A video lecture on the Penal Laws in Ireland.
Key Penal Laws & Provisions
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- Religious Restrictions:
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- Banned Catholic clergy from entering Ireland (Banishment Act 1697).
- Forced attendance at Protestant worship, with fines for absence (Popery Acts).
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- Made it illegal to own a Catholic school or educate children abroad (Education Act 1695).
- Religious Restrictions:
- Land & Property:
- Prohibited Catholics from buying land or leasing land over a certain value (Popery Acts).
- Prevented Catholics from inheriting land from Protestants or taking mortgages.
- Limited the value of horses Catholics could own (e.g., under £5).
- Political & Civil Exclusion:
- Excluded Catholics from Parliament and public office.
- Denied voting rights (Disenfranchising Act 1728).
- Banned Catholics from professions like law or medicine and from holding military commissions.
- Forbidden to keep arms for protection.
- Specific Acts:
- Act for the better securing the government, by disarming papists 1695: Allowed seizure of Catholic arms.
- Popery Acts (1704, 1709): Reinforced restrictions on land, education, and clergy.
Repeal & Legacy
- Repealed gradually through relief acts starting in 1771.
- The last major disability (Oath of Supremacy) removed in 1829, notes Wikipedia.
- Led to secret education (Hedge Schools) and a diaspora seeking opportunity abroad. ——————————————————————————————————————–
1798 Rebellion is available here https://linktr.ee/irishhistory