IRELAND

Ireland lies west of Britain. It was inhabited continuously from the 6^th century BC by Celts and Picts. Celt kings and chiefs rules over the Ireland till the Middle Ages. 

Vikings invaded the shores and occupied them till the 8^th century the occupation of the Ireland shores by the Viking ended in 1014 when Brian Boru defeated the Scandinavians at Clontarf.

In 1171 the Anglo-Norman conquest started and finished in 1172. The people opposed English rules for over 400 years. When Henry VIII introduced Protestantism and Elizabeth I started ‘plantations’ in Northern Ireland for English and Scottish settlers started an Irish rebellion. 

It was then the fight became hard and bitter. These religions and settlements upheaval created a lot of resentments. The rebellion was defeated by Oliver Cromwell. Further Protestant settlements were established. 

The GLORIOUS REVOLUTION in 1688 forced the Roman Catholic James II from the throne by William of Orange.

1782 Henry Grattan’s Party managed to get some independents.

1798 The United Irishmen started a rebellion and were defeated. It followed an Act of Union which made Ireland part of Britain, Resentment started to increase again and the Irish Famine from 1845 to 1851 led to create in 1858 the Irish Republican Brotherhood (IRB). They used the name FINIANS which derived from the Finina Brotherhood of the USA which supported them. Since they only received partial independence the Brotherhood was not happy.  

1916 under Padriac Perse a rebellion became known as the Easter Rising.

1920 two parliaments were established. One parliament for the six counties in Ulster and the other parliament for the rest of the 26 countries of Ireland. 

1926 in the Anglo-Irish Treaty Northern Ireland became part of Britain and the remaining counties became the Irish Free State. Eamon de Valera and his Republicans rejected the treaty. They fought a civil war and were defeated.

De Valera’s Party FIANNA FAIL won the election in 1932. A new constitution was signed which declared Ireland independent and it was named Ireland or EIRE. 1949 de Valera became president of the Republic of Ireland.

In 1991 the first woman president Mary Robinson was elected.

All through the 20^th century a struggle was upheld to achieve unification of the Ireland. The main force was the Irish Republican Army (IRA) which was first founded by Sinn Fein and its first commander was Michael Collins. The IRA and various Protestant paramilitary groups upheld a bombing and assassination campaign in Northern Ireland where more than 3400 people died and 35,000 were injured.

December 1993 brought the first attempt to bring peace. The Irish Prime Minister John Bruton and British Prime Minister John Major held a meeting,

August 1994 the IRA declared a cease fire. After that there were several breakdowns of the cease fire and meetings to establish peace again. Eventually with Good Friday Agreement it was achieved and peace was kept for a long time. Recently there were little incidents again but so far it held.