A Journey Through Irish History
Explore the rich, complex and fascinating story of Ireland, from its earliest inhabitants to the modern day.
I. Prehistoric Ireland
(c. 12,500 BC – c. 400 AD)
Discover the first settlers and the ancient monuments of the island.
"A front view of Newgrange" by Tjp finn, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
"An Early Christian Church" by Andreas F. Borchert, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 DE.
II. Early Christian Ireland
(c. 400 AD – 795 AD)
Read about the flourishing of monastic life, the rise of early kingdoms and the creation of Ireland's iconic illuminated manuscripts.
III. Viking and Early Medieval Ireland
(795 AD – 1169 AD)
Explore the era of longship raids, the rise of Brian Boru and the founding of Ireland's first major cities.
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"A Viking Longship" by Ardfern, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.
"Trim Castle" by Olliebailie, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
IV. Norman Invasion and Medieval Ireland
(1169 AD – c. 1536 AD)
Learn about the invasion of the Normans, the building of stone castles and the Gaelic resurgence that shaped medieval Ireland.
V. Early Modern Ireland
(1536 AD – 1691 AD)
An era of upheaval, where religious divides, brutal plantations and devastating wars formed a deeply divided Ireland.
"Map of Ireland by John Goghe, 1567" from The National Archives UK, is in the Public Domain.
"Capture of Wolfe Tone in 1798" by an unknown author, is in the Public Domain.
VI. Georgian and Ascendancy Ireland
(1691 AD – 1800 AD)
Explore the era of Protestant dominance, harsh Penal Laws and the violent 1798 Rebellion, culminating in the Act of Union.
VII. Union and Famine
(1801 AD – 1916 AD)
Discover how Ireland navigated the struggles of union, famine and the path to self-determination.
"Famine memorial by the Liffey" by ceridwen, licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0. (Note: Original link leads to Geograph, which uses this license).
"Picture of Michael Collins and Arthur Griffith" by an unknown author, is in the Public Domain.
VIII. Revolution and Partition
(1916 AD – 1923 AD)
Read about the struggles that led to the birth of independent Ireland amidst rebellion and division.
IX. Twentieth Century Ireland
(1923 AD – 2000 AD)
Journey through the twentieth century, a period of defining moments from independence to economic revolution.
"Free Derry Corner" by Lasse1974, is in the Public Domain.
"The Spire" by Almbauer, is in the Public Domain.
X. Contemporary Ireland
(2000 AD – Present)
Explore how Ireland navigated economic highs and lows, the impact of Brexit and a global pandemic since the turn of the millennium.