Ireland has a very colourful and vibrant history, complex in nature, and at times difficult to understand. Jumping forward through the continuous onslaught from English kings and queens to conquer Ireland, it leads us to the Irish Confederate Wars (Eleven Years’ War) that occurred between 1641 and 1653. It was a mighty war between the three kingdoms of Ireland, England and Scotland, all under the rule of King Charles I. It began with a rebellion by Irish Catholics against the English administration, and in turn developed into a conflict with the Irish Catholics and the old English Catholics on one side against English and Scottish Protestant colonists. The war was to decide who would govern Ireland. It was a both a religious and ethnic conflict. 

The rebellion of 1641 in Ulster ignited the war and it spread south. In 1642, the Confederate of Catholics Ireland was formed and they controlled most of the country, comprising of both Irish and Old English. The Confederate of Catholics was an independent state ruling de facto until 1649. The wars raged on with heavy losses on both sides until Cromwellian conquest of Ireland began that ran from 1649 to 1653, initially under the leadership of Oliver Cromwell. In 1653 the Irish Confederates were defeated and the English parliament confiscated the lands owned by the Irish Catholics and this marked the end of the old Catholic landed class. 

The next phase of Irish ruling class would be through the Anglo Irish, and their golden era spanned the 18th and 19th centuries. The people maybe gone, the wars may be over but what remains is the shape of the landscape, buildings and monuments, etched into every townland, village, town and city. 

The “Anglo Irish” is a term used to describe the landed class or socially privileged, who were members of the Church of Ireland. They were descendants of the Protestant Ascendancy from the 17th century and were the ruling class up until the early 20th century Ireland. The Anglo Irish or “New English” replaced the Gaelic Lords and old English aristocracy (Hiberno Normans) as the ruling class in Ireland. The French Huguenots also became part of the Anglo Irish along with many of the Irish Catholic gentry families who swore allegiance to the British Crown, that allowed them to retain their holdings, therefore becoming part of the new ruling class. 

The Protestant Ascendancy came about following the Williamite Wars (1689-91) when much of the Irish land was confiscated by the British Crown and domination politically, socially and economically over Ireland, fell into the hands of great landowners. Very rich individuals became members of parliament in the Irish House of Lords. 

Many held major positions as navy/army officers and as administrators in the British Empire. They excelled in medicine, science, arts, culture, architecture etc, producing many great works and engineering feats, not just locally within Ireland, but internationally. 

However, the area that leaves distaste perhaps with some people today is that of the Landed Estates. Land granted to Anglo Irish classes whose earnings (not all) depended on land rents from tenant farmers. This started the building of the Great Houses or the "Big House" era that rose up throughout the Irish countryside during the 17th to the early 20th century, where lavish lifestyles were enjoyed on vast estates some exceeding thirty thousand acres. Today one can marvel at the wonderful architecture of these fine buildings and for those that remain, many are still maintained as private homes, others for luxury hotels, leisure centres and world-class golf courses, providing Ireland with some great international venues. It was the treatment by some of the landed estate landlords of their tenant farmers and labours that reflect harrowing memories for some today and as a result, during the Irish Civil War (1922-1923), many of these great houses were targets and burned to the ground, a symbol of ending the oppression by heavy-handed landlords. Many landlords treated their tenants fairly and provided employment and prosperity to the local area, building towns, streets, schools and piers, ensuring economic prosperity. 

The Anglo Irish was a mixed class of Irish, English, Welsh and French, not to be confused with the Presbyterians of Ulster whose ancestry is mostly Scottish. The Anglo Irish followed English practice and customs, for example, fox hunting and racing were popular sports with many of them feeling more English in Ireland and Irish in England. 

So where are they today? Many are still living in Ireland descendants from the Anglo Irish families, converting from the Church of Ireland to Roman Catholic, while others have retained their Protestant faith. Many still hold their titles of Knight, Lord, Baron, Marquess, Prince etc, but under the Irish Free State formed in 1922, they have no legal rights or benefits over the general population. “West Brit” or “West British” is a term often used to describe Irish people of Anglo Irish descent or for Irish people showing an Anglo interest in culture, or perhaps it is a notion, more in jest, of pointing out the difference in understanding of what it is to be truly Irish. 

Facing prosecution and slaughter for their religious beliefs, thousands of French Protestants were displaced from their country to seek refuge in foreign lands. What became a loss to France became an important gain for other countries. The mass exodus of people left a huge gap within society, creating a brain drain in France. The Huguenots as they were known by the 17th and 18th century prevailed and played vital, and pivotal roles in banking, industry, trade, business, armies, science, and engineering in their new found lands. 

Who were the Huguenots? 

The Huguenots were members of the Protestant Reformed Church of France during the 16th and 17th century. The inspiration for the French Protestants was the writings by the Calvinist Movement led by John Calvin in the 1530s. Where the name Huguenot came from is not entirely clear but there are several interpretations for its origins. However by the mid 16th century the protestant class were known as the Huguenots. On fleeing France they reached out to the Protestant nations that would provide them with security and a home like England, Wales, Scotland, Denmark, Sweden, Switzerland, Prussia, Cape Colony in South Africa, and the English colonies of North America. 

What Happened? 

As the number of Protestants grew within France, it caused a reaction from the Catholic Church and State. The Protestants were looked upon as heretics and were to be exterminated. The first reformed church of the Huguenots was established in Paris in 1555 and this only increased the hostility by the French Church. Thirty five years of war were to follow from 1562 when a number of Protestants were killed at Vassy in North Eastern France. During this time many massacres took place and one notable one became known as St. Bartholomew’s Day, where Catholics killed thousands of Huguenots in Paris. These massacres were repeated in major cities and towns across France. 

In 1598 the Edict of Nantes ended the religious wars granting French Protestants freedom to practice their religion. However throughout the 1600s the rights and freedom of the Protestants to take up positions in society and practice their faith was decreasing. In 1685 King Louis XIV revoked the Edict of Nantes declaring that all the Huguenot population were to convert to Catholicism in order to remain in France. This led to many Huguenots being captured and enslaved. They fled to Switzerland, Germany, Netherlands, Britain and Ireland. Some Huguenots settlers who fled to Brazil and Fort Caroline (Jacksonville, Florida, US) were not so fortunate facing imprisonment or death at the hands of the Portuguese and Spanish, if they did not convert to Catholicism. 

Arrival to Ireland

Under an act of parliament around 10,000 Huguenots were encouraged to settle in Ireland at the end of the 17th and early 18th century. Many moved on again to the colonies of North America. Even though their numbers in Ireland were small, their impact on the country was significant. They adjusted, flourished and seemed to fit easily into the Irish population, taking up positions and creating businesses within society. 

At this time the protestant population in Ireland were comprised of the Anglo Irish who were the privileged social group making up the professional and landed class from the 17th century up to the time of Irish independence in the early 20th century. The Huguenots became part of the Irish protestant population but were less socially prominent. Some of them fought for William of Orange in the Williamite wars and were rewarded with grants, titles and lands. They brought many new techniques and skills to Ireland and took up occupations as brewers, map makers, gold smiths, horticulturists, printers, merchants, watch makers, linen makers, engineers, farmers, scientists, musicians, shopkeepers, and more. 

Many more went on to hold high positions in society, like city and town mayors, architects, bankers, high sheriffs, and as Taoiseach (Prime Minister (Seán Lemass - 1959 – 1966)). Other notable Irish Huguenots and descendants are:

• Richard Gandon Architect of the Four Courts and Custom House, Dublin. 

• Richard Cassells Designed Leinster House, Powers Court and Carton House. 

• La Touche Started Bank of Ireland.

• William Dargan Engineer who constructed Ireland’s first railway line. 

• Artists Gabriel Béranger and George Victor Du Noyer.

• Linen Manufacturers Crommelin and De La Cherois Families.

• Writers: Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu, Charles Robert Maturin and Samuel Beckett.

• Oceanographers Mathew Fontaine Maury and Francis Beaufort (Beaufort Scale).

The Huguenots left their mark on Ireland in many ways and not only did the strange foreign names become as normal sounding as the Irish surnames, with many others changing their names to fit in with the locals. Many city and town streets like D’Olier Street, Dublin City; French Church Lane and Lavitt’s Quay, Cork City, now sound as Irish as they are French. 

The Huguenot Cross

The cross came into use in the late 17th century after the Edict of Nantes (1598) and there are varied stories of its origin. The cross is made up of four triangles that meet in the centre with eight rounded points signifying the eight beatitudes. 

For a people that were forced from their home they left an imprint in many countries around the world. For those who were forced to convert from their faith to remain in France, it was just and only right that in October 1985, President of France, Francois Mitterrand, announced a formal apology to the Huguenot descendants around the world. A postage stamp was released at this time honouring the Huguenots that read ‘France is the home of the Huguenots’.