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| Limerick - Jacobite stronghold in 1690 and goal of the Williamites |
The ‘Lizzy’ connection
Readers of a certain age will not have failed to notice that language of
the era has appeared in the music of modern Irish legends Thin Lizzy. Although
not to my knowledge (as a fan since aged 13) is Hogan mentioned directly in
their music, they did record ‘Wild One’ which is dedicated to the Wild Geese, Soldier
of Fortune, Emerald, Warrior, Black Rose and of course Whiskey in the Jar which
are all about the Irish fighting tradition with the last song, an adaptation of
a traditional ballad about a Rapparee. What further justification does one need
to pursue an interest in the Rapparees when they are endorsed by the finest
twin lead guitar band ever to rock the face of the planet? Lizzy to my twisted
brain also in some way embrace the mixed political and international
kaleidoscope of the 1690s by having in their line up over the years; Irish
Protestants and Catholics, Scots, English and Americans!
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| A cottage near Ballyneety on the road to Limerick |
Ballyneety August 11th
1690: A story about Pat & Mike:
The ride of General Patrick Sarsfield and Michael ‘Galloping’ Hogan.
The history & legend bit
Having been provided with
information from a deserter that the siege of Limerick would not be prosecuted
until the arrival of a large artillery train from the east, Patrick Sarsfield
decided to embark on a daring search and destroy mission. Under cover of evening
darkness he rode out on August 10th 1690. He led between 500-600
Horse, the equivalent of two regiments. Apparently with hooves muffled, the
column rode through County Clare crossing the Shannon at Killaloe.
They moved through the Silvermines Mountains and by dawn were near Keeper Hill. A local man called Michael Hogan was Sarsfield’s guide. They found the train was guarded by around 100 men, the equivalent of perhaps two companies. With scant heed to vigilance, the convoy stopped at Ballyneety on the night of August 11th barely 10 miles from the Williamite siege lines around Limerick. The spot was near a ruined castle.
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| Ballyneety looking toward the Slieve Mountains |
They moved through the Silvermines Mountains and by dawn were near Keeper Hill. A local man called Michael Hogan was Sarsfield’s guide. They found the train was guarded by around 100 men, the equivalent of perhaps two companies. With scant heed to vigilance, the convoy stopped at Ballyneety on the night of August 11th barely 10 miles from the Williamite siege lines around Limerick. The spot was near a ruined castle.
News of Sarsfield’s secret sally
had reached the Williamite camp and a detachment of Horse was ordered to leave
at 9pm on the 11th to pick up the convoy and escort it in. For some reason it
did not leave until after midnight. Meanwhile back near Ballyneety, the story
goes that a Jacobite trooper was inadvertently gifted the password to cross the
convoy’s picket line by a Williamite
soldier’s wife on her way to join her husband with the train.
The password was ‘Sarsfield’! Fanciful legend has it that Sarsfield himself was the second man to try and cross the line using the password with the catchy ‘Sarsfield’s the word and Sarsfield’s the man!’ Much as I would like to believe this part of the story it does have a touch of blarney about it! It appears that by stealth or subterfuge the Jacobites were able to penetrate the camp with little loss to themselves, killing about half of the escort in the process. They captured 500 horses, 155 wagons of stores and ammunition, 6 twenty-four pounder cannon, 2 eighteen pounders, 5 mortars, 18 pontoons, and 12 wagons of provisions.
All were brought together and the entire train blown up with powder from the wagons. The guns were loaded, rammed into the earth and fired thus destroying them also. As the Jacobites rode off into the night the escort column was less than 1 mile from Ballyneety and the carnage. As one Irish source put it ‘they arrived in time to be too late!’ Pursuing for a short time they gave up and in true Cowboy and Indian fashion tried to head Sarsfield off before he re-crossed the Shannon. Enter ‘Galloping’ Hogan for the second time! The loyal Jacobite and trusty scout steered his comrades to safety with a crossing at Portumna on the 14th. The cowboys made it back to the ranch in time for curry and Guinness! Call it the luck of the Irish!
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| Remains of the walls of Limerick |
The password was ‘Sarsfield’! Fanciful legend has it that Sarsfield himself was the second man to try and cross the line using the password with the catchy ‘Sarsfield’s the word and Sarsfield’s the man!’ Much as I would like to believe this part of the story it does have a touch of blarney about it! It appears that by stealth or subterfuge the Jacobites were able to penetrate the camp with little loss to themselves, killing about half of the escort in the process. They captured 500 horses, 155 wagons of stores and ammunition, 6 twenty-four pounder cannon, 2 eighteen pounders, 5 mortars, 18 pontoons, and 12 wagons of provisions.
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| A victim of Sarsfield's raid |
All were brought together and the entire train blown up with powder from the wagons. The guns were loaded, rammed into the earth and fired thus destroying them also. As the Jacobites rode off into the night the escort column was less than 1 mile from Ballyneety and the carnage. As one Irish source put it ‘they arrived in time to be too late!’ Pursuing for a short time they gave up and in true Cowboy and Indian fashion tried to head Sarsfield off before he re-crossed the Shannon. Enter ‘Galloping’ Hogan for the second time! The loyal Jacobite and trusty scout steered his comrades to safety with a crossing at Portumna on the 14th. The cowboys made it back to the ranch in time for curry and Guinness! Call it the luck of the Irish!
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| No mean feat. Sarsfield forded the Shannon here at Portumna |