At that time Limerick was the second biggest city in the country. 4,000 people lived there. Limerick was an important port and it guarded the southern entrance to Clare and to Connacht. Limerick was a walled city of two parts – English town and Irish town. English town, on the island, was also protected by water. The Irish and French (supporters of King James) tried to strengthen the walls of the city especially in the area near John’s Gate. All buildings outside the Irish town walls were knocked down.

The Irish infantry (foot soldiers) were in Limerick City but they had few weapons. A small force of French cavalry were with them. The Irish cavalry were on the Clare side of the Shannon. Patrick Sarsfield was one of their leaders. At this stage most of the French army had gone to Galway.

Early in August, King William’s army began to arrive and set up their camp on high ground at Singland. They were attacked by the Jacobites who had cannon guns on the walls of Limerick. The Williamites were waiting for their heavy guns and other supplies to arrive from Dublin and they were preparing for a siege of Limerick but they thought that their army was not big enough to surround the whole city. They decided to try and break through the walls of Irish town and they began to dig a network of trenches to help them to get near the walls.

Patrick Sarsfield heard that the Williamite siege train was coming from Dublin and he decided to try and destroy it. This was going to be difficult. Sarsfield and 500 cavalry went up the Clare side of the Shannon and crossed the river at Killaloe. They had a guide named Hogan. They found the siege train at Ballyneety, Co. Tipperary. The Williamites were taken by surprise and their guns and supplies were severely damaged. Sarsfield and his men were delighted.

However, the Williamites eventually managed to break down some of the walls of Irish town ( on the 27th of August) but the Jacobites and the people of Limerick fought so bravely that they could not take over the city. It is said that the women of Limerick fought with stones and bottles. Many Williamites were killed and many more were wounded. Three days after this King William and his army began to move to Tipperary. King William returned to England and left a Dutch general called Ginkel in charge.

In May 1691 more French help and supplies arrived at Limerick. A new French leader called St. Ruth also arrived and the French and Irish were full of hope!

Ginkel and the Williamites decided to try and avoid Limerick and cross the Shannon at Athlone. They succeeded on the 30th of June.

Soon the two armies were west of the Shannon and the next battle took place at Aughrim on the 11th of July. The Irish and French were heading for victory until their leader St. Ruth was struck by a cannon ball and killed. Without their leader there was confusion and chaos and by nightfall the Williamites had won the battle. Within a week most of the Jacobite survivors had gathered at Limerick. Messengers were sent to France to ask for more help.

The military articles allowed Sarsfield and other members of the Irish army to join the French army. Members of the Irish army could join King William’s army if they wished. Most of the Irish army went to France with Sarsfield and they were known as the Wild Geese. Some of their wives and children travelled to France too. This part of the Treaty was kept.

The civil articles of the Treaty of Limerick dealt with two issues – treatment of Catholics and the property of those who fought for King James. This part of the Treaty was broken. In the years after 1691, very harsh laws were passed against Catholics and many of them lost their land. Therefore Limerick is often called the City of the Broken Treaty.