In 1651, English forces under Henry Ireton laid siege to Limerick, the last major stronghold of the Catholic Confederation. The city surrendered after a prolonged siege, and its defenders were allowed to leave, many joining the Spanish army. The fall of Limerick marked the end of organized Catholic resistance to the Cromwellian conquest and paved the way for the Cromwellian settlement.

The Siege of Limerick is a subject of poetic lament in the Irish tradition, with bards mourning the fall of the city and the exile of its defenders. The siege's aftermath, including the Flight of the Wild Geese, is a recurring theme in Irish poetry, symbolizing the loss of Ireland's martial elite. The siege is remembered in the poetry of the period as a tragic turning point in the struggle against English rule.