Kilmallock —County Limerick

Around the walled town which was one of the principal towns of the province of Munster in medieval times, are the earliest known roots of man in the south-west of Ireland. Excavations at Tankardstown uncovered a complex of houses and early farming activity dating from shortly after 4000 B.C. Scale models of the Stone Age houses and a large model of the medieval town are featured in Kilmallock Museum. Substantial portions of the old town walls survive as well as town gates - Blossom Gate and John's Gate a landmark in the centre of the town. Church and abbey ruins testify to the importance of the area from the 13th to 15th centuries.