The English started to settle the Ulster counties in 1607, the same year as the colonists settled Jamestown (a coincidence I found interesting). Roughly 150,000 Scots and 20,000 English came over. They set up plantations, which many republican Irish view with disdain, and shipped the native Irishmen off to horrible bits of real estate. Much like what the colonists did to the Indians.
However, what makes Ireland any different from Wales and Scotland? This is the question posed in part 1 of the wonderful Ireland’s Agony book, and I think it is an interesting one to consider. The author points out that England, Scotland, and Wales are connected through dynasties, as in 1485 the Welsh Henry Tudor took over the English crown and in 1607 Scottish James I did the same. This was not the case with Ireland.
He also makes the case that “England doesn’t understand Ireland.” On the most basic level, I believe this stems largely from the religious differences between the two countries. The English king never trusted the Irishmen who were had allegiance to a foreign power in Rome, and the Irish didn’t appreciate the idea of converting to Protestantism.
Thus, these things I believe are quite important in understanding the IRA and Ireland, as many seem to be deeply connected to their history and still have very strong feelings about it.
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