordere...

The two inner rows show Taylor Street in 1955 I PICTURE: National Library of Irelandplaceholder image

If Walls Could Talk: Revisiting a long lost street in Limerick city centre Paul O'Brien

Late-nineteenth century middle-class interior of the Kennedy family who came from Limerick. Taken in Manchester I PICTURE: courtesy of Randel Hodkinsonplaceholder image

If Walls Could Talk: Ads provide a glimpse into middle class living in Limerick

Malcolm Hodkinson on O’Curry Street (1946) I PICTURE: Courtesy of Randel Hodkinsonplaceholder image

If Walls Could Talk: The first residents move into Limerick's Frederick Street

Long history of stately home in the city centreplaceholder image

If Walls Could Talk: Long history of stately home in the city centre

Typical costumes worn at nineteenth century fancy-dress ballsplaceholder image

If Walls Could Talk: Pomp and circumstance of Limerick’s early elites

Barrington’s Hospital and the Mont de Piété. Date and source unknownplaceholder image

If Walls Could Talk: The Mont de Piété

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