The Treaty of Limerick was signed in 1691 at the end of the Williamite War in Ireland. It aimed to secure the rights and protections of the defeated Irish Catholics, particularly those loyal to the deposed King James II. The treaty included provisions for religious freedom and the preservation of property rights for Catholics. However, the terms of the treaty were not honored in the long term. In 1695, the Penal Laws were enacted, which severely restricted the rights of Catholics in Ireland. This led to widespread discrimination and the erosion of the protections initially promised in the Treaty of Limerick.