In 1813 he purchased Castle Brown and the grounds for Clongowes Wood College to provide education to the Irish Catholic gentry.

During 1641 there was an open attempt by the Irish Catholic gentry to reconquer and seize power.

James found himself leading a predominantly Irish Catholic movement, and on 7 May he presided over an Irish Parliament composed almost entirely of Catholic gentry.

Art Ó Laoghaire (O'Leary) was a Roman Catholic, one of the few surviving Catholic gentry.

The brewing conflict lost him his investment and later that year he joined the revolt of his fellow Catholic gentry.

Her father was Lister Blount, and her family had long been of the highest position among Roman Catholic gentry.

He also wanted to break the political power of the Irish Catholic gentry.

In October 1641, Irish Catholic gentry launched the Irish Rebellion of 1641, throwing off English domination and creating Confederate Ireland.

As far as the term is used in the present day, "recusant" applies to the descendants of Catholic British gentry and peerage families.

One reason for this was the conversion of Catholic gentry to Protestantism to keep their lands.