Limerick under Siege

Limerick City, 1633

A view of Limerick city taken from Thomas Stafford's Pacata Hibernia, first published in 1633.

Courtesy of Limerick City Library.

Limerick City, 1633
Courtesy of Limerick City Library.

Limerick City, 1633

A view of Limerick city taken from Thomas Stafford's Pacata Hibernia, first published in 1633.

Courtesy of Limerick City Library.

Enlarge image

In the seventeenth century, Limerick was the second-largest city in Ireland and very important. Its port was accessible to sea-going ships and it was also the southern gateway to Clare and Connacht. The city was made up of two sections - English Town and Irish Town.

English Town was located on King's Island and cut off from the rest of the city by the Shannon and Abbey Rivers. On the other side of the Abbey River was Irish Town. The two towns were linked by Ball's Bridge. Both parts of the city were surrounded by walls but English Town was more secure, as it was also surrounded by water.

William and his army of 25,000 men reached Limerick on 8 August 1690. He decided to concentrate his attack on Irish Town. He had to wait for cannons and ammunition to arrive before he could launch a full attack on the city. In late August, the Williamite army began their assault on Irish Town. Cannon fire destroyed a section of the wall surrounding Irish Town and some of William's troops were able to enter.

Illustration of the Siege of Limerick

View of the 1690 Siege of Limerick, taken from an 1886 illustration.

Courtesy of Limerick City Library.

Illustration of the Siege of Limerick
Courtesy of Limerick City Library.

Illustration of the Siege of Limerick

View of the 1690 Siege of Limerick, taken from an 1886 illustration.

Courtesy of Limerick City Library.

Enlarge image

The Jacobite forces, however, were well prepared for the assault and strongly defended the city. The Williamite troops who advanced through the breach in the wall were met with heavy fire from cannons and muskets. It is said that the women of Limerick also joined in the battle by pelting stones at William's army. After three hours of battle, William's troops were forced to retreat. Three days later his army withdrew and Limerick remained under Jaocbite control.

William left Ireland and put his army under the command of a Dutch general called Baron de Ginkel. Over the next number of months a number of towns fell to the Williamite army, including Cork and Kinsale. After the Battle of Aughrim, Galway also surrendered to Ginkel's troops. By the end of July 1691, Limerick was the only important town still under the control of James's Irish army.

Limerick's defences had been improved since the siege the previous year. Ginkel's troops first attacked Irish Town. However, making little progress, Ginkel switched his attention to the walls of English Town and also to crossing the Shannon. By the end of September, Ginkel's army had more or less surrounded the city. The Irish had defended their position for over a month, but were now completely cut off from the surrounding countryside. They called for a truce, which brought to an end the 1691 Siege of Limerick.