In a quiet guesthouse in the West Cork town of Skibbereen, a man may be on the verge of solving one of Irish history’s longest-running enigmas.
For centuries, historians have debated the fate of Patrick Sarsfield, the daring military leader who led the legendary Wild Geese—the 12,000 Irish soldiers who fled to France after the signing of the Treaty of Limerick in 1691. His name is etched into Irish lore, yet no one has ever been able to pinpoint his final resting place.
Now, a centuries-old crypt in Huy, Belgium, may finally provide the answer. And at the heart of this remarkable discovery is Tim Sarsfield of Skibbereen, whose DNA could confirm whether the remains unearthed in the Belgian village truly belong to his famous ancestor.
The search for Sarsfield’s final resting place is being led by Dr. Loïc Guyon, Honorary Consul of France and Head of the Department of French Studies at Mary Immaculate College, Limerick. His mission? To locate and bring home the remains of one of Ireland’s most celebrated warriors.
Patrick Sarsfield: The Irish General Who Vanished into History
Patrick Sarsfield was a Jacobite general who played a pivotal role in Ireland’s war against William of Orange. Best remembered for his defiant defense of Limerick in 1690, he cemented his place in history with the audacious Sarsfield Ride—leading 600 cavalrymen on a daring journey through Clare, Tipperary, and Limerick to destroy an English supply convoy heading for the city.
Despite his heroics, the tides of war turned against the Jacobites. In 1691, after signing the Treaty of Limerick, Sarsfield and thousands of Irish soldiers left their homeland, choosing exile over surrender. They became known as the Wild Geese, fighting for France under King Louis XIV in a bid to reclaim Ireland from foreign rule.
It was on one of these campaigns that Sarsfield is believed to have fallen—mortally wounded in 1693 at the Battle of Landen, Belgium. But while history records his death, it has long remained unclear where his body was laid to rest.
The Breakthrough Discovery in Belgium
After years of research, Dr. Guyon and his team believe they may have finally found the answer. In 2022, their studies led them to a church in Huy, Belgium, about 35km from Landen, where two unidentified French officers were buried in August 1693. Given Sarsfield’s rank and the timeline, the evidence suggested that he could be one of them.
In January 2024, archaeologists uncovered remains at the church, and a DNA sample was taken. The final step? Comparing it to the DNA of Tim Sarsfield, a direct descendant of the Sarsfields of Cork.
Tim Sarsfield: A Family Connection Centuries in the Making
For 65-year-old Tim Sarsfield, the idea that his DNA might confirm the final resting place of one of Ireland’s greatest heroes is something he never could have imagined.
“I still can’t quite believe it,” he admitted. “I grew up in England, and my father, John, was always obsessed with Patrick Sarsfield and our connection to him. He spent years tracing our family history. My mother, who was Scottish, would roll her eyes and say, ‘It’s always about the bloody Sarsfields!’”
Though Tim spent much of his life abroad, he moved to Ireland from Canada in 2014 so that his father could spend his final years in the land of his ancestors.
“My dad never asked me outright to bring him home, but I knew it was what he wanted,” Tim said. “So my wife Marie and I brought him back to Ireland, and we settled here in Skibbereen.”
His father passed away three years later, but now, through this DNA project, his family’s legacy has come full circle.
“My father would be thrilled to know that my DNA might help bring Patrick home,” Tim said. “I haven’t always got everything right in life, but this is something I know would make him proud.”
Why Patrick Sarsfield Must Return to Ireland
Dr. Guyon, who first contacted Tim in 2021, is determined to see Sarsfield brought back to his homeland.
“I asked him, ‘Why are you doing this?’” Tim recalled. “And he simply said, ‘Because we need to bring him home.’”
If the DNA results confirm the remains belong to Sarsfield, the plan is to repatriate him to Ireland in a manner befitting his status.
Dr. Guyon believes the occasion should be marked with a formal military procession, befitting a man who died in the service of France. One proposal is to have his remains transported to Ireland aboard a French naval ship, symbolically handed over to the Irish Defence Forces before being laid to rest.
Where Would Sarsfield Be Buried?
If the remains are confirmed, the final burial site would be a matter of national discussion. Possible locations include:
- The Treaty Stone, Limerick – where Sarsfield signed the Treaty of Limerick before his exile.
- King John’s Castle, Limerick – a site linked to the Siege of Limerick and Sarsfield’s greatest military exploits.
- The Sarsfield Statue, Limerick – a fitting tribute near the existing monument dedicated to him.
While no official decision has been made, one thing is certain—Sarsfield belongs in Ireland.
What Happens Next?
Now, all eyes are on the DNA comparison. If the match is confirmed, it will be one of the most significant historical discoveries in recent Irish history—finally solving a mystery that has endured for over three centuries.
The next step is to conduct a facial reconstruction of the remains, led by a team of experts including:
- Dr. Caroline Laforest (French forensic anthropologist)
- Professor Maarten Larmuseau (geneticist, University of Leuven)
- Noah Gaens (PhD student, University of Leuven)
This reconstruction could reveal Sarsfield’s true appearance, including his facial structure, hair color, and even eye color—offering a glimpse of the real man behind the legend.
Bringing an Irish Hero Home
After centuries of uncertainty, the story of Patrick Sarsfield may finally be reaching its conclusion. From the battlefields of Ireland to the crypts of Belgium, from history books to DNA tests, the journey to bring him home has been long—but, if successful, it will be one of the greatest historical homecomings in Irish history.
For Tim Sarsfield, the waiting game continues.
But if the results confirm his connection, one thing is certain: Patrick Sarsfield’s fight for Ireland will end where it began—on Irish soil.
For more stories on Ireland’s forgotten history, visit Secret Ireland.
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