The Treaty Stone
If you want to understand Irish history in one small nugget---or rather, a giant limestone block overlooking the Shannon River and King John's Castle---then cross over to the Treaty Stone, close to the Curragower Restaurant. Limerick's nickname (the Treaty City) is derived from this monument, set upon a hefty, stepped plinth, the site where the Williamite-Jacobite War ended in 1691 after the last stand by supporters of King James at the end of the Siege of Limerick. After signing an agreement on the Treaty Stone that the Irish would be treated in a fair and dignified manner after their departure, Ireland's earls took flight to mainland Europe, leaving those remaining at the mercy of the conquerors. It didn't end well.
