New brochure on Sarsfields Ride launched

The 70-mile signposted historic route starts at King John’s Castle in Limerick city, and takes the visitor through hidden treasures and scenic landscape views of Tipperary, Clare, and Limerick; before finishing in Ballyneety near Pallasgreen in Co. Limerick. This easy to follow guide features a map and vivid historic descriptions of various points along Sarsfields trail, allowing visitors to relive this daring ride.

Sarsfields Ride, is one of the great exploits in military history and remained vivid in folklore. It was part of the Siege of Limerick during the Jacobite War of 1690 when William’s troops had arrived before the city with a clear expectation of a quick defeat of the Irish. The purpose of the cavalry ride was to intercept a military siege train, on its way from Dublin and due to arrive in Limerick on Monday, 12 August. Information about the train’s location was received at the Irish headquarters at King John’s Castle and prompted Sarsfield to try and intercept it before its arrival in Limerick.

Patrick Sarsfield, accompanied by the rapparee Galloping O’Hogan left Limerick as darkness fell on the night of 10 August and headed westwards through the Clare hills near Cratloe, almost in the opposite direction of his destination, in order not to arouse any suspicion from the enemy. Throughout the night he and his troopers traversed the terrain of east Clare and crossed the river Shannon at Ballyvalley, a mile north of Killaloe.

Sarsfield continued through North Tipperary not resting until he reached Ballyhourigan Woods near Kiloscully, north of Newport, where he camped for remainder of the night. The following day he travelled towards Doon in Co. Limerick, when he set out for his final journey towards Cullen, situated on the borders of Tipperary and Limerick. His information about the location of the siege train also included the ‘password’ for the night, which folklore tells us was ‘Sarsfield’.

The attack at Ballyneety at 2 a.m. was swift and effective, when the guns and ammunition were collected and blown sky high. There was no loss to the Irish and the siege train was destroyed. The net result was the saving of the day for the Irish at Limerick, after which

William retreated.

Commenting on the publication of the brochure Shannon Development’s Tourism Executive Éamonn De Stafort said "the publication was a tangible link with folklore and modern tourism, and enabled visitors to learn about our history and at the same time sample the beauty of the Region. It is fitting also that we should launch this brochure on 22 July, the 309th anniversary of the death of Patrick Sarsfield, from wounds received at the battle of Landen".

The brochure is available free from your nearest tourist office.