Legislation in the form of the Penal Laws from the late seventeenth century onwards also had a significant impact, though in spite of these laws the Catholic Church was able to operate in most areas, even if clandestinely at different times.
Here we provide an overview of the history of Catholicism in Ulster in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries and identify resources that can help you research your Catholic ancestors in the north of Ireland during this era.
We have an essay on The Catholic Church in Ulster, 1600–1800 as well as a page on Places and Objects of Interest which includes photographs of Catholic churches, memorials and chalices in the province of Ulster. There are further details of the Penal Laws and how they affected Catholics in this period.