Ulster's Plantation Towns - Dr Brendan Scott

This lecture by Dr Brendan Scott, manager of Irish Family History Foundation and author of a number of books and articles dealing with religion, trade and society in sixteenth-and seventeenth-century Ireland, was delivered as part of a conference on the Ulster Plantation held at Public Record Office of Northern Ireland (PRONI) on 12 February, 2026. In his talk, Brendan Scott discusses the historical development and lasting impact of plantation towns in Ulster during the early 17th century. Covering aspects such as town planning, population dynamics, and the socio-political motivations behind the creation of these towns, Dr Scott highlights both successes and challenges faced in the colonial efforts to establish English-style urban settlements in Ireland. The lecture also addresses the incorporation process, market establishment, and efforts to exclude Gaelic Irish influences, ultimately arguing for the enduring success of these plantation towns. The event was hosted by the People of the Ulster Plantation Database project, a research project jointly managed by Queen’s University Belfast and Maynooth University. For more information visit: www.rootsireland.ie/ www.ulsterhistoricalfoundation.com/shop/products/henry-jones www.fourcourtspress.ie/books/2019/society-and-administration-in-ulsters-plantation-towns