At the beginning of the sixteenth century, the South Connacht lordships of Clanrickard and Hy Many lay beyond the effective control of the Tudor government.

Clanrickard was ruled by the Burke dynasty, descendants of the thirteenth-century Anglo-Norman conquerors and colonists of Connacht, while Hy Many was governed by the indigenous Gaelic Irish O’Kelly lords.

And that’s the background to a major new book written by Galway historian, Dr Joe Mannion, which was officially launched by Stephen G. Ellis, Professor Emeritus of History at the University of Galway in Claregalway Castle.

The event began at 8pm, and the panel of speakers included representatives of the Clanrickard Burkes and the O’Kellys of Hy Many among others.

Joseph Mannion is a former primary school principal in Woodford and he holds a PhD in history from the University of Galway. He has published widely on the medieval and early modern history of the Connacht region.

He is also the driving force behind the annual gathering of the Mannion Clan, and he is a past director and chairman of Clans of Ireland.

In this new publication, he charts the episodic expansion of English rule into the lordships, while taking cognizance of major government initiatives such as the surrender and regrant programme of the early 1540s, the establishment of the Connacht presidency in 1569, and the composition of Connacht in 1585.

The difficulties experienced by the historically hostile political communities of Clanrickard and Hy Many as they endeavoured to accommodate the expanding Tudor state are analysed and discussed, as are the consequent changes in the political, social and economic fabric of the province of Connacht.

Published by Four Courts Press, it retails at €55 and will be for sale on the night, and then from all good bookshops – or directly from www.fourcourtspress.ie/books/2024/anglicizing-tudor-connacht/.

Pictured: Book launch…Dr Joe Mannion, seen here in front of the large turnout for the original Mannion gathering at Menlough Community Centre.