What brought me to Limerick was my deep connection with Angela’s Ashes. For years, I had wanted to follow the footsteps of Frank McCourt and the places that shaped one of the most unforgettable memoirs I have ever read.
I walked through Roden Lane on Barrack Hill, searching for echoes of Angela and Frank’s world. I wandered through People’s Park, stood by the River Shannon, visited South’s Pub, and paused outside Leamy School, where Frank McCourt once studied. At every stop, it felt as though another page of the book had come to life.
Yet, what made this journey truly unforgettable was not only the places—it was the people.
To the friends I met by the River Shannon and in People’s Park, whose names will remain with me… To the unsung hero at the Leamy House office who kindly helped me find my way… To the welcoming family I met at the church… To the family on Barrack Hill who offered me a glass of water… And to the anonymous woman now living in one of the newer houses on Roden Lane, who pointed to the long wall described in the book and simply said, “That’s the wall…”
Sometimes, what makes a city unforgettable is not only its landmarks, but the kindness of the people who help you discover them.
I left Limerick carrying not only the traces of Angela’s Ashes, but also memories of generosity, warmth, and humanity. This was far more than a literary journey—it was a reminder that books connect us to places, and people give those places a soul.
