Famous Limericks:  When Only the Most Familiar Limericks Will Do!

If you have spent any time with us, you already know that famous limericks date back to the 14th century, were passed down by word of mouth, were a source of merriment in drinking establishments in Ireland and other parts of Europe, etc. etc.

As with many other Irish sayings, limericks were frequently used to shine a humorous light on difficult or uncomfortable topics.

If you would like to know more about these witty little poems and where they came from, visit our main section on Irish limericks here!

In the meantime, let's have a look at some of the most famous of them!

Simple Famous Limericks

Many of the older limericks are very simple and straightforward with the subject of the first line basically repeated in the last line. While they aren't necessarily the most creative examples, they are easy to remember (and easy to create!)

There was an Old Man of Kilkenny

Who never had more than a penny

He spent all that money

In onions and honey

That wayward old man of Kilkenny.

There was an old person of Down

Whose face was adorned with a frown

When he opened the door, for one minute or more

He alarmed all the people of Down.

There was an Old Derry down Derry

Who loved to see little folks merry

So he made them a book

And with laughter they shook

At the fun of that Derry down Derry.

There was an old person of Dundalk

Who tried to teach fishes to walk

When they tumbled down dead, he grew weary, and said

“I had better go back to Dundalk!”

There was a young man of Killarney

Who was chock full of what is called blarney

He would sit on a stile

And tell lies by the mile

Would this dreadful young man of Killarney.

Famous  Limericks:  The Next Level

The next level of quality in a limerick (in our humble opinion) is the one where the subject of the first and the last line are DIFFERENT, but related in a clever way. Here are a few examples:

There once was a young man named Sean

Whose wish came from a sly leprechaun

To be surrounded by dough

Was what he wanted so

In six months he was born as a fawn.

A man while drinking Light Bud

Crashed his car with a sickening thud

The car that he hit

Had a warlock in it

Now he lives as a frog in the mud.

Humor from Sensitive Topics

Finally, our favorite famous limericks combine the core structure of these little poems, with a creative approach and an irreverent attitude. Have a look a these:

You’ve conquered the aging disease

That brings lesser men to their knees

You’re a vigorous man

And you’ve proved you still can

Blow your candles with only one wheeze.

I am sorry to hear, Smiling Jill,

That your birthday’s no longer a thrill

All your friends think you’re great

And should still celebrate-

You’re not old, you’re just over the hill.

Want More Irish Sayings?

It is probably obvious - at Irish Expressions, we love Irish wit and wisdom!  The age-old sayings of the Emerald Isle bring people together, making us laugh, love and sometimes shed a tear.

Learning Irish sayings gives us a deeper sense of connection with Ireland, wherever in the world we happen to be!

We have captured many of our favorite Irish sayings in an e-book called "77 Favorite Irish Sayings."  In it you will find Irish proverbs, jokes, limericks, blessings, quotes and more!

This fun, free guide is available to you to download.  Simply scroll to the bottom of the page and share your email address for instant access!

Want More Information on Famous Limericks?

You've come to the right place!

We have many, many more examples - and you can gain access to all of them in our section on Irish Limerick Poems.

There you will find hundreds of examples of limericks organized into useful categories, making it simple to find what you are looking for.

What's Next?

Irreverent humor is an essential part of Irish culture and heritage. Share limericks like these during special occasions to celebrate your personal Irish side!

For more information of this type, you may want to visit our main section on famous Irish sayings here.

And if you enjoyed this page in particular, please share your feedback, opinions and stories with your Irish Expressions community!  You can do that by visiting us on Facebook or Twitter.

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