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Confessionalization and Clan Cohesion: Ireland’s Contribution to Scottish Catholic Renewal in the Seventeenth Century

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  16 February 2015

Scott R. Spurlock
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Abstract

The story of the relationship between Ulster and Scotland during the seventeenth century has long been dominated by the flow of people and ideas from Scotland to the north of Ireland. This, however, belies the prominent role that Ireland had in the social and cultural history of the Western Isles and Highlands of Scotland during that century. This paper argues that of even greater importance to the resurgence of Catholicism in the Scottish Gaidhealtachd than a Rome driven Counter-Reformation were the financial support and personnel provided by Ulster Catholics. In the face of aggressive Stuart policies, Catholicism was rejuvenated and became an ideological justification for asserting traditional rights in the face of government sanctioned, Protestant blessed, incursions in the Western Isles. Moreover, in the face of historiography that has argued for the continual disintegration of ClanDonald throughout the seventeenth century, this article explores the ways the clans and their neighbours inspired, funded and facilitated the revival of Catholicism in the Gaidhealtachd.

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Articles
Information
British Catholic History , Volume 31 , Issue 2 , October 2012 , pp. 171 - 194
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Copyright © Catholic Record Society 2012

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References

Notes

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42 Ibid., no. 70 (p. 178).

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54 Ibid., no. 40 (p. 124).

55 Ibid., no. 21 (p. 66).

56 Ibid., nos 20 (pp. 55–6), 21 (pp. 66–7), 26 (p. 102).

57 Ibid., nos 20, 21, 26, 30 (pp. 106–7). Giblin interprets this as meaning Sutherland and Caithness (Mission, xii). Fiona Macdonald, on the other hand, has speculated that since those regions are actually in the Highlands it is more likely that he resided with Gordon of Cluny in Aberdeenshire (Macdonald, Missions, pp. 81, 83). In any case, when he was appointed superior over the mission as the result of his long service the other missionaries complained that he was too far away to be of any regular help (Giblin, Mission, nos 42, 60, 66).

58 Ibid., no. 69 (pp. 172–7).

59 Ibid., no. 21 (p. 73–4).

60 Ibid., no. 21 (pp. 72–3, 73–4).

61 Ibid., no. 20 (pp. 52–3).

62 Ibid., nos 21 (pp. 66–9), 36 (p.122).

63 Ibid., no. 16 (p. 37).

64 Ibid., nos 15 (pp. 32–6), 20 (pp. 53–4, 55–6), 21 (pp. 66–7), 25 (pp. 96–7).

65 Ibid., no. 20 (p. 56–7); John L. Campbell, ‘Some notes and comments on “the Irish Franciscan Mission in Scotland”’ by Rev. Cathaldus Giblin, O. F. M.’ IR 4 (1953), pp. 42–8, p. 43.

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