Phase One of works on Limerick City Walls consisted of a Conservation & Management Plan for Limerick City Council & Heritage Council.
Walled towns are an important feature of the medieval Irish past and have helped to mould the country's present landscape patterns. The important historic monument known as "Limerick City Walls" has played and remains to play an intrinsic role in the everyday life of Limerick City and its hinterland. This monument is both an important recorded archaeological monument (an element of RMP LI005-017---) and a protected structure (RPS various numbers in City Development Plan).
Limerick City Walls are represented by a variety of remains; portions of extant walls, King John's Castle, features such as gates and towers, underground/subsurface portions (which may be only partially visible), portions built into later structures, stretches now only represented by photographs or early drawings and earthen fosses (or ditches) which have filled in over time.
In May 2008 Aegis Archaeology and ACP prepared a Conservation & Management plan for Limerick City Council and Heritage Council. The plan identified 29 sections of wall remaining and identified the following problems.
For example:
Presence of extensive vegetative growth including buddleia and tree species.
Pointing of facing stone washed out and facing stone in danger of collapse.
Core masonry exposed and requiring repair.
Collapsed sections requiring structural repairs.
Wall top eroded and requiring repairs.
Presence of graffiti.
Earlier repairs using inappropriate cementituous materials.
The works to Limerick City Walls was categorised into the following five different priorities for management and funding purposes:
Immediate
Urgent
Necessary
Desirable
Keep Under Observation
A program of works based on the conservation and management plan priorities is currently being undertaken. Phase 1 was completed in 2008 and Phase 2 was finished in 2009.