Civilisation britannique | The Plantation of Ulster
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Religious differences caused great conflict between Britain and Ireland. In 1607, during the reign of King James I, the English people decided to send Protestants to inhabit Ireland. This was done with the purpose of “civilizing” the catholic Irish. This was called ‘The Plantation of Ulster’.
Below is a quotation from the 12th century:
“They live on beasts only, and live like beasts. They have not progressed at all from the habits of pastoral living... This is a filthy people, wallowing in vice. Of all peoples it is the least instructed in the rudiments of the faith. They do not yet pay tithes or first fruits or contract marriages. They do not avoid incest.”-
Gerald of Wales [Gerald of Wales (1146-1223) was a secular clerk and prolific author of Latin texts]
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Both English and Scottish families of Protestant faith were given small plantations in the north of Ireland (Ulster). These farming families introduced new farming methods. The Irish were hired as labourers on the land they had once owned and farmed themselves. In 1603, 90% of Irish land was owned by Catholics.
By 1750, they owned only 5%. By 1640, 30,000 Protestant Scots and English were living in Ulster while Catholics represented 75% of the population of Ireland. Today Many Ulster Protestants are descendants of settlers who arrived from Britain in the early 17th century Ulster Plantation. |
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Today's situation in Ulster
Difference between percentage of Catholics and percentage of Protestants in the current districts at the time of the 2011 census.
Weaker colours indicate more mixed districts. Stronger colours indicate greater predominance of either Catholics (blue) or Protestants (red). |