History
Sarsfield Homecoming Project overwhelmed with support from more than 430 donors
Sarsfield Homecoming Project support reaches more than 430 donors following its 2023 launch.
Response to the public appeal for support made for the Sarsfield Homecoming Project has been described as “truly amazing” with more than 430 donors
As recently reported, efforts to locate and repatriate the remains of national hero Patrick Sarsfield faced a setback last May when it became clear, following negative DNA test results, that the archaeological excavations would have to continue on the still-unexplored part of the site in Huy, Belgium and that doing so would cost the project much more than anticipated due to safety concerns and the need to protect local heritage.
However, the response to the public appeal for support made by project founder and director Dr Loïc Guyon, Honorary Consul of France, Associate Professor and Head of the Department of French Studies at MIC, Limerick, has been described as “truly amazing”.
Not only did many more people contribute to the project’s GoFundMe page, bringing the total number of donors since the launch of the page in 2023 to over 430, but Cremona Heritage, a Dublin-based association promoting the shared military history between Ireland and France, informed Dr Guyon that it would make a new donation of €5,000 to the project.
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Furthermore, local community groups such as the Limerick branch of Óglaigh Náisiúnta na hÉireann (ONE) or the Askeaton Civic Trust mobilised themselves to support the project financially. As part of a fundraising event organised in Askeaton on Friday, July 4, which collected €600 for the project, former local councillor Kevin Sheahan and current Cathaoirleach of the Adare/Askeaton municipal district, Ger Ward, announced a €1,000 donation through Cllr Ward’s GMA fund.
Despite those very generous efforts however, the way was still long to find the €45,000+ needed to pay for a local Belgian company to carry out the works required to provide the project’s team access to the area of the site yet to be searched. But that was until Dr Guyon received news that a recently set up Charitable Foundation would help.
Dr Guyon had indeed approached the Midwest-based Foundation with a request for assistance last May. Following a meeting of its Board, the foundation confirmed that the local charity would make a very substantial donation to Alliance Française Limerick, the local non-profit organisation which manages the project’s funding, in support of the Sarsfield Homecoming Project.
Reacting to the news, Dr Guyon said, “I am extremely grateful to this local Charitable Foundation for its massive support to the project. I cannot yet name it as its board members wish to make the announcement in their own time but I can say that their generous donation, combined with those made by many individuals and a range of associations and community groups, gives us the means to continue and hopefully bring to a successful outcome what has been an incredible adventure since 2020!”
It is expected that the search for Sarsfield’s remains will resume in September as soon as the soil removal and consolidation works are completed by Belgian building company ATECS.
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