 At the beginning of Henry 's reign , Ireland was effectively divided into three zones : the Pale , where English rule was unchallenged ; Leinster and Munster , the so @-@ called " obedient land " of Anglo @-@ Irish peers ; and the Gaelic Connaught and Ulster , with merely nominal English rule . Until 1513 , Henry continued the policy of his father , to allow Irish lords to rule in the king 's name and accept steep divisions between the communities . However , upon the death of the 8th Earl of Kildare , governor of Ireland , fractious Irish politics combined with a more ambitious Henry to cause trouble . When Thomas Butler , 7th Earl of Ormond died , Henry recognised one successor for Ormond 's English , Welsh and Scottish lands , whilst in Ireland another took control . Kildare 's successor , the 9th Earl , was replaced as Lord Lieutenant of Ireland by Thomas Howard , Earl of Surrey in 1520 . Surrey 's ambitious aims were costly , but ineffective ; English rule became trapped between winning the Irish lords over with diplomacy , as favoured by Henry and Wolsey , and a sweeping military occupation as proposed by Surrey . Surrey was recalled in 1521 , with Piers Butler – one of claimants to the Earldom of Ormond – appointed in his place . Butler proved unable to control opposition , including that of Kildare . Kildare was appointed chief governor in 1524 , resuming his dispute with Butler , which had before been in a lull . Meanwhile , the Earl of Desmond , an Anglo @-@ Irish peer , had turned his support to Richard de la Pole as pretender to the English throne ; when in 1528 Kildare failed to take suitable actions against him , Kildare was once again removed from his post . 
