Study in Ireland

The history of Ireland is marked by early settlements, Celtic culture, Christianisation, Viking raids, Norman invasion, centuries of English and later British rule, famine, struggles for independence, and partition.

Human settlement in Ireland dates back to the Mesolithic period, around 10,000 years ago. The arrival of Celtic peoples from mainland Europe between 500 and 150 BC profoundly shaped the island's language, culture, and social structure, dividing it into various kingdoms. Christianity was introduced in the 5th century AD, famously associated with Saint Patrick, leading to the flourishing of monasteries as centres of learning and art. From the late 8th century, Viking raids disrupted Irish society, although Viking settlements eventually grew into important towns like Dublin, Cork, and Limerick. In the 12th century, a Norman invasion initiated centuries of increasing English involvement and control, gradually marginalizing the native Gaelic order. The 16th and 17th centuries saw further conquest and colonization ("plantations") by English and Scottish settlers, particularly in Ulster, leading to deep sectarian divisions. Ireland was formally incorporated into the United Kingdom in 1801. The 19th century was marked by poverty, agrarian unrest, and the devastating Great Irish Famine (1845-1852), which resulted in over a million deaths and mass emigration, significantly reducing the population.

Rising Irish nationalism and calls for self-governance gained momentum in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The Easter Rising in 1916, though militarily unsuccessful, galvanized support for independence. This was followed by the Irish War of Independence (1919-1921), which led to the Anglo-Irish Treaty. The treaty resulted in the creation of the Irish Free State, a dominion within the British Empire encompassing 26 southern counties, while the six counties of Northern Ireland remained part of the United Kingdom. The treaty sparked a civil war in the south (1922-1923). The Irish Free State gradually asserted more independence, adopting a new constitution in 1937 that declared the state of "Éire" (Ireland). In 1949, the Republic of Ireland was formally declared, severing its last ties with the British monarchy. The division of the island led to decades of conflict in Northern Ireland, known as 'The Troubles', which largely ended with the Good Friday Agreement in 1998. The Republic of Ireland has since developed into a prosperous modern nation and an active member of the European Union.