During the Williamite War in Ireland, the French and Irish troops fighting for James II of England and VII of Scotland had fought their way back to Limerick.

[citation needed] The result of Sarsfield's ride was that William of Orange's siege of Limerick failed after a fortnight, and the king sailed back to England.

[3] This reference to "jackets green" is a romantic delusion as Sarsfield's Irish Brigades wore red uniforms, in part because they considered themselves to be the true British army, supporters of the Catholic James Francis Edward Stuart, rather than the Protestant William III.

My heart ne'er beat with flying feet, No love sang me his queen, Till down the glen rode Sarsfield's men, And they wore the jackets green.

White Ireland held my Donal blessed, No wild sea rolled between, Till I would fold him to my breast All robed in his Irish green.

"Make way for the soldier's bride In your halls of death, sad queen For I long to rest by my true love's side And wrapped in the folds of green."

Oh, Ireland, sad is thy lonely soul, And loud beats the winter sea, But sadder and higher the wild waves roll O'er the hearts that break for thee.