Bringing Dwelling Patrick Sarsfield: The Repatriation of an Irish Struggle Hero

Simply final yr, the Irish Mirror reported that excavations to seek out the skeletal stays of seventeenth century deceased Earl and revolutionary Irish battle hero, Patrick Sarsfield, had begun in Belgium. They’ve now been positioned and talks are underway to have them repatriated again to Eire as a part of the Sarsfield Homecoming Mission, now in its third yr.

Spearheaded by Dr. Loïc Guyon, the French Honorary Consul in Limerick, and the Head of the Division of French research at Mary Immaculate School, this mission is being carried out in collaboration with Alliance Française de Limerick. Most significantly, the mission has been capable of efficiently set up the precise location of Sarsfield’s burial floor.

The Treaty Stone in Limerick is seemingly the placement of the signing of the Treaty of Limerick of which the Irish battle hero Patrick Sarsfield was a signatory. ( Charles / Adobe Inventory)

Sarsfield Homecoming Mission: Finding the Stays of Irish Struggle Heroes

The purpose of the Sarsfield Homecoming Mission is not only to find and repatriate Sarsfield’s stays. This system additionally plans to convey consideration to the historic episode of the Flight of the Wild Geese, educating youthful generations about this essential a part of Limerick’s historical past, Eire’s historical past, and the historic ties between France and Eire.

By highlighting this chapter of the previous, the mission goals to protect the legacy of Irish battle hero Patrick Sarsfield and the opposite so-called Wild Geese for future generations. Plans to repatriate his stays will additional support with this goal by bringing the stays of the Irish battle hero residence.

Since its initiation in 2020, the Sarsfield Homecoming Mission has been devoted to discovering, confirming and bringing Sarsfield’s stays again to Eire. Dr. Guyon and the group have been working tirelessly to make this goal a actuality and pay homage to this essential determine in Irish historical past, reviews nationwide Irish broadcaster RTE.

The 1690 Battle of the Boyne between James II and William III, by Jan van Huchtenburg. The Irish battle hero, Patrick Sarsfield was one of many signatories of the Treaty of Limerick which happened after the Battle of Boyne. ( Public domain )

How Did the Stays of an Irish Struggle Hero Finish Up in Belgium?

Sarsfield was a distinguished determine in Irish historical past as one of many Wild Geese who fled Eire after the defeat of King James II within the Williamite Wars by King William III , Prince of Orange. He’s most well-known for his spirited protection of Limerick in 1690 after the Battle of the Boyne , amongst others. Regardless of lastly being defeated in 1691, he negotiated the Treaty of Limerick, which allowed the remnants of the Jacobite military to stay collectively and journey to France with Patrick Sarsfield and 15,000 different Irish battle heroes.

The Irish battle hero was injured whereas serving the French king Louis XIV on the Battle of Landen in 1693 throughout the 9 Years Struggle. He handed away just a few days later from his wounds. Modern reviews counsel that he was buried just a few days later within the grounds of St. Martin’s Church within the city of Huy, positioned in modern-day Belgium, reviews The Irish Times .

View of town of Huy in Belgium the place researchers consider they’ve recognized the stays of the Irish battle hero Patrick Sarsfield. ( bbsferrari / Adobe Inventory)

Discovering Definitive Proof: The Hunt for Patrick Sarsfield

Dr. Guyon wrote to the Mayor of Huy to request his help in finding the traditional burial grounds of St. Martin’s Church. In accordance with the church data, 24 our bodies have been buried within the church grounds from 1689 to 1795, with ten of them being French officers. Out of those ten, eight are named and two are nameless, with the nameless burials corresponding immediately with the loss of life of Patrick Sarsfield.

Definitive proof that the stays belong to Patrick Sarsfield himself can solely be established as soon as the skeletons themselves are discovered. Sarsfield was an exceptionally tall man, being effectively over six toes tall (6’6 to be exact, or 1.83 m), and Dr. Guyon has traced his household line again to a residing descendant who carries the identical Y chromosome as Sarsfield’s father, offering additional proof.

Dr. Guyon might be collaborating with Limerick-based firm Aegis Archaeology Restricted to conduct an archaeological excavation of the positioning, which might happen as quickly as this summer season or by summer season 2024, relying on the pace of acquiring administrative authorization from the Minister for Heritage of the Walloon authorities.

To finance the excavation, a fundraising marketing campaign involving a mixture of crowdfunding and company sponsorship might be launched within the close to future with the objective of elevating the estimated €90,000 ($96,400) required. As soon as Sarsfield’s stays are discovered, they are going to be introduced again to Eire for reburial, which might happen in Limerick or Lucan, the place the Irish battle hero initially hailed from.Prime of Type

Prime picture: Portrait of the Irish battle hero Patrick Sarsfield, 1st Earl of Lucan. Supply: Public domain

By Sahir Pandey