Ireland's Anthem
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With Irish legend, the Emerald Isle was first inhabited by
numerous tribesmen. Nemedians, Fomorians, Firbolgs, and
Tuatha D� Danann...all overcome by Milesians (Scots).
Before the 4th century AD, little is known. At that time
the Irish tribes were of the Roman Province of Britain...
with the reign of King MacNeill.
Saint Patrick
worked his lifetime, after returning
to Ireland from captivity and slavery, to convert the
'natives' into Christian beliefs. Christianity was fully
established only
after
his death.
Each province, Connacht, Leinster, Munster, and Ulster, had its own king (kingdom) with a 'central' district, Meath,
residing at Tara--present day County Meath. Each clan was
governed by a chief. Laws were administered by
brehons
.
Ireland's civilization was extensive. Monestaries were
founded. Missionaries were numerous.
By the 8th century, progress was halted, or delayed, by raids
of the Scandinavians...continuing for nearly two centuries.
Viking's King, Brian Boru, and his men overthrew Ireland
near Dublin in 1014.
In 1115 Pope Adrian IV authorized Henry II of England
possession of the island (later theorized forgery). King
MacMurrough of Leinster sought assistance
from King Henry's court
to recover his kingdom--succeeding in 1169, but only
in part. In 1172, after the death of King MacMurrough and
his succession of Richard Strongbow, England authorized
possessions, once again...only in portions, of the land.
During the 13th century
Anglo-Normans established themselves
in Ireland. Fitzgeralds in Kildare, Butler clan in
Munster, and de Burghs in Connacht. Decendants gradually
became identified with 'native' Irish. Power increased.
The English crown was limited to the
English Pale
,
a small area near the port of Drogheda.
In 1494 with the Statute of Kilkenny, compelled the English
and Irish to stay apart, prohibiting Irish law in the
English Pale
.
With Henry II reestablishing Kildare under
Poyning's Law
,
The
Pale
grew. Irish chieftans received English
titles, but only under English tenure.
Henry's title, granted by the papal, was changed to
King of Ireland.
Queen Mary I was the first to colonize Ireland with
English settlers. Queen Elizabeth I passed an act dividing
Ireland into counties, in turn causing religious wars,
with a rebellion of Uslter chieftan, Shane O'Neill.
An Irish soldier, Hugh O'Neill--second Earl of Tyrone--
wiped out an English army on the Blackwater. However...
in 1603, O'Neill was forced to yield to the crown.
Devastation of crops, livestock, villages and villagers,
the English tried destroying the Irish resistance.
Religious warring between the Celtic church (which was
becoming increasingly Roman Catholic), and the Angelican
church continued.
During the reign of James I, English law became the only
law of Ireland. Some then fled to Rome. Six counties
were now under the rule of the crown.
In 1641, beside the Irish chieftan Rory O'More, the
natives ousted the English settlers in Ulster.
During 1650 and 1689 at least two thirds of Ireland
remained in possession of the Protestants. But, by 1689
the Protestants were driven from their homes.
With the Treaty of Limerick (1691), Roman Catholics were
given a certain amount of freedom and was once again allowed
possession of their land. England was under the reign of
William III at the time.
The Parliment of England forced William to break concession
of the treaty. Trade of Ireland's exports was forbidden.
Roman Catholics left Ireland, some going to Spain and France.
Most of the Protestants---to America.
In 1778 the Relief Act was passed, emancipating the
the Catholics and Presbyterians.
In 1801 the Union was formally proclaimed.
Afterward, Ireland's history is concerned with the constant
struggle of civic and religious freedom. AND separation
from the United Kingdom.
In 1823 the Roman Catholic Association was founded, giving
eventually Catholics the right to hold office and sit
in the parliment.
During 1845-1850 Ireland suffered the potato famine. Again
a large number of Irish emigrated---mostly, this time, to
America. The population during this period decreased by
some two million people.
For centuries it's been a constant strive for freedoms in
Ireland. Many new forms of political and social
establishments have been founded...
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Ancient Irish (Druid) words
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Other Ireland's historical interest
The
REAL
Tara
A Gaelic Poem of Tara
Ireland's History in Maps
Ireland's Early History site�
copyrighted 2001--
All Rights Reserved
Lady Irene
I'd like to thank "Ireland," Microsoft� Encarta� Online Encyclopedia 2000
at: http://encarta.msn.com � 1997-2000 Microsoft Corporation
for helping me with Ireland's early history.
