Walter Spring facts for kids

Walter Spring (born 1620, died around 1678) was an important landowner in Ireland. He was known as "The Unfortunate" because of the tough times he faced. Walter was a Catholic and played a part in the Irish Confederate Wars, a big conflict in Ireland during the 1600s.

Walter Spring's Early Life

Walter Spring was the son of Thomas Spring, who was a lawyer. His grandfather, also named Walter Spring, had been a important official called the High Sheriff of Kerry. His great-grandfather, Captain Thomas Spring, was in charge of Castlemaine fortress.

Walter inherited his family's lands in County Kerry from his father. This included Killagha Abbey, which was where he was born and grew up.

A Different Path: Walter's Faith

Unlike his family members before him, Walter Spring was raised as a Catholic. This was a big deal at the time. His family had been Protestant for generations.

Walter controlled the important fortress at Castlemaine. He also owned lands around Milltown. This made him a very important person in Kerry.

The Irish Confederate Wars

In 1642, Walter attended a meeting in Kilkenny. This meeting was for Catholic landowners. They decided to form the Association of the Confederate Catholics of Ireland. This group aimed to protect Catholic rights and land in Ireland.

Walter was very active in helping to organize the war effort for the Catholic rebels. He worked to support their cause.

Attack on Killagha Abbey

During the Cromwellian conquest of Ireland, Walter's home at Killagha Abbey was attacked. Soldiers from the New Model Army used cannons to destroy his fortified house.

Cromwell then took Walter's large estates. He gave Killagha Abbey to one of his supporters, Major John Godfrey.

Life After the War

After the Catholic side lost the war, Walter Spring only got to keep a small part of his land. To protect what he had left, he sometimes went to Protestant church services.

However, the government, known as The Protectorate, still saw him as a threat. They forced him to move to County Clare, where he had very little power. This was part of a law called the Act for the Settlement of Ireland 1652.

Why He Was Called 'The Unfortunate'

Being forced to move and losing most of his land led to Walter being called 'The Unfortunate'. Both his friends and his enemies used this nickname. His remaining lands in Kerry were given to his son, Thomas.