But any systematic endeavours to complete the transformation were soon rendered abortive by being coupled with huge confiscations of land.

The policy of converting the members of the clans into freeholders was subordinated to the policy of planting British colonists.

After this there was no question of fusion of races or institutions.

Plantations on a large scale, self-supporting, self-protecting, became the policy alike of the soldier and the statesman.
The inevitable result of these methods was that it was not until a comparatively late date that a political conception of an Irish nation first began to emerge out of the congeries of clans.

In the State Papers of the sixteenth century the clans are frequently spoken of as 'nations.' Even as late as the eighteenth century a Gaelic poet, in a typical lament, thus identifies his country with the fortunes of her great families:-- The O'Doherty is not holding sway, nor his noble race; The O'Moores are not strong, that once were brave-- O'Flaherty is not in power, nor his kinsfolk; And sooth to say, the O'Briens have long since become English.
Of O'Rourke there is no mention--my sharp wounding! Nor yet of O'Donnell in Erin; The Geraldines they are without vigour--without a nod, And the Burkes, the Barrys, the Walshes of the slender ships.[13] The modern political idea of Irish nationality at length asserted itself as the result of three main causes.