Setback for hopes of returning remains of Patrick Sarsfield to Limerick

THERE’S been a blow to the hopes of bringing the remains of Limerick war hero Patrick Sarsfield back to the city.

Dr Loïc Guyon, who is the head of the department of French studies at Mary Immaculate College launched the Sarsfield Homecoming Project in 2020.

READ MORE: Jigsaw's grand tour rolls into Limerick as demand for youth mental health support grows

In 2022, along with a team of specialists, he was able to establish that based on historical records, Sarsfield was most likely one of the two anonymous French officers who were buried, in August 1693, in the church of Saint-Martin d'Outre-Meuse in Huy, Belgium, some 35kms south of Landen.

Two male skeletons were discovered in January, sparking a DNA examination.

But homecoming project director Dr Guyon has said that tests show the two skeletons are of men local to that part of Belgium - and not Sarsfield himself.

All is not lost, however, with the academic saying searches will go on elsewhere on the site, following permission from the City of Huy.

However, these searches will cost €110,000 - €40,000 for the search itself and €70,000 for additional safety works.

Dr Guyon is seeking the backing of the public to allow these searches to carry on, with a GoFundMe web page in action.

A donation has been received from a local company, whose operators wish to remain anonymous.

The clock is ticking, however, with Dr Guyon saying at least €20,000 needs to be in place by August to allow the start of a fresh round of excavations.

Sarsfield is best known for defending Limerick from Williamite forces in 1690.