Limerick poem dates

[Garson O'Toole]

> Stephen Goranson wrote:
>> Though I am away from my notes on Limerick, according to the article:
>>
>> 1) That "the first recorded example" of "come to Limerick" as "a challenge
>> to somebody to come to the point, make himself clear, face the music or
>> submit" is from 1862. But that is not true.

> Michael Quinion wrote
> If you would care to supply corrections, I will happily incorporate them
> into the article.

This message concerns only point number 1. The ADS list archive
contains multiple matches for "come to Limerick". The earliest cite I
saw in a quick perusal was 1862 and that is already mentioned in
Michael Quinion's article. Apologies for missing an earlier cite if it
is in the archives. In any case, here are two earlier cites found via
database searching. The phrase appears in quotes within the articles
below. (Please double-check for typos, accuracy, and appropriate
sense):

Cite: 1860 May 5, Plain Dealer, Editorial Correspondence, Page 2,
Column 2, Cleveland, Ohio. (GenealogyBank)

We told them we were not Buchanan Lecomp-
con men, but were determined Douglas Democrats,
and that they must now "come to Limerick!"
They had stolen a few friends from us by the
ruling of their chairman.

Cite: 1861 May 11, The Wisconsin State Register, Shanghal Tracks: From
the Camp - A Card, Issue 8; col D, Portage, Wisconsin. (19th Century
Newspapers)

We are ready to "come
to Limerick," when 'tis necessary - cat foul
meat, fouler bread, or any other rations
known in the history of the Mexican or
Revolutionary war;

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