heritage_project-_bi.. - Laois education Centre

The Penal LawsThe Protestant Parliament did not keep the agreement ofthe Treaty of Limerick agreed by Sarsfield. In 1695 fouryears after the treaty harsh laws were passed againstCatholics called Penal Laws. The aims of the laws wereto keep the Irish Catholics poor and powerless. Theylasted 100 years. They had a huge effect on religion,education, property, and personal rights.ReligionOnly Catholic priest who were listed could stay inIreland. Mass had to be celebrated in secret as it wasforbidden to practice the Catholic religion.EducationCatholic children could not go to school or go abroad tobe educated. Catholic children were taught in homes,outhouses or in the open air. These were called HedgeSchools.PropertyCatholics could not buy or inherit land from Protestants.When a Catholic died his land was divided among hissons. But if a son turned protestant he would inherit all ofit.Personal RightsCatholics were not allowed own a weapon. They werenot allowed to vote. They couldn’t become a Member ofParliament either.