Diarmuid Wheeler. Tudor policy in the midlands territories of Laois and Offaly c.1530-1603 by History Hub

'Tudor policy in the midlands territories of Laois and Offaly c.1530-1603' by Diarmuid Wheeler (NUIG).

Presentation recorded at the 2015 Tudor and Stuart Ireland Interdisciplinary Conference which took place from August 28-29 2015 in Maynooth University. Podcasting by Real Smart Media.

With the collapse of the rebellion of Silken Thomas FitzGerald, the territories of Laois and Offaly were exposed to the interventions of strictly English born governors who would henceforth conduct the administration of the crown government in Ireland. The first policy pursued by the new administration sought to absorb and create a smooth transition from Gaelic lordships, such as the O’More and O’Connor clans into the folds of English civility, the strategy known as ‘Surrender and regrant’ Although relatively successful at first, it moved at a sluggish pace and by late 1543 the policy was suspended but never wholly abandoned In the following years, the government altered its approach and instead pursued a policy of plantation in order to reduce and hopefully abolish entirely, the recurring raids upon the Pale by the Gaelic clans of the region. Little major change occurred under Elizabeth with regards to policy in the midlands with various deputies being appointed to pacify the region via upgrading the forts already established into market towns and establishing English settlers on a long-term basis with the creation of shire ground and the exclusion of any unruly, defiant Gaelic clans from owning land which in turn ensured that instability made this task extremely difficult as the costly garrisons were constantly on full alert and the settlers found it increasingly difficult to survive against stiff Gaelic resistance. This resistance, which often resulted in open warfare in the region, would transform its landscape politically, geographically, and historically and ensured that violence would endure for the great majority of the second half of the sixteenth century ultimately making the policy in its most basic form impossible to enforce.

The Tudor and Stuart Ireland conference was generously supported by UCD School of History, UCD Research, Marsh's Library, Graduate Studies Office at Maynooth University, the Department of History at Maynooth University and the Irish Research Council (New Foundations Award).