From 1641 to early 1642, the fighting in Ireland was characterised by small bands, raised by local lords or among local people, attacking civilians of opposing ethnic and religious groups. At first, Irish Catholic bands, particularly from Ulster, took the opportunity given them by the collapse of law and order, to settle scores with Protestant settlers who had occupied Irish land in the plantations of Ireland. Initially, the Irish Catholic gentry raised militia forces to try and contain the violence but afterwards, when it was clear that the government in Dublin intended to punish all Catholics for the rebellion  participated in the attacks on Protestants and fought English troops sent to put down the rebellion. In areas where British settlers were concentrated, around Cork, Dublin, Carrickfergus and Derry, they raised their own militia in self-defence and managed to hold off the rebel forces. All sides displayed extreme cruelty in this phase of the war. Around 4,000 Protestants were massacred and a further 12,000 may have died of privation after being driven from their homes. In one notorious incident, the Protestant inhabitants of Portadown were taken captive and then massacred on the bridge in the town. The settlers responded in kind, as did the Government in Dublin, with attacks on the Irish civilian population. Massacres of Catholic civilians occurred at Rathlin Island and elsewhere. The rebels from Ulster defeated a government force at Julianstown, but failed to take nearby Drogheda and were scattered when they advanced on Dublin. By early 1642, there were four main concentrations of rebel forces; in Ulster under Phelim O'Neill, in the Pale around Dublin led by Viscount Gormanstown, in the south-east, led by the Butler family - in particular Lord Mountgarret and in the south-west, led by Donagh MacCarthy, Viscount Muskerry.

Question: When did the Ulster scatter?
Answer: when they advanced on Dublin

Question: How many Protestants died in total?
Answer: 16000

Question: How many places did the rebels from Ulster succeed in their attack?
Answer: 1

Question: How many years was the fighting in Ireland characterised by small bands?
Answer: 1

Question: How many Protestants at a minimum were massacred or died of privation after being drive from their homes?
Answer: 16000

Question: How many years was fighting in Ireland characterised by small bands?
Answer: 1

Question: What happened first: Catholic gentry raised militia forces or 4,000 Protestants were massacred?
Answer: Catholic gentry raised militia forces

Question: What happened second: Catholic gentry raised militia forces or 4,000 Protestants were massacred?
Answer: 4,000 Protestants were massacred

Question: How many Protestants either died being massacred or may have died of privation after being driven from their homes?
Answer: 16000

Question: Who did the local people fight in ireland?
Answer: opposing ethnic and religious groups

Question: How many protestants may have died as a result of the fighting?
Answer: 16000

Question: How many total Protestants died during the 1641 to early 1642 phase of the war?
Answer: 16000

Question: How many more Protestants died from privation than being massacared?
Answer: 8000