John Prendergast (priest)

John Prendergast (priest) (born 1844, died 1911) was an Irish-born Roman Catholic priest and historian. He is best known for his extensive research and writings on the Cromwellian Settlement of Ireland.

Prendergast was ordained a priest in 1869. He served in various parishes in Ireland, including Kilkenny. He dedicated much of his life to studying historical records and documents related to the 17th-century Cromwellian conquest and resettlement of Ireland, focusing particularly on the land confiscations and the transplantation of the Irish population to Connacht.

His most significant work, The Cromwellian Settlement of Ireland, published in 1865 (though expanded and revised in subsequent editions), became a seminal text on the subject. It drew heavily on original sources, including state papers and other official records, and provided a detailed and critical account of the Cromwellian period. The book was controversial, as it highlighted the brutal and unjust nature of the Cromwellian policies and the immense suffering inflicted on the Irish people.

While Prendergast's work has been praised for its detailed research and its contribution to understanding a crucial period in Irish history, it has also been subject to some criticism. Some historians have argued that his interpretations were overly sympathetic to the Irish Catholic perspective and that he may have exaggerated certain aspects of the Cromwellian policies. Nevertheless, The Cromwellian Settlement of Ireland remains an important and influential work for scholars studying Irish history. He also authored other works pertaining to Irish history.