Four-hundred years of history explored

Four-hundred years after the 1609 Plantation of Ulster, academics are reappraising the plantation in an attempt to cement links between London and Derry.

Three conferences to be held later this year in London, Derry and Dublin will focus on separate aspects of the legacy of the Plantation, which involved the systematic colonisation of Donegal, Tyrone, Derry, Armagh, Cavan and Fermanagh by settlers from England and Scotland.

One of the organisers of Plantation of Ulster, 1609 -2009: A Laboratory for Empire, University of Ulster historian Dr Éamonn Ó Ciardha, said its importance to the shared histories of Ireland, Britain and the first British Empire could not be overstated.

"It effectively copper-fastened the English and British conquest of Ireland, and transformed Ireland's physical, demographic, socio-economic, political, military, religious and cultural landscapes.

"No other city in the world has such strong ties to London as Derry, and the 400th anniversary of the plantation is an opportune time to capitalise on this unique link."

Mr Ó Ciardha was keen to stress the event was not only open to academics.

"We want to extend a warm invitation to people in the twinned cities of London/Derry-Londonderry to engage in a re-examination of and re-engagement with their long, intertwined and often fraught histories."

Mr Ó Ciardha said it would be an opportunity to dispel the commonly-held misconception that the Plantation of Ulster was just about religion.

"Religion will be discussed but so will politics, diplomacy, war, atrocity, economics, political economy, civil culture, urbanisation, migration, the British Atlantic world, environmental history, historical geography, cartography and cultural heritage."

The Plantation was bankrolled by the London merchant companies who operated under the umbrella of The Honourable the Irish Society.

As part of the plantation strategy, new model settlements were strung out across Ulster, financed by the 17th century equivalent of modern-day venture capitalists.

Some like Derry, Coleraine, Dungannon and Enniskillen prospered and grew, but others like Butlersbridge, Ballieborough, Ballykelly, Ramelton and Raphoe remained small pockets of population in largely rural areas.

Historians often claim that the planters exploited the province's natural resources, but Dr Ó Ciardha said it was difficult to assess the overall impact of the plantation in positive or negative terms.

"The plantation brought about all kinds of changes and there were some improvements and innovations in agriculture and industry," he said.

"Field systems, crop rotation and orchards were introduced, as were new crops such as herbs, artichokes and linen. The latter would have a significant impact in terms of economic growth in subsequent centuries."

The conferences take place in London on 25-26 June, in Derry on 3-5 July and in Dublin on 23-25 October.

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The London event will focus on the English and British political contexts and the role of the London companies.

It will then move to Derry where the political, religious and architectural impact of the plantation will be examined.

The event will conclude in Trinity College Dublin - a major economic beneficiary of the plantation and archival receptacle for its cartographic, historical and literary records - with a conference on the 1641 Rebellion.

On 23 October, the 368th anniversary of the outbreak of the Rebellion, Professor Aidan Clarke of Trinity will deliver the keynote address in Dublin Castle.

The full programme of the events is available at www.theplantationofulster.co.uk.