The second category of Irish plantation, and one which is to set the trend for future English policy in Ireland, is punitive plantations; in other words, confiscation of lands for rebellion and granting them to English settlers.

The first such scheme is the Plantation of the midlands counties of Laois and Offaly in 1556.

The O’Moore and O’Connor clans that occupy the area had traditionally raided the English-ruled Pale around Dublin.

At the death of Brian mac Cathaoir O Conchobhair Failghehe, the last de facto king of the ancient Kingdom of Uí Failgh (Offaly), the region of the present Irish county of Offaly in Leinster province, the Lord Deputy of Ireland, the Earl of Sussex, orders that they be dispossessed and replaced with an English settlement.

Laois is renamed Queen's County and Offaly shired into King's County, named after the new monarchs.

The county town is Daingean, the former stronghold of the O'Connor Faly dynasty, and renamed—briefly—Philipstown; ...