Sword blade fragment found in the grave of a French officer killed near Castlebar, Ireland, in 1798

This blade was excavated in 1904 and dates from the only successful French landing in Ireland during the Revolutionary War (1793-1802). This took place in County Mayo on 22 August 1798 and followed upon the Irish Rebellion of May that year. The French force of approximately 1,000 troops of the line was opposed by the Irish Militia strengthened by a few regular troops at Castlebar on 27 August. Government forces were routed but there was no enthusiasm for the revolt in Mayo and after several weeks of forced marches the French surrendered at Ballinamuck on 8 September.