Two-year search to identify and repatriate remains of national hero moves step closer

WORKS to excavate the site where it's believed the remains of Patrick Sarsfield are buried could begin as soon as this summer, it has been revealed.

The Sarsfield Homecoming Project was launched by Dr Loïc Guyon with the aim of locating, identifying and repatriating to Ireland the remains of the Irish national hero who was also the first Earl of Lucan.

Dr Guyon is Head of the Department of French Studies at Mary Immaculate College and Honorary Consul of France to the Mid-West region. Sponsored by Limerick-based American company Carelon Global Solutions, the project has generated both public and media interest since its launch in November 2020.

During a talk at MIC last week, Dr Guyon explained how he debunked some myths surrounding Sarsfield’s death, as well as how he came to verify and corroborate the fact that he was buried in Huy, Belgium.

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Announcing that he will be working alongside Limerick-based company Aegis Archaeology, Dr Guyon explained how he found the precise location of Sarsfield’s grave and plans to conduct an excavation of the site. Depending on how quickly the authorisation to carry out the search can be obtained, the archaeological excavation could start as early as this summer.

In the coming months, a campaign involving a mix of crowdfunding and corporate sponsorship will be launched to raise the estimated €90,000 needed.

“While the first aim of the Sarsfield Homecoming Project is to find and repatriate the remains of Patrick Sarsfield, a secondary aim has always been to bring Sarsfield and the whole historical episode of the Flight of the Wild Geese back into the spotlight and educate, in particular the younger generations, about that important part of Limerick’s history, Ireland’s history, and the history of the ties between France and Ireland.”

Over the past two years, Dr Guyon has worked with local community groups and schools to develop awareness of that aspect of Limerick’s historical identity, particularly through the annual Limerick Bastille Day Wild Geese Festival, as well as with the Wild Geese Museum.