This thesis is concerned with rectifying a largely unexplored aspect of Restoration Ireland— that of how politics conducted between all three Stuart kingdoms was seen from the perspective of, and impacted upon, the Irish government. It accomplishes this in three ways: first by using the discovery of several Catholic plots and the resultant political instability in England and Scotland to expose the tensions inherent in the duke of Ormond’ s position as lord lieutenant of Ireland; second by highlighting the dynamics of instability that distorted his position during such periods and finally by outlining how the duke of Ormond undertook to manage such tensions and reestablish his position in the Stuart political nation. In so doing this thesis arrives at a more representative picture of the role and position of the Irish government and kingdom within the Stuart monarchy before the accession of James, duke of York. It begins with the political fallout of Titus Oates’ s discoveries in September 1678 before detailing the fragility of Ormond’ s position because of the political upheavals in England and Scotland. B y early 1680 growing animosity between the crown and the Whigs compelled the latter to use unconstitutional means to assert their position and embarrass the duke of York by proving that his key alley Ormond had suppressed evidence about an Irish Catholic plot. In late 1680 the Whigs brought this plot before parliament to prepare the ground for the duke of York ’ s exclusion. However at this moment of crisis and despite his dire financial straits Charles II refused to have the institution of monarchy circumscribed by parliament. From this point onwards Ormond’ s position strengthened gradually culminating in his arrival in London to participate in the overthrow of the Whig political ascendancy in London.