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Irish History
The lovely island of Ireland has one of the most complex histories in all of Europe. While reading a complete, detailed history can be somewhat of an arduous task, it is worth familiarizing yourself with the major historical and social happenings that have taken place in the country. While driving throughout Ireland in a hired car, you will encounter endless spots with historical significance, and knowing their background will make the trip that much more meaningful.Settlers began arriving in Ireland in around 7000 BC. One of the last places in all of Europe to be colonized, most of those who came to the Emerald Isle hailed from Britain. The Celts began to join them in around 600 BC, sailing over from Central Europe. During this time the Roman Empire was constantly fighting with invading Germanic tribes, so they didn't bother to conquer Ireland. This allowed the island to prosper enormously, and a language, communities, economy and working system of Society were established.
It was also during this time that Ireland began to invade Britain, and settlements in Wales and Scotland were established.
St. Patrick is attributed as the man who brought Christianity to Ireland, and this religion blossomed and grew in the 5th century. Monks who were seeking asylum from the Barbarians in Europe landed in Ireland and began setting up Monastic Cities. It was during this time that the art of illustrating religious manuscripts became popular, and a fine example, the beautiful Book of Kells, can be found today in Trinity College in Dublin.
Vikings began invading Ireland in 795, and it was also during this period that fighting began among many of the island's chieftains. The land ended up being divided between two highly regarded and powerful men: Rory O'Connor and Dermot MacMurrough. They continued to fight themselves however, and finally MacMurrough asked for assistance from the English Normans and Richard le Clare, who became known as Strongbow. The Normans had a quick victory over Leinster in 1169, and after MacMurrough's death Strongbow married his daughter Aiofe. He became the ruler of Leinster on England's behalf, and many citizens of England then moved over to Irish soil.
In 1607 the area known as Ulster was left by its 90 chiefs, and the English continued to colonize it, outraging the native Irish. A rebellion took place in 1641.
The 'Property Code', a series of new laws forbidding Catholics from having any power, was installed in 1965. This code put a hold on many Irish traditions, and reduced Catholic land ownership to under 5%. This stirred up a high level of unrest in Ireland, and the Protestant population became so worried that they exchanged their independence with the British in return for their security. Ireland then became an official part of British rule.
This ownership was attempted to be destroyed in 1916, when 1000 men and woman tried to take over Dublin and declare an Irish Republic. The British were a strong force however, and the attempt was unsuccessful. This forceful takeover acted as the start of the fight for Irish Independence however, and in 1918 the Irish Republicans won a large majority of the seats in the British General Election. Hence, the first Irish Assembly was formed and Ireland was declared to be independent.
A war between the English and Irish was quick to start, lasting from 1919 to 1921. It resulted in the declaration of independence from 26 Irish counties, with 6 having the choice to opt out. Southern Ireland became a republic, but the North remained undecided and plagued with social and political unrest.
The problems in the north continued to rise, and in the 1968 a peaceful civil rights march in Londonderry was violently stopped by the Royal Ulster Constabulary leaving 13 people dead and 14 injured. Protestant-supporting British Troops were dispatched to Belfast and Derry a year later, and the Irish Republican Army (IRA) was formed in response. These two groups soon began a violent struggle that would plague Ireland for years: street fighting would become commonplace, public massacres and brutal killings were a constant happening, and terror presided over the country.
Eventually, Northern Ireland lost all of its parliamentary independence, and London stepped in to rule. The Republic of Ireland began to have a say in the North's political and social affairs, and a ceasefire was declared in 1985. Although the North now has some degree of independence and self-government and the South has given up its parliamentary rights, it still has not gained independence.