The Plantations
Plantations in Ireland began in the 16th century under the reign of King Henry VIII and continued into the 17th century under Cromwell. Plantations involved the seizure of land from native Irish chieftains and granting it to British colonists or "planters". Early plantations involved settling small colonies of English planters who would establish model farming communities. It was hoped that these communities would set a good example for the native Irish who were seen as wild and unruly. A second model of plantation was the confiscation of land as a punishment for rebellion. The confiscated lands would then be granted to English settlers.
In the first years of the 1600s the powerful O'Reilly family of Cavan (or East Breifny as it was known) had most of their land confiscated. The lands where Viriginia now stands were granted to a military officer, Captain John Ridgeway. In return for being granted the lands, Ridgeway was obliged to build a town and populate it with English settlers. It was expected that this new town would be granted Borough status. With Borough status Virginia would have the right to operate fairs and markets, send members to the Irish Parliament and enjoy a high degree of self-government. Ridgeway was not successful, only managing to build a few wooden cabins on the shores of Lough Ramor. Ridgeway passed the rights to the land to another Englishman, Hugh Culme, who set about building Virginia on its present site close to the Blackwater tributary river.