Ireland’s lost Second World War defences unearthed in Limerick

The structures were built in the early years of The Emergency to defend against potential invasion. Now it is planned to preserve two of them in situ and house two more in a museum

Mayor of Limerick John Moran at one of the historic pillboxes unearthed by archaeologists at Askeaton, Co Limerick, during work on the construction of the Foynes-Limerick road. 

Previously unrecorded pillboxes dating back to the Second World War have been discovered by archaeologists working on the Foynes to Limerick Road, including the Adare Bypass.

Around 300 of the defensive structures were built in Ireland during the early years of The Emergency to help defend the country against a possible invasion.