In the eighteenth century there was migration to Ireland from the Palatinate of the Rhine in Germany. These German refugees settled principally in Limerick around 1709, and their seperate culture remained intact up until a hundred years ago.

Palatinate surnames to be found in and around:

Court, Matrix, Ballingran, Killiheen, and Adare in Limerick were: Baker, Bovanizer, Bowen, Doube, Delmege, Gillard, Latchford, Ligier, Millar, Lodwig, Modlar, Pyper, Reynard, Ruttle, Shire, Stark, and Switzer.

The Irish Palatine Association