The Munster Plantation, 1583-1641
The subject concerns the settlement of English families in southern Ireland after the death in rebellion of the last earl of Desmond. The survey commission of 1584 reveals the fragmented extent of escheated land and the haphazard nature of confiscation. The decision to colonise from England was not taken until consideration had been made of several alternative schemes. It is shown that the questions of moral legitimacy for the plantation and the general thrust of government policy - much worried over by historians today - did not preoccupy those planning the Munster venture. Brief mention is made over the background of the settlers and their recruitment and grouping. It is shown that a proportion of leading colonists were army men or administrators on the Irish establishment, many of whom with insufficient wealth or influence in England to promote their stipulated settlement. Because of faulty direction and the practical difficulties of such a vast project, assigning land and settling the newcomers took several years. Land claims from local inhabitants further slowed events. The English settlers in the 1590s numbered 3,500 and invested about 20,000 in the plantation. This sum and the small population proved
MacCarthy-Morrogh, Michael
European History
The Munster Plantation, 1583-1641. The subject concerns the settlement of English families in southern Ireland after the death in rebellion of the last earl of Desmond. The survey commission of 1584 reveals the fragmented extent of escheated land and the haphazard nature of confiscation. The decision to colonise from England was not taken until consideration had been made of several alternative schemes. It is shown that the questions of moral legitimacy for the plantation and the general thrust of government policy - much worried over by historians today - did not preoccupy those planning the Munster venture. Brief mention is made over the background of the settlers and their recruitment and grouping. It is shown that a proportion of leading colonists were army men or administrators on the Irish establishment, many of whom with insufficient wealth or influence in England to promote their stipulated settlement. Because of faulty direction and the practical difficulties of such a vast project, assigning land and settling the newcomers took several years. Land claims from local inhabitants further slowed events. The English settlers in the 1590s numbered 3,500 and invested about 20,000 in the plantation. This sum and the small population proved
plantation subject concern settlement english family southern ireland death rebellion last earl survey commission reveals fragment extent land nature decision colonise england take_consideration make several alternative scheme show question moral legitimacy plantation general thrust government_policy much worry historian today preoccupy planning venture brief mention make background settler recruitment group show proportion lead army men administrator irish establishment many insufficient wealth influence england promote stipulate settlement faulty direction practical difficulty vast project assign land settle newcomer take land claim local inhabitant slow event english settler number invest plantation sum small population prove