2Y: Plantations Flashcards
Who controlled Ireland in the 16th Century?
- The 16th Century was one of the most important centuries in Irish history.
- Apart from the Pale (area around Dublin where English laws and customs were in force) which was under English rule;
- the rest of Ireland was controlled by native Irish clans or powerful old English (descendants of early Norman invaders) families. They spoke Irish, practiced Irish customs and obeyed Irish Brehon Laws.
- Over the next 100 years, English Monarchs used 4 plantations to try to take over Ireland.
Why did Monarchs want Plantations? (5 Reasons)
- They regarded themselves Kings or Queens of Ireland. Therefore they wanted to extend control beyond the Pale.
- They didn’t trust the Irish to remain loyal to England.
- Irish clans rebelled frequently against the English and the monarchs wanted to punish them.
- The Monarchs felt the Irish were uncivilised and wanted to introduce English customs and laws to make them civilised.
- The monarchs would enrich themselves with all the land and use it to reward their loyal friends.
Why did the the Plantation of Laois and Offaly (1556) occur ?
- The O’ Moore & O’ Connor clans frequently raided the nearby Pale.
- They would burn houses and terrorise those who were loyal to England.
- There was also a toll called the ‘black rent’, which people paid in order for these clans not to attack the Pale.
- Queen Mary Tudor (daughter of Henry VIII) was so angry with these clans that she ordered their lands to be taken from them and be given to loyal planters (settlers) from the Pale and from England.
What happened to the land after the Laois and Offaly Plantation?
The O’ Moores and O’ Connors were driven from their land by the English army.
The land was divided into 2 counties:
- O More territory was called ‘Queen’s County’ (now Laois). A town called Maryborough (now Portlaoise) was built on it.
- O Connor territory was called ‘King’s County’ (now Offaly). Philipstown (after the King of Spain & Mary’s husband) was built in King’s County. This town is now called Daingean.
What were the results of the Laois Offaly Plantation?
There were major difficulties in this Plantation.
- Most people were two afraid of the O Mores and the OConnors to settle on their land. Only 88 families agreed to become planters out of fear.
- These families could not protect their lands from Irish clans because of their small numbers.
- Many Gaelic Irish people were employed by these planters.
- This plantation failed in its aim to replace the Irish people of Laois and Offaly with loyal English planters.
Why did the Munster Plantation (1586) happen?
- Queen Elizabeth I carried out this plantation.
- The Fitzgeralds of Desmond controlled most of Munster. They frequently rebelled against the English.
- During one of the rebellions the Earl of Desmond was killed.
- Elizabeth then seized the land of Munster and planted it with English and Scottish settlers.
What 5 counties were planted in the Munster Plantation?
5 Counties were planted; Cork, Waterford, Limerick, Kerry and Tipp.
What was the size of the estates in the Plantation?
The land was divided into estates of 4000-12000 hectares.
Who got land in the Munster Plantation?
- Undertakers: They undertook (promised) to pay rent to the Queen and not to rent to the Irish.
- English soldiers also got land.
- Famous people such as the explorer Walter Raleigh was given land in Youghal in Cork.
Why was the Munster Plantation a failure?
- Not enough English settlers came over. 20,000 were expected but only 4,000 came.
- The rent was too dear and many undertakers rented back to the Irish to help pay the rent. They also hired Irish labourers.
- The English didn’t do a good job defending their land and the Irish constantly attacked them.
Name successes of the Munster Plantation?
- New towns such as Bandon and Mallow.
- New industries were set up such as iron smelting.
- New English farming methods and new breeds of cattle were introduced.
- A strong Protestant population remained in Munster and were loyal to the crown over the next few Centuries.
Why do you think the Fitzgeralds rebelled against the Queen?
James Fitzmaurice Fitzgerald was a Catholic nobleman who led two unsuccessful uprisings against English rule.
In 1568, following the arrest and imprisonment of his cousin Gerald Fitzgerald, on charges of resisting the authority of England’s Queen Elizabeth I, Fitzmaurice was proclaimed leader of the Fitzgeralds of Munster. He initiated an uprising against the English in 1569, but by 1573 he had given up the struggle and accepted a pardon.
In 1575 Fitzmaurice traveled to the Continent to seek support for the Irish Roman Catholic cause. Philip II of Spain and Pope Gregory XIII both encouraged his plan for a Catholic invasion of Ireland, but offered almost no material aid. Fitzmaurice landed at Dingle in Munster on July 18, 1579, with a small force of Italians and Spaniards. Within a month, however, he was betrayed—at the instigation of the English—by several of his followers and killed in a skirmish. The rebellion was not completely quelled until 1583.
