Liam's Irish Traditional Music - Irelands culture and tradition

When, Cromwell died in 1658, there was no, one who seemed able to provide strong leadership in his place. The Republican army feared a rebellion from within itself, or disturbances from radical working class protestants in England, and so a request was made for the restoration of the monarchy in 1660. Charles II, sympathised with the cause of the Catholics, his brother James, openly practised his Catholic faith. When Charles II took the English throne in 1688, Parliament feared the growth of a thoroughly Catholic court, and administration which would undermine their power, a suitable Protestant monarch was therefore found in the daughter of James 11, who had married into the leading Dutch family. Both Mary and her husband, William of Orange, were Protestants. William demanded Joint sovereignty, with, his wife as Queen. Parliament agreed to this and William invaded England

With French, money and troops James 11 landed in Ireland and found support from both Catholics and Protestants loyalty to the Crown, rather than to religion gathered Irish people together. In 1689, Ulster was once again the centre of resistance, this time with a difference.