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HISTORY
Ah, the Emerald Isle - so you say you want to know more about
the history of Ireland? How much time have you got? The US only
has a couple hundred years of written history (though thousands
of years of oral history). The Irish are the same.
ANCIENT HISTORY
Humans, (hunters and gatherers) first arrived on the Irish island
around 8000-7000 BCE, according to archealogists. Before that,
during the Ice Age, it was under glacier, a bit cold to be running
around. At that time, England was still attached to mainland Europe
by a land bridge, but it was likely that Ireland was already an
island -- a reason why many of the flora and fauna found on Ireland
aren't found on England or the continent. Some are found nowhere
else in the world.
During Neolithic times (4000 to 2500BCE) the farmers that built
most of the megalithic structures on the island arrived. They
built NEWGRANGE
and other passage tombs, and were responsible for importing domestic
animals such as sheep, goats and cattle.
This was followed by the Bronze Age, which lasted until about
600BCE. During this time the fort at the HILL
OF TARA was built, and the STONE
CIRCLES. The HILL OF TARA is currently under threat, and
developers plan on building the N3 highway right through the area.
Go HERE for more details!
This is the place where kings have been crowned for centuries,
and is a very mystical, magical spot. Go there while you can!
The Iron Age lasted from about 500BCE to 500 CE, and was traditionally
thought to have started with migrations of Celtic people from
the Iberian peninsula (northern Spain). The Celtic languages from
this time covered that area, northern France (Brittany), Wales,
Scotland and Ireland, so it is very possible they were all related
in some way. However, there were probably successive invasions
of the Island, and the myth cycle of legend probably give more
clues than historical evidence does.
RECORDED HISTORY -- THE AGE OF SAINTS
The period of the 5th century to the 9th century, considered
the 'Dark Ages' by mainland Europe, is actually the Golden Age
of Ireland, the Age of Saints. This was the time when Ireland
was left in peace, and became the shining jewel of Europe, (though
Europe scarcely knew or cared). It started when St. Patrick arrived
in the fifth century, forming the roots of Celtic Christianity.
Without constant input from Rome, it melded into the existing
culture and druidic religion into a unique blend, combining nature
and spirituality. The monasteries became centers of learning,
and beacons of education and civilization to the towns and villages
of the countryside.
This was when the famous
Book of Kells was created, and other illuminated texts.
You don't have to be Christian to appreciate the sheer beauty
and power of these works of art! If you are in Dublin, be sure
to visit the book on display at Trinity College.
THE VIKINGS
This started to fray at the edges (literally!) in the late 9th
century CE, when the Vikings started raiding the coastlines of
the island. Again, the monasteries offered protection in the form
of their round towers, where they could retreat with the treasures
of their faith -- the sublimely beautiful illuminated texts they'd
been creating for centuries, with Celtic knotwork and gold leaf.
This helped to preserve literacy and beauty alike.
Eventually the Vikings, thanks to Brian Boru, came to settle
rather than burn. Brian Boru is the only leader to ever unite
all of Ireland, however briefly, under one rule -- ever. He is
the founder of the O'Brian clan, and one of Ireland's most revered
heros. He died after his last battle against the Vikings, and
legends say he was 82.
THE NORMANS
If the 5th - 9th centuries were easy for the Irish, the 12th
and 13th centuries were hard. That's when the Normans, unsatisfied
with their conquest of England, decided to add Ireland to their
list of achievements. They were savage, thorough, and pretty successful.
While they never really made it all the way west, they irrevocably
changed Dublin forever, and held firm sway over the eastern part
of the Island.
However, nothing lasts forever, and these Normans married Irish
girls, and eventually they were mostly assimilated into the society
of Irish folk. Suspicions still lingered, but there are no Irish
today that would look upon the descendants of those Normans and
think them outsiders. Those came later.
THE TUDORS AND NORTHERN IRELAND
In the late 15th century, Henry Tudor (VIII) attempts a re-establishment
of his sway over Ireland, and starts passing several laws regarding
the island, including one that states any English law is also
valid in Ireland. These acts and his supremecy was rebelled against
by the O'Neills and the O'Donnells in the early 17th century.
Following this unsuccessful rebellion, the O'Donnells and other
earls fled to France, and their lands (most of northern Ireland)
became forfeit to the crown of England -- who promptly populated
them with loyal subjects from England and Scotland... thus making
the northern part of the island, previously Catholic and Irish,
now English/Scottish and most definitely Protestant.
CROMWELL
By the time the mid-17th century rolls around, and England is
embroiled in a war regarding Charles I and Cromwell, Ireland is
seen as royalist (supporting the king) and therefore, a serious
threat to the parlaimentary cause. As a result, an incredibly
strong and harsh force is sent to remove property from the natives,
and settle English there as landlords instead. Anyone can be considered
guilty, their lands and lives forfeit. Catholocism is outlawed,
as is the native Irish language, Gaelic. In a move similar to
the later Highland Clearances after the Scottish revolution, the
English army, under Oliver Cromwell, attempt to breed and enslave
the Irish out of rebellion... and almost out of existence.
After the restoration of Charles II, he attempts to make it right
by giving back some land to the natives, but it is a very poor
second to the thousands of starved, beaten, or executed Irish.
As James II tries to regain his deposed throne later, in the
late 17th century, he fails at the Battle of the Boyne, and regains
for Ireland the enmity of the crown of England.
WOLFE TONE AND UNION
By the late 18th century, this enmity has resulted in greater
grievances than Cromwell -- the barring of Catholics from holding
any form of office in government or in the church, confiscation
of property to the point where Catholics only hold 14% of property
in Ireland. Wolfe Tone, a revolutionary leader, goes to France
for troops to lead a rebellion, but arrives too late, and is captured.
He cuts his own throat to keep the English from executing him,
and is hailed as a hero and a martyr.
This results in the Act of Union, which eliminates the Irish
Parlaiment, and brings Ireland under the fold of England completely.
This, unfortunately, is passed without any emancipation for the
Catholics, and remains so until 1830.
POTATO FAMINE
Among the protests for greater freedoms, the Irish are bloodied
and bowed not by the English, but by nature.
The main crop at this time is the potato, as it is hardy, easy
to grow, and can be grown on small plots of land. However, in
1845, a newly discovered form of blight attacked the potatoes,
turning them black and rotten. This, combined with some legislation
in England, made the population of Ireland much too high for their
food supply. The result was two-fold -- many starved, more emigrated
to America.
After the blight (sometimes known as Black 47, after the worst
year), Ireland reduced in population from 8.5 million to 6.5 million,
half starving and half emigrating. It resulted in one of the largest
emigrations to America to date -- and shaped our budding nation
in many ways. A large percentage of all Americans can trace some
Irish lineage to this time.
HOME RULE
Isaac Butt and Charles Stewart Parnell start to push the movement
into Home Rule for Ireland by sitting in Parliament in the late
19th century. The cause is taken up by PM Gladstone, but doesn't
succeed before he passes away. In the meantime, the Irish have
started taking a strong interest in their heritage -- their language,
games, history and traditions -- with a vengeance. One of these
organizations are called the Sinn Fein.
As the Home Rule bill gets closer to passing in 1913, both the
Unionists (northern, Protestant Ireland) and the Nationalists
(southern, Catholic Ireland) are starting 'parades' that become
military parades, that become armies -- set to march before the
bill is passed in Parliament. The only thing that defuses the
situation is Britain's entry into World War I in 1914. As a result,
the Home Rule Act as proposed is changed, excluding Ulster, or
Northern Ireland. This compromise outrage certain factions, such
as the Sinn Fein -- which joins forces with a small military group
called the Irish Republican Brotherhood.
THE EASTER RISING
Started by the above groups, and an over-romantic poet (Patrick
Pearse) who believes in the value of shed blood, 1500 ill-armed
troops march on the Dublin Post Office on Easter Monday, 1916.
Several other official buildings are taken at the same time, and
the declaration nailed to the door like Martin Luther's Thesis.
It didn't take long for the British to react, and the revolution
was quelled quickly, resulting in several executions. This was
a pivotal event, though, as it made the Irish feel they had a
cause -- and they did. The martyrs created in the Easter Rising
became the blood on which the Sinn Fein built their platform.
THE WAR OF INDEPENDENCE AND THE TROUBLES
By winning several seats in Parliament, the Sinn Fein start taking
action -- by forming their own government, as the American founders
did, in secret. They called it the Dáil Eireann, and changed
their party name to the Irish Republican Army (IRA), determined
to bring the undeclared war to British soldiers with guerilla
tactics. Michael Collins and Eamon de Valera are two of the more
influential leaders in this group.
In 1921, a compromise is reached. Two parlaiments are formed,
one in northern Ireland, another in southern Ireland. Neither
side is happy, but both accept it. Ireland becomes a Free State,
and is a Dominion of the UK, as Canada does.
RECENT HISTORY
Since their independence, Ireland as a nation has struggled to
maintain itself. Not in religious or political ways, but financial
and population ways. Their infrastructure, never sound to begin
with, was crumbling, and their population decreasing as young
people left for greener pastures.
However, the Celtic Tiger has now emerged, resulting in a great
increase in industry, jobs, and economic growth in Ireland. A
very aggressive tourism campaign has started to pay off. Unfortunately,
the result is the 'spoiling' of some of the more beautiful and
lonely parts of Ireland. But it also means that the people of
the Ireland can now join the 21st century proudly, as a true nation.
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