Ireland and Scotland : historical perspectives on the Gaelic dimension, 1560-1760
This thesis provides a general overview of the links between the Scottish Gaels of the western seaboard of Scotland and the Gaelic-speaking peoples of Ireland, especially of Ulster, between 1560 and 1760. It covers a period of dramatic transformation in Gaelic society, from the age of Reformation to the collapse of Jacobitism and the decline of clanship. The focus of fresh interpretation is on religious, social and, to a lesser extent, economic links, but political, military and cultural connections are also considered, in order to reach an understanding of the encompassing historical perspective which governs the relationship between the Gaels. Most connections in 1560 were related to the trade in Highland mercenaries to Ulster and Connacht, and to the growing territorial aspirations of a small colony of MacDonald settlers in Antrim. The Union of the Crowns in 1603 and the coterminous completion of the Tudor conquest of Ireland had a number of consequences on pan-Gaelic relations. The mercenary trade came to an end, leading to the creation a pool of redundant swordsmen in both countries. Highlanders were officially excluded from the plantation of Ulster in 1610, which introduced more of an English-speaking
MacDonald, Fiona Anne
History
Ireland and Scotland : historical perspectives on the Gaelic dimension, 1560-1760. This thesis provides a general overview of the links between the Scottish Gaels of the western seaboard of Scotland and the Gaelic-speaking peoples of Ireland, especially of Ulster, between 1560 and 1760. It covers a period of dramatic transformation in Gaelic society, from the age of Reformation to the collapse of Jacobitism and the decline of clanship. The focus of fresh interpretation is on religious, social and, to a lesser extent, economic links, but political, military and cultural connections are also considered, in order to reach an understanding of the encompassing historical perspective which governs the relationship between the Gaels. Most connections in 1560 were related to the trade in Highland mercenaries to Ulster and Connacht, and to the growing territorial aspirations of a small colony of MacDonald settlers in Antrim. The Union of the Crowns in 1603 and the coterminous completion of the Tudor conquest of Ireland had a number of consequences on pan-Gaelic relations. The mercenary trade came to an end, leading to the creation a pool of redundant swordsmen in both countries. Highlanders were officially excluded from the plantation of Ulster in 1610, which introduced more of an English-speaking
ireland_scotland historical_perspective gaelic dimension provide_general overview link scottish western seaboard scotland gaelic speaking ireland especially ulster cover_period dramatic transformation gaelic society age reformation collapse decline focus fresh interpretation religious social lesser_extent economic link political_military cultural connection also_consider order_reach encompass historical_perspective relationship connection related trade highland mercenary ulster grow territorial aspiration small colony macdonald settler union coterminous completion tudor conquest ireland number consequence pan gaelic relation mercenary trade come end lead_creation pool redundant country highlanders officially exclude plantation ulster introduce english_speaking