In this section you can discover how The Flight of the Earls in 1607 and O'Doherty's rebellion the following year persuaded King James I to introduce a more radical Plantation plan with the help of the London Livery Companies.
16th century colonisation plans for Ulster The Tudor monarchy did not support large-scale Scottish settlement in Ulster. Find out what happened to Queen Elizabeth I's plan to encourage English colonial settlement in the Ards Peninsula.
Flight of the Earls The sudden departure of the Earls after The Nine Years' War led to the Plantation of Ulster. Discover the fate of the Earls after they left Rathmullan for Spain.
Plans and implementation After the O’Doherty rebellion in 1608 King James 1 instigated a more radical Plantation project. Discover whether more Scots than English migrated to Ulster in search of a better life.
The London Companies Financial backing for the Plantation of Ulster came from 12 of London’s largest livery companies. Find out whether they hungered after profit or fulfilled their settlement commitments.
Reaction of the natives After The Flight of the Earls many native Irish welcomed the restructuring of land ownership. Discover why Lord Deputy Chichester warned planters of the danger of natives cutting their throats.
Economic background of the settlers The Plantation of Ulster depended on wealthy investors from England and Scotland. Read about how economic poverty in Scotland encouraged thousands to migrate to Ulster in search of prosperity.
Economic and social conditions Early Plantation settlers were poor and lived in rural areas but within a generation small market towns developed. Discover the range of consumer goods imported to service this new economy.
Women and the Plantation The ratio between men and women settlers during the early years of the Plantation was uneven. Discover whether women had more protection under English common law than Gaelic law.
Religion Scottish and English planters were obliged to conform to the Protestant reformation. Read about the tensions that developed between the overwhelmingly Presbyterian Scottish settlers and the Anglican English settlers.
1641 Rebellion During the 1641 Rebellion native Catholics surprised Protestant settlers and killed thousands. Was the massacre a reaction to the Plantation? Find out how historians interpret this tragic event today.
Long term consequences The Plantation failed in its objective to undermine Catholicism and subjugate the native Irish. Discover how it determined the long term division of Northern Ireland into Catholic and Protestant communities.
