include Castletroy as part of its plan to expand the old city boundary to include large suburbs just outside the boundary. Up until June 2014 Castletroy and neighbouring suburbs were not within the city boundary despite being part of the city’s overall urban fabric. The amalgamation of the 2 local authorities in Limerick from 2014 saw all areas of Limerick (city and county) come under one united and single authority for the first time. The merger of the authorities saw the city area expanded to include all urban areas (including Castletroy) within the Limerick urban area into the Limerick Metropolitan District within the merged Limerick authority. Places of interest Castle Troy also known as The Black Castle Located on the southern bank of the River Shannon, roughly 2km East of the University of Limerick. Castle Troy was erected in the reign of Henry III (1216-1272) by one of the O' Briens. Many years later it was the seat of the Mac Keoghs, a war like tribe, often in conflict with neighbouring chiefs. The MacKeoghs continued to hold land in Castletroy, but at some point before the reign of Elizabeth I the castle was taken over by their overlord, the Earl of Desmond. The Earl of Desmond rebelled against the English monarchy and their lands were foirfeit and the Castle Troy became the property of Sir John Bourke of Brittas. According to tradition when Cromwell landed in 1649 with his New Model Army his general Henry Ireton in 1651 led an army on Limerick and set up cannons on Harty's Hill and battered the castle as it was ideally positioned to defend the city against forces moving down the River Shannon. Castle Troy was granted to James Duke of York in 1666 and later sold to the Hollow Blade Company in 1703. Castletroy Castle's history is recounted in verse in Hogan's "Lays, Legends of Thomond": Lo! grey Castletroy by war, Tide and time batter'd Stands, like an old chief With his armour all shatter'd As if musing, in gloomy and gaunt desolation On the red feudal days When Green Erin was a Nation. There the warlike Mac keoghs, In their power and revell'd And often in fight Were their sounding spears levell'd 'Till Cromwell, the fiend, with his Tower-cleaving cannon, Ploughed their strong castle walls On the brink of the Shannon". Jewish Graveyard Also in Castletroy is a small and little-known