Flight of the Earls

[Star Spangler]

This year marks the 400th anniversary of the Flight of the Earls which came about as a result of the Munster and Leinster Irish chieftains siding with Queen Elizabeth I to ensure the defeat of the Ulster clans at Kinsale.  I think this event has a lot more resonance today than some people would give credit.

[oneillcup2007]

Sad but true Spangler.  Sad but true!!

[scalder]

Oh dear God – I hope this is a poor attempt at a wind up? First off history at the time was far more complex than most of us realise but primarily it was about survival. However before you go ranting about the evil deeds of the south let me point out that one of the Earls, Hugh O'Neill was in 1580 involved in the brutal Crown suppression of the 2nd Desmond Rebellion in Munster. This suppression set the scene for the plantation of Munster and the final Elizabethan conquest of Ireland – without this the plantation of Ulster would never probably have been possible. Over 30,000 died in Munster alone in this campaign never mind those who were butchered in Connacht and Leinster (which Rose too – most notably Fiach McHugh O'Byrne). So you see not only is it complex but O'Neills actions helped to lay the foundations of his ultimate downfall. However the blame goes back to the England's door, it was they who sought to turn us against each other, divide and conquer and all that.

[deiseach]

scalder, you should know at this stage that it was just another moment in Irish history - going back to 1169 - when if only we had stuck together for a few hours against perfidious Albion, a 32-county socialist republic would have blossomed and been a beacon unto the world. Here endeth the lesson.

[red hander]

"Take it down from the mast Irish traitors..."

[Rav67]

This year marks the 400th anniversary of the Flight of the Earls which came about as a result of the Munster and Leinster Irish chieftains siding with Queen Elizabeth I to ensure the defeat of the Ulster clans at Kinsale.  I think this event has a lot more resonance today than some people would give credit.

What great significance would you attach to the event then in relation to today's Ireland?  Obviously there is a cause-and-effect to all history but certainly any modern political ideologies as we know it did not exist then eg nationlism/republicanism/socialism.

[Hollow Man]

history at the time

I stopped reading here