Author Archives: Ian Adamson

John Locke‘s ideas had provided the best theoretical justification for the “Glorious Revolution” of 1688. Locke’s Two Treatises of Government sought to establish the basis for legitimate government. He first set out to discredit the argument that a king’s power … Continue reading →

By the end of 1775 at least a quarter of a million Ulster men and women had left Ireland over a period of 58 years, and, according to some estimates, formed one sixth of the total population of the American … Continue reading →

In America’s Historylands, a celebration of the rich historical heritage of America, due acknowledgment is given to the pioneering efforts of these Ulster settlers: “Immigrants first settled the over-mountain country: Germans, English, Highlanders, Irish, Welsh, Scotch-Irish. New England stock seasoned … Continue reading →

The Protestants of Ulster had defended Derry and Enniskillen. They had saved Ireland for the British Crown. Yet all this passed for nothing. The English Church was Episcopalian and the ‘Protestant Ascendancy’ which now established itself in Ireland was thus … Continue reading →

The Byerley Turk (1678–1706) fought for King William of Orange at the Battle of the Boyne and is one of the most remarkable horses in history. I was presented with Jeremy James’ book on him by Eugene Keane,  when our Dalaradia organisation visited the Boyne, … Continue reading →

” There are three things which will never end….The Pride of France….The treachery of England…. And the War that is in Ireland” Jean Froissart (c 1337 – c1405) Waiting in the wings with his own army was a remarkable man … Continue reading →

Following the Battle of the Boyne, the military position in Ireland remained fluid. The Boyne has been described as one of the decisive battles of the western world, for it signalled to Europe defeat for the French and the Jacobites … Continue reading →

William III by Sir Godfrey Kneller As loyalty to James ebbed in England, so the civil power of Roman Catholics increased in Ireland. By the autumn of 1688 all the judges in Ireland were Roman Catholics as were almost all … Continue reading →

On 6 February 1685, Charles II of England died. There were suspicions among his physicians that his brother James had poisoned him to prevent him legitimising the claim of his natural son, the Protestant Duke of Monmouth. This appeared evident … Continue reading →

Following the death of Cromwell there was a year of turmoil, brought to a close by the restoration of Charles II in 1660. Charles’s first act was to restore the Episcopalian Church in the Three Kingdoms, and in 1661 an … Continue reading →