The failure of this attack, with the approach of unfavourable weather, occasioned His Majesty to raise the siege, when the regiment marched with several others, under Major-General Kirke, towards Mullingar; but afterwards proceeded to the relief of Birr, which was besieged by a body of the enemy under Major-General Sarsfield, who retired behind the Shannon on the approach of the British troops.
The regiment was afterwards stationed at Mullingar, which was one of the frontier garrisons, and was actively employed during the winter in making incursions into the enemy's cantonments.
1691
Towards the end of April, 1691, a detachment of the regiment, commanded by Lieut.-Colonel Hamilton, accompanied a party under Colonel Brewer in a sudden advance towards Dunore, to surprise two thousand armed Roman Catholic peasantry, who had taken post near that place. At daybreak on the following morning the detachment approached the post, and the enemy formed for battle, but soon fled, and the soldiers pursued and killed about fifty fugitives.
Quitting Mullingar in the early part of June, the regiment was engaged in the operations of the army under Lieut.-General Baron De Ghinkel, afterwards Earl of Athlone:[13] it took part in the siege of Ballymore, which place was captured in a few days; and afterwards appeared before Athlone, in the siege of which fortress it had several men killed and wounded.
A strong detachment of the regiment took part in the capture of Athlone by storm, on which occasion the assailants rushed through the rapid stream of the Shannon, which was breast high, carried the enemy's works in gallant style, and in less than half an hour were masters of the town, to the surprise of General St. Ruth, who commanded King James's army, which was encamped near the fortress, and who was giving a public entertainment in his camp, when the news of the loss of Athlone reached him.
After putting the captured fortress in repair, the army marched towards the enemy, who occupied a strong position near the castle of Aghrim, and on the 12th of July a general engagement took place, in which the Irish forces were overpowered and driven from the field with severe loss, including General St. Ruth, who was killed by a cannon ball. On this occasion the regiment formed part of the brigade under Major-General Talmash: it had seven rank and file killed; one major, two captains, one lieutenant, one ensign, and eight rank and file wounded.
After this victory, the army marched to Galway, which surrendered in a few days; and the victorious English troops proceeded to Limerick, where the remains of the defeated Irish forces had assembled, and appeared determined to make a resolute stand, in the hope of being reinforced from France. The regiment had the honour to take part in the siege of Limerick; and, the army having crossed the river Shannon and completed the investment of the place, the Irish soon afterwards surrendered the city, and with it every other part of Ireland of which they retained possession, the Irish regiments being permitted to follow King James to France, or remain in their own country, as they should choose: the "Royal Regiment of Ireland" was one of the corps which proceeded to France, and was taken into the service of Louis XIV. The Earl of Meath's, now EIGHTEENTH regiment, was the only one of the eleven Irish corps embodied by King Charles II. which remained in the service of the English crown.
Ireland being rescued from the domination of King James, the regiment went into quarters in the county of Wicklow, and in December it proceeded to Waterford and Youghal.
1692