If, like me, the Eleven Years War in Ireland is new and a little confusing, I’ll give you some of the information I found while looking for information for The Parting Glass. Having a history degree has it’s advantages when writing historical fiction – but it also makes me a little more than pedantic about getting the facts as right as I possibly can, even if it is only to form the character of the people in the stories.

Basically, after the  Nine Years War, much of the land belonging to the Irish indigenous was taken and given to the new settlers. In addition, a third of the lands of the Irish gentry was confiscated in return for the recognition of their land titles.

The Eleven Years War can essentially be seen as fought along religious rather than nationality lines. The Kingdom of Ireland was considered Protestant, as was their government, regardless of the fact that the majority of the population was Catholic. Promised reform of this anomaly was promised by both James I and Charles I but both failed to deliver.

With unrest building on several fronts for several different reasons (not all Irish), the Eleven Years War started on 23rd October 1641, led by Rory O’Moore,  Connor Maguire, and Phelim O’Neill. 

The feature image is the Confederate Catholic Crest and reads: Irishmen United for God, King and Country. The Catholic Bishops in Ireland were also involved in this rebellion. You can read a really good account of the whole Eleven Years War to get a better picture.

It was ugly and it was brutal, with fatalities and casualties on both sides. Ultimately, the Catholics were defeated. I think it will be a fitting setting for The Parting Glass. I just have to make a connection to place the Irish Catholic subject of the story, who is called Padraig at this stage, in the right place at the ‘correct’ time.

Cheers

Kerry

Categories: Catholic vs Protestant non-fiction The Eleven Years War The Parting Glass

Tagged as: Catholic Charles I Cogadh na haon deag mbliana Connor Maguire Eleven Years War Ireland James I Nine Years War non-fiction Phelim O'Neill Protestant Rory O'Moore stories

Kerry A Waight - Author

A writer of historical fiction and paranormal stories.