Ireland History – Northern Irish History Belfast Dublin

The failure of the Bruce invasion did not check the recovery of the Irish, which had already begun. On the contrary, the recovery became more pronounced and the clans stronger. The devastation of war, famine, and pestilence had brought the whole island to ruin, and in this were involved the two races and all classes. [...]

During the three years and a half of the Bruce invasion the sufferings of the Irish people were much greater even than before. The war had been a devastating one, and it had been accom¬panied by bad harvests, famine, and plague. Whether or not there were other reasons—either personal or national—for animosity it is difficult [...]