Why Do The Irish Hate The English... Notes!

The Catholics felt resentful to the protestant plantation. The plantation by the protestant started the rebellion by the Catholics in 1641. Large numbers of Protestants were killed. England was then heading towards the civil war, between King Charles I and the English parliament. After Charles I had been executed in 1649, Oliver Cromwell and his army were sent into Ireland to teach the Irish a lesson for rebelling. He did this by murdering the Irish Catholics in the towns of Wexford and Drogheda. There are reports from the Irish that women and children were herded into one of the churches in Drogheda and then set on fire, information tells us that only 40 people survived the attack. Cromwell taught the lesson so well people in Ireland still talk about the attack now and still hate Cromwell for what he did.

it would still upset the Irish today as many of their ancestors may have been victims in the attack and keeps the hatred alive

In 1688 England was ruled by a Catholic King James II, James was then kicked out and replaced by William of Orange (Protestant) James tried to win back the crown he did this based in Ireland. William sent troupes into Ireland most of which were Catholic William defeated James at the battle of the Boyne in July 1690.

The Irish lost more land which meant they could not vote and so the English Protestant took over the Irish parliament and passed the penal code from 1697 to 1721…

• No catholic can give his land to one son. He must divide it up between them but if one son became protestant then he shall give all his land to one son this means that there are no equal rights for Catholics and protestant.

• No catholic may possess a horse of greater value than £5 this means that the Irish were down graded and the was no equal rights

• No catholic shall be allowed to vote or become a member of parliament this would have meant that the Catholics had no power or control in how Ireland was run.

• No catholic may be a solicitor or lawyer this means that it still is not fair for Catholics

• No catholic can receive a higher education or professional job this would still be unfair for Catholics

• No catholic may join the army or the navy this would have meant that there was less opposition for the Protestant.

• Catholics cannot keep guns this would have meant that Catholics couldn’t protect themselves.

These laws were made to enforce protestant power; it remained in force until the end of the 18th century they also grant England control of Ireland.

The war was finished with the treaty of limerick which was very nice to the Catholics. 100 years later a parade was organised to remember the battle of the Boyne lots of Catholics joined in.