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

by Thomas D'Arcy McGee

"A Popular History of Ireland: from the Earliest Period to the Emancipation of the Catholics" by Thomas D'Arcy McGee is a comprehensive historical account likely written in the mid-19th century. The work chronicles the long and complex journey of Ireland's struggle for autonomy and the religious tensions that shaped its society, focusing on key political figures and major events throughout Irish history. At the start of the second volume, the narrative delves into the events leading up to the English Reformation's impact on Ireland, particularly under Sir Henry Sidney's deputyship in the late 1500s. It outlines the disruptions caused by powerful local leaders such as O'Neil and the Geraldines, and the subsequent resistance against English colonial policies. The text highlights the formation of alliances, the rise and fall of various factions, and the interplay of political and military strategies as conflicts unfold, setting the stage for the ongoing battles for religious and political rights leading up to the Emancipation of the Catholics in later years.