finally secured lands did not fulfil the conditions laid down for them; far fewer English families were brought over than had been arranged for, and Irish tenants were brought in to fill the gaps. Of some thirty "Undertakers" only thirteen actually inhabited their properties in 1592,[1] and they had only "planted" two hundred and forty-five English families on their lands.
Yet, especially in County Limerick, a fairly considerable English element was introduced, much less, however, than our popular histories would lead one to believe. In 1611[2] the total armed force of the colonists only amounted to 196 horse and 537 foot. A curious feature, too, is that in 1641 a large number of the descendants of the "Undertakers" were Catholics. As such the Brownes of Killarney, the Spensers in County Cork, the Fittons of Any, the Walshes of Owney, the Thorntons and the Rawleys (these last said to be kinsmen of Sir Walter Raleigh) were all deprived of their estates by the Cromwellian confiscation."[3]
Among the traitors attainted by the Act 28th Eliz., Chap. 7, were several chiefs of Irish clans. The MacCarthys, as hereditary enemies of the house of Desmond, had supported the Crown against the Earl. But the fact that MacCarthy Mor stood by the Crown was enough to throw some of the Irish clans who were nominally subject to him on the side of the Earl. So we find among the list of those attainted, MacCarthy lord of Sliocht Owen Mor of Coshmaing, O'Donoghue
