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| THE SARSFIELD STATUE, LIMERICK. -Lord Macaulay, writing of Patrick Sarsfield half a century ago in his History of England, said: "his name is still dear to the most unfortunate of nations." This gallant soldier is, perhaps, the only national Irishman, of note, that British historians have not libeled. He came of mixed Norman and Celtic ancestry. On his father's side he was descended from one of the followers of Strongbow, and his mother was a sister of the brave Roger, or Rory, O'Moore, who was mainly instrumental in organizing the great Irish uprising of 1641. It was, no doubt, from the lips of Anna O'Moore that her son learned those lessons of virtue, patriotism and chivalry, that have rendered his name immortal. He was bred a soldier and campaigned with distinction in the armies of Charles II., when they served in Flanders and Germany. At the battle of Sedgemoor, in England, when the Duke of Monmouth rebelled against James II., he commanded a regiment of horse. He was distinguished at the Boyne, and, during the first siege of Limerick, in 1690, by a bold movement of cavalry, destroyed King William's train of heavy cannon while it was en route to take part in the bombardment. He was in command at the breach when the King's assault was repuled with slaughter a few weeks later. Sarsfield quarreled with St. Ruth before Athlone, and it is doubtful if he were at Aughrim. At the second siege of Limerick, he was one of the Irish signatories to the treaty subsequently broken by England. He fell at the battle of Landen, in Flanders, July 29, 1693. The fine statue shown in the sketch was erected in 1881. |
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