17th Century
The 17th century was perhaps the bloodiest in Ireland's history. Two periods of civil war (1641-53 and 1689-91) caused huge loss of life and resulted in the final dispossession of the Irish Catholic landowning class and their subordination under the Penal Laws.
In this exhibit
In this room, you will find replica weapons of the time, including guns, cannon balls and pike, as well as a brilliantly realised seventeenth-century tavern scene. You can also find further information on the Ulster Plantation, the 1641 rising, and Bishop William Bedell of Kilmore, who first translated the Old Testament into Irish.
Further Information
The 1641 rising: the rumour of a general rising by the Old English and native Irish reached the British settlers in Cavan on 23 October, 1641. A faltering attempt at defending Belturbet was made by a small garrison of soldiers there. That evening, the British were fired upon and thrown out of their houses. The insurgents returned to Cavan town the following day, and the settlers there surrendered without recourse to violence on 27 October.