The name Plunket is believed to be Saxon. Richard Plunket was lord chancellor of Ireland during the latter part of the fourteenth Century, the name has since been often associated with Ireland. Though originally the gentry republicans were said to have emerged from the dynasty. According to details some may assume that Plunkets infiltrated the Irish republican party but they were reportedly involved in an as called period of Irish self government which lasted from 1642-49. Believed to be formed as a result of the reported Irish rebellion of 1641, reasons being the so called plantation of Ulster and the organised colonisation of people from Britain, mainly Scotland. Land colonised reportedly belonged to Gaelic chiefs who moved south. Colonists were required to be protestants and royalists, and were tasked to control and anglicise the northern gaels who were said to be particularly resistant to English domination. Scots came to Ireland previous to this, some fighting the English so Celts believed to be on both sides.
Notable Plunkets became republicans and were treated severely by the saxons. Joseph Plunket was according to reports executed in Kilmainham jail following the as called easter rising. And Oliver Plunket, reportedly born in 1625. He is thought to have trained as a catholic priest during the so called period of home rule, a believed to be confederation of Irish and catholics of Saxon descent during the period of as called civil war in Britain and Ireland, thought by some to be concerning religious ideals; the as described catholic confederation is said to have had the pope’s blessing.
The invasion of Cromwell, reportedly in 1649 resulted in catholicism being banned. Priests were executed and Oliver Plunket asked to remain in Rome. According to reports he returned to Ireland in 1670, after a period of as called restoration of the monarchy following the execution of Charles I by a returning Cromwell and his men. He was the pope’s envoy. Priests by this time seemingly had been replaced and according to documentation there was a new emphasis on toleration. Attempts by the as called church of Ireland to impose reform via legalities were said to have been relaxed. According to reports Plunket established a Jesuit college in Drogheda in 1670. It was to become the first integrated school in Ireland. Various legalities which made employment conditional to religious persuasion, and reported severe penalties for non-conformists, to which Plunket would not agree resulted in the closure and demolision of the college. This was followed by beliefs by some that catholics wanted to kill the restored Charles II, which, according to documentation resulted in the arrest of Arch Bishop Peter Talbot of Dublin. Plunket, supposedly accused of plotting a French invasion, went into hiding. He was arrested and imprisoned in Dublin Castle with Peter Talbot. He is said to have administered the last rites to a dying Talbot.
During Plunket’s trial, witnesses for the defence were said to have been afraid to turn up for court. The first hearing, reportedly finding him not guilty was not recognised. According to documentation Oliver Plunket was executed for as called high treason, for promoting the catholic faith. Said to be beautified in 1920, a recognition of a person’s entrance into heaven; he was reportedly canonised in 1975.