Ireland: Limerick Militia

Ireland: Limerick Militia, Silver Medal for Collooney, 1798, by Messrs. James Brush and Son [St. Andrew's Street, Dublin], a crown within laurel wreath, To the Heroes of Colooney 5th Sepr 1798, rev. a double turreted castle with spire from which flies a flag, within palm and laurel wreath, CORPORATION AND CITIZENS OF LIMERICK, 39.5mm (BBM, 6th ed., 1988, No. 36); Hastings Irwin, 2nd ed., p. 250). With ring for suspension, very fine and very rare.

On 6 August, 1798, Général Jean-Joseph-Amable Humbert sailed from La Rochelle in three frigates, La Concorde, La Franchise, and La Médée, carrying 1,099 troops which included some Irish, 3 light field cannons, 3,000 muskets, and 400 sabres. He landed on the 22nd of August (his 31st birthday), at Kilcummin. Once established on the ground Humbert started to march towards the garrison town of Sligo. However Colonel Charles Vereker, a local man and later Member of Parliament, with 250 men of the Limerick Militia and about 50 yeomanry and troop of the 24th Light Dragoons established a defensive line in a shallow valley immediately to the north of Collooney [the medal spelling it Colooney]. Humbert was defeated in the short but fierce ensuing engagement, on 5 September, an action that saw casualties on both sides. Humbert was then utterly defeated at Ballinamuck in Country Longford a few days later, this action seeing to the end of the French invasion.