The crisis that befell Ireland in the 1640s has always fascinated historians. This volume of essays presents cutting-edge research on various aspects of the Irish wars, notably regionalism, the nature of English interventions, popular politics and the problems of allegiance, authority and legitimacy in church and state. The chapters include studies of the earl of Cork in Munster, the earl of Clanricarde in Connacht and Lord Montgomery in Ulster, as well as the Confederate Catholic engagement with popular politics. The role of the marquess of Ormond, the Irish Parliament and the Church of Ireland are also examined in new ways, and the volume ends with a fresh look at the war of words between Oliver Cromwell and the Catholic Church. Ireland in crisis presents a very different view of the period that challenges existing assumptions. It will appeal to lecturers, students and the general reader.

Introduction: the confederate wars revisited - Patrick Little1 Holding on: the earl of Cork's Blackwater army and the defence of Protestant Munster, 1641-43 - David Edwards
2 The Sea Adventure to Munster and Connacht, July and August 1642 - David Brown
3 'To hold a good opinion of my loyalty and zealous affections': the earl of Clanricarde and the royalist cause in Connacht, 1643-46 - Aoife Duignan
4 'Clotworthy is a zealous man, yet hath his purse well lined': Sir John Clotworthy, John Davies and the politics of supply, 1644-45 - Andrew Robinson
5 The Irish Parliament after the rebellion, 1642-48 - Coleman A. Dennehy
6 The recruiter returns to the Irish Parliament, 1642-48 - Bríd McGrath
7 The politics of preferment: the marquess of Ormond, Archbishop Ussher and the appointment of Irish bishops, 1643-47 - Patrick Little
8 The marquess of Ormond, Lord Montgomery of the Ards, and the problem of authority in Ulster, 1649 - Kevin Forkan
9 The confederate Catholics of Ireland and popular politics - Eamon Darcy
10 Oliver Cromwell, priestcraft, and the 'deluded and seduced' people of Ireland - John Morrill
Index