THE REMAINS of Patrick Sarsfield will be returned to Limerick if they are uncovered in Belgium, it has been confirmed.
Speaking at a special event “Finding Sarsfield: The Search for the Remains of the Earl of Lucan” last Thursday, Dr Pat Daly, Chief Executive of Limerick City and County Council (LCCC) confirmed that the remains of the Irish hero would be repatriated to Limerick by Huy City Council, if they are found on the site of a former church in the Belgian city.
According to Dr Daly, there exists a long friendship between the two city councils.
“Huy have agreed that if the body is found and it is proven to be Sarsfield's, that we will be the legal guardians and custodians of the body,” Dr Daly said.
His sentiments were echoed by Huy City Council Heritage Director Stéphanie Ratz, who was also present at the talk.
Ms Ratz also confirmed that the remains of Patrick Sarsfield would be returned to Limerick, despite a motion by South Dublin County Council (SDCC) in February asking that “the Council would prepare to make the case that if [Sarsfields] remains are repatriated to Ireland, it should be to Lucan,” owing to his title of Earl of Lucan.
Ms Ratz stated that Huy Council had not been contacted by SDCC ever about the matter of Sarsfield, and that when representatives from Ireland were invited to a commemoration of Sarsfield in 1993, the only representatives who came were from Limerick.
“Since then the relationship has always been between Huy and Limerick, she said.
The potential burial site, beneath a church floor and now deep under a garden, was discovered by Dr Loïc Guyon, Honorary Consul of France in Limerick and founder of the Sarsfield Homecoming Project, after two years of research.
Project archeologist Frank Coyne announced that a first dig will be carried out in early December 2023 in order to unearth the church floor and the grave.
See our gallery for more pictures from the event.
1.
2.
3.
