History of The Wild Geese®

Patrick Sarsfield’s army is defeated at the decisive Battle of The Boyne. From this point on, his attempts to oust the English and place James II on the throne, were doomed.

There followed the Treaty of Limerick where Sarsfield’s army was given a stark choice. Those that chose to live under English rule filed one way, others like Sarsfield and his followers turned the other way, to board French ships to take them to France.

"They took the name The Wild Geese in the hope and belief that this would be a temporary strategic exile in Europe.”

The parting, however, proved permanent. Like the vanquished everywhere over the centuries, they faced a bleak future at home. Stripped of their authority and property, many of them found life in Ireland intolerable.