A Popular History of Ireland : from the Earliest Period to the Emancipation of the Catholics - Volume 2

This volume sweeps through the turbulent centuries when Ireland’s landscape was reshaped by conquest, rebellion, and shifting allegiances. It begins with the late‑sixteenth‑century upheavals—Sir Henry Sidney’s deputyship, the Geraldine leagues, and the early plantation schemes that set the stage for fierce resistance in Munster and Ulster. The narrative follows the rise of figures such as Hugh O’Neil and Hugh Roe O’Donnell, the clash of English and Spanish interests, and the dramatic battles that defined the era, from Glenmalure to the fateful encounter at the Yellow Ford.

Moving forward, the work examines the political and religious turbulence of the seventeenth century, the Confederate Wars, and the profound impact of Cromwell’s campaigns. It then traces the Restoration, the Williamite conflicts, and the gradual emergence of a public spirit that fueled calls for reform. The later chapters detail the rise of parliamentary independence, the influence of Enlightenment ideas, and the growing push for Catholic relief that would eventually reshape Irish society.