The last Ice Age in Europe started to warm up about 10/12 thousand years ago - the earliest evidence of human settlement in Ireland dates from about 7000 BC - axe heads from about that time were found in the county of Offaly.
A wide range of dates have been offered for Ireland to become a separate island, i.e. for the closure of landbridges between Britain and Ireland. Estimates have generally ranged anytime from about 10,000 BC to 5700 BC. Once Ireland became an island the days of easy migration were over, and subsequently, any animals that couldn't fly or swim could only make the journey by means of human intervention. Long after the connection between England and Ireland was severed, England was still a peninsula of Europe, and so the migration of plants and animals moving northward into the lands abandoned by the ice continued to enter England for some time after the flow to Ireland had been cut off. As a result, England developed a much greater variety of plants and animals than Ireland. There are approximately 30% less species in Ireland's natural environmental record (e.g. plants) in comparison to Britain. It is possible, even likely, that there was migrant human habitation previous to the Mesolithic era, although no conclusive remains have survived, distinctive of succeeding settlements. It is important to note, that no extensive excavation efforts have been staged as yet (c. 1994) to explore the sites which could possibly date to earlier periods.
The Arrival of Humans
The first definite evidence of human settlement in Ireland dates from 8000 to 7000 BC. They are known from early archaeological findings to have made an appearance in the far north in the lower river Bann valley near the present-day town of Coleraine and in the southwest in the river Shannon estuary. Later they are thought to have spread northeast along the coast of Antrim and followed the river Bann upstream to Lough Neagh. They also settled down to an industrious existence on the shore of Larne Lough just north of present-day Belfast, where they chipped flints for implements. These people, mesolithic hunter-gatherers without domestic animals or farming skills, huddled for the most part along the coasts and waterways. As a consequence, these early arrivals had little impact on the environment. One of the earliest claimed radiocarbon dates for the human inhabitation of Ireland was about 7490 BC. The sample that documents this date was obtained from a primitive settlement that contained charcoal remains in County Sligo.
Having been joined to the landmass of Europe, we know that those people who formed the early European communities did roam around, exploring and prospecting those other areas most amenable to their abilities and aspirations. As the climate warmed, the temperate zones became the places to be - not too hot and not too cold. Given the climate as I know it, for some reason known only to themselves, and to God, some stayed. These early arrivals, migrants whose ancestors would have originated in the Middle East, were hunter/gatherers. To the native cattle may have been added sheep and goats and, at a later stage around 4000 BC, farming in wheat and barley were introduced. Native forests would have been cleared as farming became more prevalent. One writer has suggested that the population at 2500 BC was 50 to 100,000.
We find evidence of these early people in Ireland from what are called �passage graves�, stone monuments and the like, many of which predate the Egyptian pyramids. The most notable monument was, for me, a huge burial chamber called Newgrange in Co Meath. Further immigration brought metalworkers from Europe, some of whose finest examples of intricately wrought gold ornaments and artwork are on display in the National Museum in Dublin. These gold ornaments are spectacular and I try religiously to view them at least once a year - it is astounding to consider that some of our ancestors may have produced them. They are considered by the cognoscenti, to be among the finest examples, if not the finest, of prehistoric gold artwork in Europe. For me, they are the finest.
The Roman geographer Ptolemy lived about the year 140AD. His chart of Hibernia (Ireland) is the basis for what little is known about the early inhabitants of the island.
The Irish historian, Peter Woodman who teaches in University College Co Cork, makes an important point about the end of the Stone Age (about 3500 BC). �The gene pool of the Irish was probably set by this time when there were very substantial numbers of people present and the landscape had already been frequently altered. The Irish are essentially Pre-Indo-European, they are not physically Celtic. No invasion since could have been sufficiently large to alter that fact completely. Celtic speakers, Vikings, Normans may have made small alterations, but it was not until the Plantation period (in the 1600s) that this gene pool was to be added to significantly�.
Roughly, at about 600 BC, Celtic (the name comes from the Greek - Keltoi) people from western Europe �entered� Ireland and subdued the previous inhabitants. These Celts probably originated from around the area of the Caspian Sea, from which they emigrated in all directions, east and west. Sociologists and linguists have detected important similarities between Celtic language, laws, customs and religion, and those of the Hindus in India. By about 500 BC Ireland seems to have become a completely Celtic country. From Greek and Roman sources we have vivid descriptions of ancient Celtic society. Since the Celts themselves transmitted knowledge orally, not until the advent of Christianity after 432 AD, in Ireland, which also brought the skill of writing to the country, did Celtic Irishmen transcribe their tales and sagas, laws and annals. They had their own religion, over 400 different Celtic gods are known.
The Romans never came to colonise Ireland, though they were aware of its existence and some Roman traders may have attempted to set up shop. In most of the Roman Empire, local armies were raised to keep the peace, to patrol the borders and the like. In Britain however, perhaps because the Brits were so Bolshie, Roman armies/legions had to be in place � an expense the Romans did not want to have to underwrite, they would have far preferred the wherewithal to have flowed back to Rome. Ireland was seen as a possible source of food but the Roman accountants thought an invasive venture financially unviable. It would not have worked out on a cost benefit analysis.
The next �invasion� of note took place in 432 AD when St Patrick brought the Christian Faith to our shores. Little is known about the good man himself � some few of his writings survive.
Come the 9th century, the Vikings from Scandinavia showed up with a vengeance. Bloody invasions, pillaging and plundering, the tabloid press of the day must have had a ball. Some Vikings stayed and intermarried, they are said to have founded Dublin. It is entirely possible that some of the early ErinIslanders may have had some sort of contact with them � a known Viking position was located at Enniskillen in Co Fermanagh � one of the original homes of the ErinIslanders.
Prior to the arrival of Christianity, not too many written records existed in Ireland. From the earliest records to be found thereafter, can be seen a proliferation of claimants to kingship at various levels. Alliances flourished, groups, families, unions formed � some brief, others more long lasting. These political associations took place within the island of Ireland and with others in England, Wales and Scotland. In the 1100s one Irish chief emerged (there were many contenders) from all the wheeling and dealing, one Diarmait Mac Murchada. He began to have a few bad years about 1150, and sought assistance from perceived allies in England. Much horsetrading took place, he was given help but there were strings attached. The outcome was that around about 1171, during the reign of the then king of England, Henry II, invasions took place, under the aegis of Henry.
Our Irish history since then, for various reasons, has been one of dependency on Britain.
We ErinIslanders have a few entries in �The Annals of the Four Masters� back at this troubled period. The social and political changes then taking place may have contributed to our seeming retreat from the headlines. Rebellions and revolts took place over the centuries. Cromwell, the well known person, invaded in the 1640s and slaughtered all before him. From him is said to have originated the saying �To hell or to Connaught� meaning that in his opinion, his adversaries about to be annihilated, had the choice of being despatched or migrating to Connaught. Not much of a choice.
It was not until the year 1921 that the Brits finally left Ireland � at that time they retained possession of the northern six counties which they still do today.