SNIPPET: I was delighted to find many examples of delicate Limerick Lace at the Limerick Museum beside King John's Castle, Limerick City, on a recent visit to Ireland. One particularly beautiful example was a child's apron circa 1870 made entirely of lace. Many wonderful items and artefacts can also be seen in the museum dedicated to the memory of the late Jim KEMMY, Alderman, Mayor and parliamentary representative for Limerick, socialist, author, local historian, friend of the arts and founder editor of the Old Limerick Journal. Items include the ceremonial apron of Limerick Slaters Guild circa 1850; a Flint lancehead from Knockferina megalithic tomb, Co. Limerick, circa 2000 BC; a decorated bronze axehead from Curragh Chase, Co. Limerick circa 1800 BC; a photograph of Hunt's Lane, Limerick, 1933; a Limerick Soviet ten shilling note, April 1919; Jonathan SWIFT's "Gulliver's Travels" printed by Stephen GOGGIN, Limerick, c. 1809; the Flag of the Limerick Volunteers, 1775; a King John silver penny, Limerick mint, circa 1210; a fascinating 12th century Romanesque stone head from Peter's Cell, Kings Islands, Limerick; Limerick calfskin gloves from the early 19th century that are so finely made that they can be fitted into a walnut shell; a painting of the Exchange, Nicholas Street, circa 1820; and a miniature portrait of William Smith O'BRIEN, a Young Ireland leader, 1840s. The museum houses more than 40 thousand objects illustrating all aspects of the past of Limerick city and surrounding areas from earliest times to the present day. Owned and operated by Limerick City Council, the museum first opened to the public in 1916 as part of the city library in Pery Square. In 1979 it transferred to the renovated Georgian period John's Square in Irishtown, where it occupied the ground floor and basement of Nos. 1 & 2 on the north side. The collections of the museum were increasing rapidly, and the need for additional display and storage facilities led to its removal to the newly built granary-style building at Castle Lane in 1999. The museum was winner of the first Gulbenkian Irish Museum Award. Admission is free and is open all year Tuesday-Saturday, closed Sunday, Monday and public holidays. More info. www.limerickcity.ie