The Limerick Wild Geese Museum was officially launched as part of the 2021 Limerick Bastille Day Wild Geese Festival on 9th July.
The Mayor of Limerick City & County, Cllr Daniel Butler at his first official event welcomed the guests and visitors to the Wild Geese Museum in the old St Munchin’s church (King’s Island) on Friday evening to mark the occasion of its official opening.
A joint project by the Limerick Civic Trust, the Limerick Museum and the Consular Agency of France in Limerick (French Embassy) this new museum celebrates the city’s rich Wild Geese heritage by giving an overview of the history of those who left Ireland over the centuries and went on to fight in foreign armies across Europe and the world.
The term Wild Geese was originally coined to refer more specifically to the 14,000 Jacobite soldiers and their families who left Limerick, led by Patrick Sarsfield, following the signing of the Treaty in 1691. The majority of them, including Sarsfield, ended up joining the French army of king Louis XIV. Many of them, and their descendants, settled and prospered in France (a significant number of them, known as the ‘wine geese’, in the Bordeaux engaging in wine production) greatly contributing to strengthening the links between France and Ireland.
The museum tells their story and features a wide range of objects from the collections of the Limerick Museum which had never been put on display before.
Opening Times:
- Monday 10-4
- Tuesday 10-4
- Wednesday 10-4
- Thursday 10-4
- Friday 10-4
- Saturday Closed
- Sunday Closed
Mayor of City and County of Limerick Daniel Butler. 
