...because they don't get any recognition. The map below is from a book published in 1952, which shows the locations of the Anglo-Norman castles and motes in Ulster. These were built following the arrival in 1177 of John de Courcy. In 1210, King John (of Magna Carta fame) visited Ireland - 2010, the 800th anniversary of this, came and went and as far as I'm aware nobody commemorated it. Yet in many cases it was the Anglo-Normans who were responsible for the building of castles and churches which the later Scots then extended or refurbished. 
Dunluce Castle is a good example of this, originally built in the late 1200s by Richard de Burgh, the Anglo-Norman 2nd Earl of Ulster. But it's often only talked about today as having been a MacDonnell castle, because of the (originally Scottish) Macdonnells who took control of it three centuries later, in the late 1500s. Conversely, at Grey Abbey, the Anglo-Norman origins of the Abbey are well articulated - and yet the role of the later Scots who revitalised the ruins and restored worship there is unfortunately downplayed. There are other similar examples in Antrim and Down, as the map shows. Ulster has a three-way cultural triple blend of Irish, English and Scottish influences. To tell the true story, all three strands must be presented.
(Click the map to enlarge)
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Sometimes I feel sorry for the Ulster English...
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6 comments:
The map appears not to show the castles around the mouth of Strangford Lough - Kilclief is shown, but not Audley's, Myra, Quoile.
Any ideas why?
Sandy - yes, I noticed that too, but no idea why they're missing from the map.
Surely you are not forgetting the large influx of English settlers who arrived as part of the Ulster Plantation in the early-mid 17th century? The numbers of these folk were often the same, if not greater than Scottish Planters in some areas, particularly in Fermanagh and Cavan. In fact, it would be interesting to ponder how numerous these later settlers were compared to their Anglo-Norman forebearers, considering how brittle the power of the Norman Earldom of Ulster proved to be.
Zoso - thanks for your comment, and the English contribution does indeed include far more than the Anglo-Norman period. If you dig around my blog you'll see that I've touched on the Cromwellian period when English army chaplains formed the first Baptist congregations here. During 2010 I published a booklet on the 1572 English colony of Sir Thomas Smith. The story of the Earl of Essex's time here is also an important element. The English story is important but sadly it tends to be overlooked these days.
Mark-thanks for your reply. Generally I feel the ignorance of the English Planters story goes hand-in-hand with the general ignorance of the Plantation period in general by the local and national media. I think if there were more attempts to educate the local Ulster and wider British and Irish public in this period of history, it would only lead to more understanding and appreciation of the historically diverse cultural and religious elements of the province, surely only a good thing. Keep up the good work on the blog, I have a copy of the 2010 Smith book as it happens, looking forward to reading it. The failed 'planter' site down at Mahee Castle is another site I find very interesting and worth further investigation.
Zoso - I agree, and as long as the dominant narrative in Northern Ireland remains a political one (British v Irish) rather than cultural (irish + English + Scottish) then ignorance will continue. I hope you enjoy the Smith book, and thanks for your kind words about this blog.
I get more emails than I do posted comments, so thanks for taking the time to make your views public here. I hope it encourages others to do so as well.
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