After Limerick
The 14,000 Irish soldiers who surrendered at Limerick formed the nucleus of the famous Irish Brigade in the service of France, and after the Penal Laws were enacted in all their severity great numbers of Catholic gentry left their country in despair to serve in the armies of France, Spain, and the Empire. A great part of the energy and ability of Catholic Ireland were employed in foreign lands. We are told by the Abbé McGeoghegan that between 1691 and 1745, when the famous battle of Fontenoy took place, no less than 450,000 Irishmen fell in action in the service of France.22. Spain had five Irish regiments, and as late as 1760 there was one in the service of Naples. The Austrian army was crowded with Irish officers and soldiers. Between the Revolution and the Peace of Aix-la-Chapelle there was scarcely a siege or a battle in Europe in which Irish troops did not take a part, and there was hardly a Catholic country in which Irishmen did not hold high posts. At Fontenoy the Irish formed the greater part of the column whose final charge broke the English ranks. It was the Irish troops who saved Cremona from surrender when it was surprised by Eugene. Sarsfield fought at Steinkirk, and finished his splendid career in the arms of victory at Landen. Irish troops shared the French
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