King’s Island is the oldest part of Limerick. The city has been run from here for centuries and the area’s imposing buildings span that time. Among them, is the early 13th-century King John’s Castle, one of the most impressive Norman Castles in Ireland, the City’s Town Hall of 1449, and the present City Hall of 1990, which retains the façade of an old jail. Other medieval gems include St Mary’s Cathedral and the remains of Bourke’s House, a fortified tower house. Other attractions include a long riverside promenade and streetscapes medieval in origin.