The Plantations of Ireland

Key Points

During the 1500’s and 1600’s the English government began to put into action a new policy in Ireland. England at that time had many enemies in Europe, especially France and Spain. Both these countries were Catholic and Ireland was also nearly totally Catholic.
England feared that her enemies might use Catholic Ireland as a base to attack England. Something had to be done to prevent this. Various methods were tried but eventually, a policy known as Plantation was adopted.
The aim of this was to plant people in Ireland who would be loyal and trustworthy. The Plantation of Ulster proved to be the one that was most successful. We shall concentrate on the Ulster plantation in this Unit. However, it is important to study all the topics listed below.

Learning Objectives:
In this section you are expected to know:

• Why did England adopt a policy of Plantation?
• What happened during the Munster Plantation?
• What happened during the Ulster Plantation?
• What were the main results of the Ulster plantation?
• What happened during the Cromwell Plantation?
  
  

A person who came to Ireland during the Ulster Plantation

Your name is John Stewart

• You were born in Scotland
• You are a member of the Presbyterian Church
• You are very loyal to your King
• You came to live in Ulster in 1622
  
  

How you received the land

• You are called a Servitor
• You used to be an soldier in the King’s army
• You are owed money by the King for your services
• Given a 1000 acre estate in Count Fermanagh as payment
  
  

Rules you had to follow

• Had to pay a rent of £8 per year
• You had to build a house of stone
• Had to surround house with a bawn (stone wall)
• You could then rent parts of your land
• You were allowed some Irish tenants
  
  

Your new home in Ulster

• Build a large 2-storey stone and timber house
• Roof made of slate,
• Chimney built of red brick
• Very different from houses of native Irish
  
  

You farming methods

• You did not raise cattle like the Irish
• You began to grow lots of crops
• Introduced a new crop called the potato to the area
• You cleared large areas of forest and drained land
• Built lots of fences and ditches around fields
  
  

Your local town

• Lots of new people have settled there
• Many different craftsmen live there
• Town was specially planned
• Has wide, straight streets
• Has a central Square and important buildings
• Court House, Market House and Presbyterian Church
• Markets are held in the town every Friday
  
  

Your fears

• Feel that native Irish people really resent you
• Many are angry over loss of their lands
• Some of your friends have been attacked
• You too are afraid - keep loaded muskets in house
• Happy that English system of justice has been set up
  
  
  
  

Review Questions
1. Why did the English King and government wish to establish plantations in Ireland
2. Explain what was meant by “The Pale”
3. Name two powerful native Irish families in the 1500’s
4. What was the very first plantation in Ireland and what was the main result?
5. What happened during the Plantation of Munster?
6. How did a large part of Ulster become available for Plantation?
7. What was the “Flight of the Earls”?
8. How was the Plantation of Ulster organised?
9. Name the Ulster Counties that were to be planted?
10. Which English King was responsible for the plantation of Ulster?
11. Explain what was meant by the term “Undertaker” during the Ulster Plantation
12. Explain what a “Servitor” was
13. Where did most of the new settlers in Ulster come from?
14. What was the main religion of a majority of the new settlers?
15. How did Londonderry get that name?
16. Name three new towns built in the 1600’s
17. How were the new towns different than older Irish towns?
18. What happened to the native Irish people as a result of the Ulster Plantation?
19. Why was the Ulster Plantation the most successful?
20. What were some of the main results of the Ulster Plantation?