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History of Ireland

The island of Ireland has one of the most extensive, tumultuous and fascinating histories in the world. If you plan on visiting this beautiful island, it is a good idea to brush up on your knowledge of Irish history, as knowing Ireland's past will allow you to appreciate it now in its present state.

In about 7000 BC, the first settlers came to Ireland from Britain, and it was one of the last areas in Europe to be colonized by humans. Remains of these ancient civilizations can be seen in the mounds that still scatter the countryside, many of which were created as shrines and burial tombs.

Beginning in around 600 BC the Celts began to arrive from Central Europe. Ireland was one of the few areas in Europe that was not conquered by the Romans during this time, as they were hard at work fighting with the Germanic tribes. The Celts prospered in Ireland, and established a language, farming communities, and a working system of society. They also had various raids on Britain at this time, and established settlements in Wales and Scotland.

In the 5th Century AD, Ireland began to be immersed in Christianity. Monks were fleeing from the Barbarians on the European Continent by seeking asylum in Ireland. They began to build huge monastic cities which flourished greatly, and also started the art of illuminating manuscripts. It was from this era that the beautiful Book of Kells was created, an astounding work of art that can be seen to this day at Dublin's Trinity College.

This age of Scholasticism lasted until 795, when Viking invasions, mainly on the southern coast, began. It was also during this era (approx. 1000 - 1100) that the Irish chieftains began fighting amongst themselves for control of the land. After endless battles the island was mainly divided between two leaders: Rory O'Connor and Dermot MacMurrough. They endlessly fought over the crown, and soon Dermot asked for help from the English Norman nobles and Richard de Clare (Strongbow). The Normans arrived in 1169 and had a quick victory over south Leinster (east and southeast Ireland). After Dermot's death, Strongbow married his daughter Aoife. Instead of claiming an Ireland an independent Norman kingdom, he offered to rule Leinster on England's behalf. Because of this, many English moved over to Ireland for a long occupation.

The English occupation thrived even more when Ulster, the only surviving terrain of Irish Chiefs, was disgracefully left by the Earl of Tyrone, along with 90 other chiefs, in 1607. This departure marked the beginning of the English colonization policy known as 'plantation' which introduced new settlers to the land while dividing Ulster itself.

Those native to Ireland as well as the Old English Catholics were outraged by the new plantation act, and stirred up a bloody and powerful rebellion in 1641. These groups supported the Royalists during the English Civil War, and after Charles I was executed Charles Cromwell, a Protestant member of Parliament, came to Ireland and slaughtered many of his opponents, an act which has never been forgotten.

New laws known as the 'property code' were introduced in 1965, which forbid Catholics from having any power or status whatsoever, including forbidding them to raise their children as Catholics, buying land, or practicing anything that was traditionally Irish, such as music, schooling or culture. These new enforcements drastically reduced Catholic land ownership to under 5%.

By the end of the 18th century the Protestant population in Ireland were getting worried about the level of unrest in the country, so they traded the last of their independence in exchange for British safety and security, and Ireland officially came under British political rule.

On April 24, 1916, over 1000 men and women attempted to seize Dublin in the hopes of destroying British Rule and creating an independent Irish Republic. The attempt was unsuccessful however, as the British swiftly took control once more. Many of the leaders of the takeover were executed. This act, however, gave a new push for Irish independence. In 1918 a majority of the Irish Republicans won a large majority of Irish seats in the British general election. Declaring Ireland to be independent, the formed the first Irish assembly. This act marked the beginning of the Irish-Anglo war, which lasted from 1919 to 1921. By the time the fighting was over, 26 Irish counties were declared to be independent, with 6 having the choice to opt out. Thus the south of Ireland was finally declared a republic in 1948, and the north remained in unrest, as Catholics in the area still experienced harsh discrimination.

The problems in Ireland escalated in the 1960's, beginning with a civil rights march in Northern Ireland in 1968 that was violently broken up by the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC). British troops were sent into Belfast and Derry in 1969 to support the Protestants, and soon after the Irish Republican Army (IRA) was reformed. The years that followed would see endless killings, public massacres and unrest, making terrorism a everyday occurrence in many parts of the country.

Finally northern Ireland lost its parliamentary independence, and London has ruled it for the most part ever since. Dublin was given a say in Northern Ireland's affairs in 1985, and a ceasefire was called in 1994, although violence still occasionally occurs. The North now has regained a degree of self-government, and the south has given up its constitutional rights in the North.

Ireland's economy after this point thrived, and the technological and post-industrial markets have boomed. Unemployment has been rising as of late, however, so Ireland may once again have to fight in order to keep up its now peaceful lifestyle.