In recent decades, the historiography of early modern Ireland in general, and of the seventeenth century in particular, has been revitalised. However, whilst much of this new work has focused either on the critical decades of the 1640s or the Williamite wars, the Restoration period still remains largely neglected. As such this volume provides an opportunity to explore the period between 1660 and 1688, and reassess some of the crucial events it witnessed. For whilst it may lack some of the high drama of the Civil War or the Glorious Revolution, this was a time that established a political and social settlement, based upon the maintenance of the massive land confiscations of the 1650s, that would underpin the social and class structure of Ireland until the end of the nineteenth century. Including contributions from both established and younger scholars, this collection provides a set of interlocking and interrelated essays that focus on the central concerns of the volume, whilst occasionally reaching beyond the chronological and thematic barriers of the period as required. The result is a homogenous volume, that not only addresses a glaring historiographical gap in critical areas of the Restoration period; but also serves to take stock of the work that has been done on the period; and as a consequence of this it will help stimulate and provoke further argument, debate, and research into the history of Ireland during the Restoration period. Directed primarily at an academic audience, this collection will be useful to a range of scholars with an interest in seventeenth century political, social and religious history.

This study fills a major gap in the mainstream narrative of Irish history by reconstructing political developments in the year before the restoration of Charles II. It is the first treatment of the complex Irish dimension of the king's return. The issue of the monarchy did not stand alone in Ireland. Entangled with it was the question of how the restoration of the old regime would affect a Protestant colonial community which had changed in character and fortune as a result of the Cromwellian conquest, the immigration that had accompanied it and the massive transfer of land that followed. As the return of Charles became increasingly probable, Cromwellian and pre-Cromwellian settlers were united in their determination to ensure that the restoration of Charles did not deprive them of their gains. This account discloses how the leaders of the Protestant establishment protected its interests by managing the transition back to monarchy.

Crossing boundaries of political, intellectual and cultural history, this study highlights the complexity of political culture in Restoration Ireland. This book focuses on how historical memory and political discourse affected land settlement and political processes in early Restoration Ireland. The period 1660-1667 was one of insecurity for the Protestant plantation in Ireland, as Catholic spokesmen undermined the Protestant status quo. The Stuart Restoration and the English in Ireland draws out the dynamism of the rhetorical, moral and legal challenges that Catholics made to Protestant power inIreland and examines the Protestant responses and the rise of a Protestant identity inextricably linked with the possession of power. This identity was expressed as that of the 'English in Ireland', a belligerent self-denominationwhich did little to accommodate the king or the importance of monarchy to the Protestant position in the country. Crossing boundaries of political, intellectual and cultural history, the book highlights the complexity of political culture in Restoration Ireland, which was defined by the intersection of political language, ideas, historical understandings and economic imperatives. DANIELLE McCORMACK is Assistant Professor at the Department of Celtic Languages and Literatures at Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznan, Poland.

From the first prehistoric inhabitants of the island to the St Andrews Agreement and decommissioning of IRA weapons, this uniquely concise account of Ireland and its people reveals how differing interpretations of history, ancient and modern, have influenced modern Irish society. Combining factual information with a critical approach, Coohill covers all the key events, including the Great Famine, Home Rule, and the Good Friday Agreement. Updated with two new chapters expanding the discussion of pre-modern Ireland, as well as developments in the 21st century, this highly accessible and balanced account will continue to provide a valuable resource to all those wishing to acquaint themselves further with the complex identity of the Irish people.