In Depth
See Also

Ireland

Ireland is the third largest List of islands by area

This is a list of island [i]s in the world ordered by area. ... 

 island Island

An island or isle is any piece of land that is completely surrounded by water.... 

 in Europe Europe

Europe is one of the seven traditional continent [i]s of the Earth [i]. ... 

. It lies in between the Atlantic Ocean Atlantic Ocean

The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest ocean [i], covering approximately one-fifth of the Earth [i]'s ... 

 and Irish Sea Irish Sea

The Irish Sea separates the islands of Ireland [i] and Great Britain [i]. ... 

. Politically it is divided into the Republic of Ireland Republic of Ireland

The Republic of Ireland is the official description of the sovereign state which covers approximately f... 

 , a state which covers five-sixths of the island , and Northern Ireland Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland is part of the United Kingdom [i] and covers 5,459 square miles [i] in the north ... 

, part of the United Kingdom United Kingdom

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is a country and sovereign state [i] tha ... 

, which covers the northeastern sixth of the island. The name 'Ireland' derives from the name riu  with the addition of the Germanic Germanic languages

The Germanic languages are a group of related languages constituting a branch of the Indo-European language family [i] ... 

 word 'land'. The population Population

In sociology [i] and biology [i], a population is the collection of people [i], or organism [i] ... 

 of the island is just under 6 million people ; just over 4.2 million in the Republic of Ireland .

Discussions

  Discussion Features

   Ask a question about 'Ireland'

   Start a new discussion about 'Ireland'

   Answer questions about 'Ireland'

   'Ireland' discussion forum

Timeline

227   Ireland - Rule of High King Cormac mac Airt begins (approximate)

241   Battle of Samhain fought in Ireland.

266   Ireland - Rule of High King Cormac mac Airt ends (approximate date).

367   Great Conspiracy: A general assault of Saxons Saxons

The Saxons or Saxon people are part of the German people [i] with its main areas of settlements i ... 

, Irish Ireland

Ireland is the third largest [i] island [i] in Europe [i]. ... 

, and Attacotti combined with a general revolt of the garrison on Hadrian's Wall Hadrian's Wall

Hadrian's Wall was a stone [i] and turf [i] fortification [i] built by the Roman Empire [i] acros ... 

 devastate Roman Britain Roman Britain

[i] controlled by the [[Roman Empire]... 

.

430   Saint Patrick Saint Patrick

Saint Patrick was a missionary [i] and is regarded as the patron saint [i] of Ireland [i] . ... 

 reaches Ireland on his missionary expedition.

431   Pope Celestine I Pope Celestine I

Pope Celestine I was pope [i] from 422 [i] to 432 [i]. ... 

 dispatches Palladius to serve as bishop to the Irish Ireland

Ireland is the third largest [i] island [i] in Europe [i]. ... 

432   Saint Patrick Saint Patrick

Saint Patrick was a missionary [i] and is regarded as the patron saint [i] of Ireland [i] . ... 

 arrives in Ireland.

444   The Irish Ireland

Ireland is the third largest [i] island [i] in Europe [i]. ... 

 city of Armagh is founded by St. Patrick Saint Patrick

Saint Patrick was a missionary [i] and is regarded as the patron saint [i] of Ireland [i] . ... 

.

461   Saint Patrick Saint Patrick

Saint Patrick was a missionary [i] and is regarded as the patron saint [i] of Ireland [i] . ... 

 returns to Ireland as a Christian missionary.

588   Skellig Michael Skellig Michael

Skellig Michael, also known as Great Skellig, is a steep rocky island about 15 kilometre [i]s west ... 

 monastery Monastery

Monastery, a term derived from the Greek [i] word ??ast????? monasterion, denotes the ... 

 is built on a steep rocky island off the coast of Ireland.

   More Events >>



Encyclopedia




Ireland is the third largest List of islands by area

This is a list of island [i]s in the world ordered by area.... 

 island Island

An island or isle is any piece of land that is completely surrounded by water.... 

 in Europe Europe

Europe is one of the seven traditional continent [i]s of the Earth [i]. ... 

. It lies in between the Atlantic Ocean Atlantic Ocean

The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest ocean [i], covering approximately one-fifth of the Earth [i]'s ... 

 and Irish Sea Irish Sea

The Irish Sea separates the islands of Ireland [i] and Great Britain [i]. ... 

. Politically it is divided into the Republic of Ireland Republic of Ireland

The Republic of Ireland is the official description of the sovereign state which covers approximately f... 

 , a state which covers five-sixths of the island , and Northern Ireland Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland is part of the United Kingdom [i] and covers 5,459 square miles [i] in the north... 

, part of the United Kingdom United Kingdom

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is a country and sovereign state [i] tha ... 

, which covers the northeastern sixth of the island. The name 'Ireland' derives from the name Ériu  with the addition of the Germanic Germanic languages

The Germanic languages are a group of related languages constituting a branch of the Indo-European language family [i] ... 

 word 'land'.

The population Population

In sociology [i] and biology [i], a population is the collection of people [i], or organism [i] ... 

 of the island is just under 6 million people ; just over 4.2 million in the Republic of Ireland .

Politics



Politically, Ireland is divided into:

  • The Republic of Ireland Republic of Ireland

    The Republic of Ireland is the official description of the sovereign state which covers approximately f... 

    , with its capital Dublin Dublin

    Dublin is the capital [i] and the largest city of the Republic of Ireland [i] , located near the midpoi... 

    . Ireland and "Éire Éire

    ire is the Irish [i] name of the island called Ireland [i] in the English language [i] ... 

    " are the official names of the state - in English and Irish respectively - while the "Republic of Ireland" is its official description. It is colloquially called "the South" or "the Republic" by many residents of Northern Ireland, and sometimes "Southern Ireland" which had been, for a short time, intended as the official name of the state.
  • Northern Ireland Northern Ireland

    Northern Ireland is part of the United Kingdom [i] and covers 5,459 square miles [i] in the north... 

    , which is part of the United Kingdom United Kingdom

    The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is a country and sovereign state [i] tha ... 

    , is unofficially known as "The North" , "the Six Counties Northern Ireland

    Northern Ireland is part of the United Kingdom [i] and covers 5,459 square miles [i] in the north... 

    ," by nationalists, and "Ulster," by unionists .


Prior to the Government of Ireland Act 1920 Government of Ireland Act 1920

An Act to Provide for the Better Government of Ireland, more usually the Government of Ireland Act 19... 

 and Partition Ireland had been a unified political entity within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland

| align="center" colspan="2"| United Kingdom ofGreat Britain and Ireland
... 

 which came into being in 1801 as a result of the Act of Union Act of Union 1800

The Act of Union 1800 merged the Kingdom of Ireland [i] and the Kingdom of Great Britain [i] to create t... 

. From 1541, the Kingdom of Ireland Kingdom of Ireland

n>Kingdom of Ireland

The Kingdom of Ireland was the name given to the English-ruled Irish state i... 

 was established by the King of England List of the monarchs of the Kingdom of England

The Monarch of England was the head of state [i] of the Kingdom of England [i], which was unified as a state [i] ... 

, though this realm did not cover the whole island till the early 17th century. Up to then, Ireland had been politically divided into a number of different Irish kingdoms . Before the advent of the Normans the different kingdoms were augmented by a High Kingship. The extent of power or influence of the High Kings throughout the entire country varied from reign to reign.

In a number of respects the island operates officially as a single entity, for example, in most kinds of sports. The major religious bodies, the Catholic Church Roman Catholic Church

The Roman Catholic Church or Catholic Church is the Christian [i] Church [i] ... 

, the Church of Ireland Church of Ireland

The Church of Ireland is an autonomous province of the Anglican Communion [i], operating seamlessly acr... 

 and the Presbyterian Church in Ireland Presbyterian Church in Ireland

The Presbyterian Church in Ireland has a membership of 300,000 people in 550 congregations [i] ... 

, are organized on an all-island basis. 88% of the population of the Republic of Ireland and about 44% of Northern Ireland are Catholic. Some trade unions Trade union

"A Trade Union , ... is a continuous association of wage-earners for the purpose of maintaining or imp... 

 are also organised on an all-Irish basis and associated with the Irish Congress of Trades Unions Irish Congress of Trade Unions

The Irish Congress of Trade Unions, formed in 1959 [i] by the merger of the Irish Trade Union Congress a ... 

  in Dublin, while others in Northern Ireland are affiliated with the Trades Union Congress Trades Union Congress

The Trade Unions Congress is a federation of trade union [i]s in the United Kingdom [i], representing th ... 

  in the United Kingdom — though such unions may organise in both parts of the island as well as in Britain. The island also has a shared culture in many other ways. Traditional Irish music Music of Ireland

Ireland [i] is internationally known for its traditional music, which has remained vibrant throughout th ... 

, for example, though showing some variance in all geographical areas, is, broadly speaking, the same on both sides of the border. Irish and Scottish Scotland

Scotland is a nation [i] in northwest Europe [i] and one of the constituent [i] countries [i] ... 

 traditional music have many similarities.

The island is sometimes referred to as being part of the British Isles British Isles

Great Britain [i], Ireland [i] and several thousand smaller surrounding islands [i] and islets [i] form an archipelago [i] ... 

. However, notwithstanding the level of acceptance of the term within Northern Ireland, exception is taken by many Irish people to the extension of this nomenclature to include Ireland, as it infers an identity at odds with historical, cultural and political reality. For this reason, "Britain and Ireland" is sometimes used as a more neutral way of alluding to the archipelago of which the two islands are the essential constituents. Another suggestion, although much less frequently used, is the Islands of the North Atlantic .

Geography


A ring of coastal mountains surrounds low central plain Plain

In geography [i], a plain is a large area of land [i] with relatively low relief. ... 

s. The highest peak is Carrauntuohill , which is 1,041 m . The island's lush vegetation, a product of its mild climate and frequent but soft rainfall, earns it the sobriquet "Emerald Isle". The island's area is 84,412 km²  .

Ireland is divided into four provinces Provinces of Ireland

colspan="2" style="background:#ccccff" align=center | Provinces of Ireland
... 

: Connacht, Leinster, Munster and Ulster. In Irish these are referred to as cúigí . Previously there were five provinces - Connacht, Munster, Ulster, Leinster and Meath, comprising the counties of Meath, Westmeath and Longford. These were further divided into 32 counties Counties of Ireland

The island [i] of Ireland [i] is divided into 32 counties [i] , the Republic of Ireland [i] ... 

 for administrative purposes. Six of the Ulster counties remain under British United Kingdom

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is a country and sovereign state [i] tha ... 

 sovereignty as Northern Ireland Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland is part of the United Kingdom [i] and covers 5,459 square miles [i] in the north... 

following Ireland's partition in 1922 ; since the UK United Kingdom

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is a country and sovereign state [i] tha ... 

's 1974 reshuffle these county boundaries no longer exist in Northern Ireland for administrative purposes, although Fermanagh District Council Fermanagh District Council

Fermanagh District Council is a local council in Northern Ireland [i]. ... 

 is almost identical to the county. In the Republic, the county boundaries are still adhered to for local government, albeit with Tipperary and Dublin Dublin

Dublin is the capital [i] and the largest city of the Republic of Ireland [i] , located near the midpoi... 

 subdivided . For election constituencies, some counties are merged or divided, but constitutionally the boundaries have to be observed. Across Ireland, the 32 counties are still used in sports and in some other cultural areas and retain a strong sense of local identity.

Ireland's least arable land lies in the south-western and western counties. These areas are largely spectacularly mountainous and rocky, with beautiful green vistas.

Geologically, the island consists of a number of provinces - in the far west around Galway and Donegal is a medium to high grade metamorphic and igneous complex of Caledonide  affinity. Across SE Ulster and extending SW to Longford and S to Navan is a province of Ordovician and Silurian rocks with more affinities with the Southern Uplands Southern Uplands

The Southern Uplands is the southernmost of Scotland [i]'s three major geographic areas. ... 

 province of Scotland. Further south, there is an area along the Wexford coast of granite intrusives into more Ordovician and Silurian rocks with a more Welsh affinity.

In the SW, around Bantry Bay Bantry Bay

Bantry Bay is a bay [i] located in southwest Ireland [i], in County Cork [i]. ... 

 and the mountains of Macgillicuddy's Reeks Macgillycuddy's Reeks

McGillycuddy's Reeks are a mountain range [i] in County Kerry [i], Ireland [i].... 

, is an area of substantially deformed but only lightly metamorphosed Metamorphic rock

Metamorphic rock is the result of the transformation of a pre-existing rock [i] type, the protol ... 

 Devonian-aged rocks with a more Cornish affinity.

This partial ring of "hard rock" geology is covered by a blanket of Carboniferous limestones over the centre of the country, giving rise to the comparatively fertile and famously "lush" landscape of the country. The west coast district of the Burren around Lisdoonvarna has well developed karst Karst topography

Karst topography is a three-dimensional landscape shaped by the dissolution [i] of a soluble layer or la ... 

 features. Elsewhere, significant stratiform lead-zinc mineralisation is found in the limestones
.

Hydrocarbon exploration is continuing. The first major find was the Kinsale Head Old Head of Kinsale

The Old Head of Kinsale is a headland near Kinsale [i], County Cork [i], Ireland [i] ... 

 gas field off Cork Cork

Cork is the second city [i] of the Republic of Ireland [i] and Ireland's [i] third most populou... 

/ Cobh Cobh

Cobh is a seaport on the south coast of Ireland [i], in County Cork [i], Republic of Ireland [i].
... 

 by Marathon Oil Marathon Oil

Marathon Oil Corporation , based in Houston, Texas [i], is a worldwide oil [i] and natural gas [i] explo... 

 in the mid-1970s. More recently, in 1999, Enterprise Oil announced the discovery of the Corrib gas field has increased activity off the west coast in parallel with the "West of Shetland North Sea oil

North Sea oil refers to oil [i] and natural gas [i] produced from oil reservoir [i]s beneath t ... 

" step-out development form the North Sea hydrocarbon province North Sea oil

North Sea oil refers to oil [i] and natural gas [i] produced from oil reservoir [i]s beneath t ... 

. Exploration continues, with a frontier well planned north of Donegal for August 2006 and continuing drilling of prospects in the Irish Sea and St Georges Channel.

Climate

Overall, Ireland has a mild, but changeable, climate all year. The island is not noted for its extremes. The warmest recorded air temperature was 33.3°C at Kilkenny Castle Kilkenny Castle

Kilkenny Castle is a castle [i] in Kilkenny [i], Ireland [i]. ... 

, County Kilkenny on 26 June 1887. The coldest air temperature was -19.1°C at Markree Castle, County Sligo on 16 January 1881 . Precipitation falls throughout the year, but is light overall, particularly in the east of the country. The west of the country, however, tends to be wetter on average and prone to the full force of Atlantic storms, more especially in the late autumn and winter months, which occasionally bring destructive winds and high rainfall totals to these areas, as well as snow and hail. The regions of North Galway and East Mayo have the highest incidents of recorded lightning annually
Average temperatures in the island vary from -4°C to 11°C in January, and 9°C to 23°C in July.

Flora and fauna

Ireland has fewer animal and plant species than either Britain or mainland Europe Europe

Europe is one of the seven traditional continent [i]s of the Earth [i]. ... 

 because it became an island very soon after the end of the last Ice Age Ice age

An ice age is a period of long-term downturn in the temperature [i] of Earth [i]'s climate [i], resultin ... 

, about 8,000 years ago. Nevertheless, it is home to hundreds of plant species, some of them unique to the island. Many different habitat types are found in Ireland, including farmland, open woodland, temperate forests, conifer plantations, peat bogs, and various coastal habitats.


Fauna

Only 31 mammal species are native to Ireland, again because it was isolated from Europe by rising sea levels after the Ice Age. Some species, such as the Red Fox Red Fox

The Red Fox is the most familiar of the fox [i]es. ... 

, Hedgehog Hedgehog

A hedgehog is any of the small spiny mammal [i]s of the subfamily [i] Erinaceinae and the order [i] ... 

, Stoat Stoat

The stoat, also known as the short-tailed weasel, is a small mammal [i] of the family Mustelidae [i]... 

, and Badger Badger

Badger is the common name [i] for any animal of three subfamilies, which belong to the family Mustelidae [i] ... 

 are very common, whereas others, like the Irish hare Mountain Hare

The Mountain Hare is a hare [i], which is largely adapted to polar and mountainous habitats. ... 

, Red Deer Red Deer

Red Deer, known as elk or wapiti in North America [i], are the second largest species of deer [i] ... 

 and Pine Marten Pine Marten

The Pine Marten is an animal in the weasel [i] family, native to Europe [i].... 

 are less common and generally seen only in certain national parks and nature reserves around the island. Some introduced species have become thoroughly naturalised, e.g. rabbits European Rabbit

The European Rabbit is a species of rabbit [i] native to southern Europe [i]. ... 

 and the Brown Rat Brown Rat

The Brown Rat or Norway Rat is one of the best-known and common rat [i]s, and also one of the lar ... 

. See List of Irish Mammals.

About 400 bird species have been recorded in Ireland, many of which are migratory, either arctic birds who come in the winter, or birds such as the Swallow Barn Swallow

The Barn Swallow is a small migratory [i] passerine [i] bird [i] found in... 

 which come from Africa Africa

Africa is one of the greatest sized continents of the Earth.... 

 in the summer to breed. Ireland has a very rich marine avifauna, with many large seabird Seabird

Seabirds are bird [i]s that have adapted to life in the marine environment. ... 

 colonies dotted around its coastline such as those on the Saltee Islands and Skellig Michael Skellig Michael

Skellig Michael, also known as Great Skellig, is a steep rocky island about 15 kilometre [i]s west ... 

. Also of note are Golden Eagles Golden Eagle

The Golden Eagle is one of the best known birds of prey [i] in the Northern Hemisphere.... 

, only recently reintroduced after decades of extinction.

There are no snakes and only one reptile native to Ireland, the Common Lizard Viviparous lizard

The viviparous lizard is an Eurasian lizard [i]. It lives in further north than any other reptile specie ... 

. There are three amphibians, the Common Frog Common Frog

The Common Frog, Rana temporaria also known as the European Common Frog or European Commo... 

, the Smooth Newt Smooth Newt

The Smooth Newt is the most common newt [i] species of the Lissotriton [i] genus. ... 

 and the Natterjack Toad Natterjack Toad

The Natterjack Toad is a toad [i] native to sandy and heathland [i] areas of Northern Europe [i].... 

. Certain marine turtle species appear regularly off the south west coast but do not come ashore.

Irish Wildlife Manuals is a series of contract reports relating to the conservation management of habitats and species in Ireland. The volumes are published on an irregular basis by Ireland's National Parks and Wildlife Service .

References

  • Fairley, J.S. 1975. An Irish Beast Book. A Natural History of Ireland's Furred Wildlife. Blackstaff Press, Belfast.

Flora


  • Knowles, M.C. 1929. The Lichens of Ireland. Proceedings of the Royal Irish Adademy. Vol. 38 :179 - 434.


  • Seaward, M.R.D. 1984. Census Catalogue of Irish Lichens. Glasra 8: 1 - 32.

Flags of Ireland


The history of the Irish Tricolour Flag of Ireland

The National Flag of Ireland, also known as the Irish tricolour, is the national flag [i] of the Republic of Ireland [i] ... 

 bearing the colours green for the Catholic majority, orange for William of Orange the Protestant King and white for the desired peace between them, goes back to the middle of the 19th century.

It was first unfurled in public by Young Irelander Thomas Francis Meagher Thomas Francis Meagher

Thomas Francis Meagher aka: "O'Meagher", or "Meagher of the Sword" was an Irish revolutionar... 

 who, using the symbolism of the flag, explained his vision as follows: "The white in the center signifies a lasting truce between the "Orange" and the "Green," and I trust that beneath its folds the hands of the Irish Protestant and the Irish Catholic may be clasped in generous and heroic brotherhood". Fellow nationalist John Mitchel John Mitchel

John Mitchel was an Irish [i] nationalist [i] activist and political journalis ... 

 said of it: "I hope to see that flag one day waving as our national banner."

Since its use in the 1916 Rising Easter Rising

The Easter Rising was a rebellion staged in Ireland [i] in Easter [i] Week, 1916 [i].
... 

 it became widely accepted as the national flag, being used officially by the Irish Republic Irish Republic

The Irish Republic was a unilaterally declared [i] independent st ... 

  and the Irish Free State Irish Free State

The Irish Free State was the name of the state comprising the 26 of Ireland [i]'s 32 counties that wer ... 

 .

In 1937 when the Constitution of Ireland was introduced the Tricolour was formally confirmed as the national flag: "The national flag is the tricolour of green, white and orange." While the Tricolour today is the official flag of Ireland as a state flag it does not apply to the entire island of Ireland.

Since Partition there is no universally agreed flag that represents the entire island. As a provisional solution for certain sports fixtures the Flag of the Four Provinces enjoys a certain amount of general acceptance and popularity.

Historically a number of flags have been used, including St. Patrick's cross Flag of Ireland

The National Flag of Ireland, also known as the Irish tricolour, is the national flag [i] of the Republic of Ireland [i] ... 

, the flag sometimes used for the Kingdom of Ireland Kingdom of Ireland

n>Kingdom of Ireland

The Kingdom of Ireland was the name given to the English-ruled Irish state i... 

 and which represented Ireland on the Union Flag Union Flag

|}... 

 after the Act of Union, a green flag with a harp , a blue flag with a harp used from the 18th century onwards by many nationalists , and the Irish Tricolour Flag of Ireland

The National Flag of Ireland, also known as the Irish tricolour, is the national flag [i] of the Republic of Ireland [i] ... 

. The state flag applying to Northern Ireland Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland is part of the United Kingdom [i] and covers 5,459 square miles [i] in the north... 

 is the Union Flag of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

St Patrick's Saltire was formerly used to represent the island of Ireland by the all-island Irish Rugby Football Union Irish Rugby Football Union

The Irish Rugby Football Union is the body managing rugby union [i] in Ireland [i]. ... 

 , before adoption of the four-provinces flag. The Gaelic Athletic Association Gaelic Athletic Association

The Gaelic Athletic Association is an organisation which is mostly focussed on promoting gaelic games... 

  uses the Tricolour to represent the whole island.

Current Flags







History





Ireland was mostly ice-covered and joined by land to Britain and continental Europe during the last ice age Ice age

An ice age is a period of long-term downturn in the temperature [i] of Earth [i]'s climate [i], resultin ... 

. It has been inhabited for about 9,000 years. Stone age Stone Age

The period encompasses the first widespread use of technology [i] in human evolution [i] and the spread of humanity [i] ... 

 inhabitants arrived sometime after 8000 BC, with the culture progressing from Mesolithic to high Neolithic Neolithic

| style="border-bottom:3px solid; background:#efefef;" | This time period is part of theHolocene [i] epoch.
... 

 over the course of three or four millennia. The Bronze Age Bronze Age

... 

, which began around 2500 BC, saw the production of elaborate gold and bronze ornaments and weapons. The Iron Age Iron Age

In archaeology [i], the Iron Age is the stage in the development of any people where the use of iron [i] ... 

 in Ireland is associated with people now known as Celts Celt

The term Celt, normally pronounced // , refers to a member of any of a number of peoples in Europe u... 

. They are traditionally thought to have colonised Ireland in a series of waves between the 8th and 1st centuries BC, with the Gael, the last wave of Celts, conquering the island and dividing it into five or more kingdoms. Many scholars, however, now favour a view that emphasises possible cultural diffusion from overseas over significant colonisation. The Romans referred to Ireland as Hibernia. Ptolemy Ptolemy

Claudius Ptolemaeus , known in English as Ptolemy, was a Greek-speaking geographer [i], astronomer [i]... 

 in AD 100 records Ireland's geography and tribes. Native accounts are confined to Irish poetry Irish poetry

The history of Irish poetry includes the poetries of two languages, one in Irish [i] and ... 

, myth, and archaeology. The exact relationship between Rome and the tribes of Hibernia is unclear; the only references are a few Roman writings.
History maintains that in AD 432, St. Patrick Saint Patrick

Saint Patrick was a missionary [i] and is regarded as the patron saint [i] of Ireland [i] . ... 

 arrived on the island and, in the years that followed, worked to convert the Irish to Christianity Christianity

Christianity is a monotheistic [i] religion [i] centered on Jesus of Nazareth [i] ... 

. The druid tradition collapsed in the face of the spread of the new faith. Irish Christian scholars excelled in the study of Latin Latin

Latin is an ancient Indo-European language [i] originally spoken in Latium [i], ... 

 learning and Christian theology in the monasteries that flourished, preserving Latin learning during the Early Middle Ages Middle Ages

The Middle Ages formed the middle period in a traditional schematic division of European history [i] ... 

. The arts of manuscript illumination, metalworking, and sculpture flourished and produced such treasures as the Book of Kells Book of Kells

The Book of Kells is an ornately illustrated manuscript [i], produced by Celtic [i] ... 

, ornate jewellery, and the many carved stone crosses that dot the island. This era was interrupted in the 9th century by 200 years of intermittent warfare with waves of Viking Viking

The term Viking commonly denotes the ship-borne explorers, traders, and warriors of the Norsemen [i] who ... 

 raiders who plundered monasteries and towns. Eventually they settled in Ireland and established many towns, including the modern day cities of Dublin Dublin

Dublin is the capital [i] and the largest city of the Republic of Ireland [i] , located near the midpoi... 

, Cork Cork

Cork is the second city [i] of the Republic of Ireland [i] and Ireland's [i] third most populou... 

, Limerick Limerick

Limerick is a city and the county seat of County Limerick [i] in the province [i] of Munster [i], in th ... 

 and Waterford Waterford

Waterford (Irish [i]: Port Lirge) is, historically, the capital of County Waterford [i] ... 

.

In 1172, King Henry II of England Henry II of England

Henry II of England ruled as Count of Anjou [i], Duke of Normandy [i], and as King of England [i] and, ... 

 gained Irish lands by the granting of the 1155 Bull Laudibiliter to him by then English Pope Adrian IV Pope Adrian IV

Pope Adrian IV , born Nicholas Breakspear, was Pope [i] from 1154 [i] to 1159 [i].
... 

, and from the 13th century, English law began to be introduced. English rule was largely limited to the area around Dublin Dublin

Dublin is the capital [i] and the largest city of the Republic of Ireland [i] , located near the midpoi... 

, known as the Pale, and Waterford Waterford

Waterford (Irish [i]: Port Lirge) is, historically, the capital of County Waterford [i] ... 

, but this began to expand in the 16th century with the final collapse of the Gaelic social and political superstructure at the end of the 17th century, as a result of the Tudor re-conquest of Ireland and English and Scottish Protestant colonisation in the Plantations of Ireland Plantations of Ireland

Plantations in 16th and 17th century Ireland involved the seizure of land owned by the native Irish [i] ... 

, which established English control over the whole island. After the Irish Rebellion of 1641, Irish Catholics were barred from voting or attending the Irish Parliament Parliament of Ireland

The Parliament of Ireland was a legislature [i] that existed from medival times until 1800 [i]. ... 

. The new English Protestant ruling class was known as the Protestant Ascendancy Protestant Ascendancy

The Protestant Ascendancy refers to the political, economic, and social domination of Ireland [i] by Anglican [i]... 

.

In 1800 the Irish Parliament passed the Act of Union which, in 1801, merged the Kingdom of Ireland Kingdom of Ireland

n>Kingdom of Ireland

The Kingdom of Ireland was the name given to the English-ruled Irish state i... 

 and the Kingdom of Great Britain Kingdom of Great Britain

Kingdom of Great Britain
... 

 to create the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland

| align="center" colspan="2"| United Kingdom ofGreat Britain and Ireland
... 

. The whole island of Ireland became part of the United Kingdom, ruled directly by the UK Parliament Parliament of the United Kingdom

The Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the supreme legislative body [i] ... 

 in London London

London is the capital [i] city of England [i] and of the United Kingdom [i]. ... 

. The 19th century saw the Great Famine Irish Potato Famine (1845–1849)

The Great Famine or the Great Hunger , known more commonly outside of Ireland [i] as the Irish ... 

 of the 1840's, during which one million Irish people died and over a million emigrated. Mass emigration became entrenched as a result of the famine and population continued to decline until late in the 20th century. The pre-famine peak was over 8 million recorded in the 1841 census. The population has never reached this level since then.

The 19th and early 20th century saw the rise of Irish Nationalism especially among the poorer Catholic population. Daniel O'Connell Daniel O'Connell

Daniel O'Connell, known as The Liberator or The Emancipator, was Ireland [i]'s predominant p ... 

 led a successful non-violent campaign for Catholic Emancipation Catholic Emancipation

Catholic Emancipation was a process in Great Britain [i] and Ireland [i] in the late 18th century [i] an ... 

. A subsequent campaign for Repeal of the Act of Union failed. Later in the century Charles Stewart Parnell Charles Stewart Parnell

Charles Stewart ParnellMost contemporaries pronounced his name as par-nell with the emphasis on the ... 

 and others campaigned for self government within the Union or "Home Rule". This was also unsuccessful. These failures resulted in the eclipse of moderate nationalism by militant separatism. In 1921, following the Easter Rising Easter Rising

The Easter Rising was a rebellion staged in Ireland [i] in Easter [i] Week, 1916 [i].
... 

 of 1916, and the subsequent Anglo-Irish War Irish War of Independence

The Irish War of Independence was a guerrilla [i] campaign mounted against the British government [i] ... 

, a treaty was concluded between the British Government and the leaders of the Irish Republic Irish Republic

The Irish Republic was a unilaterally declared [i] independent st ... 

. The Treaty recognised the two-state solution created in the Government of Ireland Act 1920 Government of Ireland Act 1920

An Act to Provide for the Better Government of Ireland, more usually the Government of Ireland Act 19... 

. Northern Ireland Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland is part of the United Kingdom [i] and covers 5,459 square miles [i] in the north... 

 was presumed to form a home rule state within the new Irish Free State Irish Free State

The Irish Free State was the name of the state comprising the 26 of Ireland [i]'s 32 counties that wer ... 

 unless it opted out. Northern Ireland had a majority Protestant population which feared becoming a minority in a majority Catholic state. Not unexpectedly it opted out of the new state and chose instead to remain part of the United Kingdom. A Boundary Commission was set up to decide on the boundaries between the two Irish states, though it was subsequently abandoned after it recommended only minor adjustments to the border. Disagreements over some provisions of the treaty led to a split in the Nationalist movement and subsequently to the Civil War Irish Civil War

The Irish Civil War was a conflict between supporters and opponents of the Anglo-Irish Treaty [i] of December 6 [i] ... 

. The civil war ended in 1923 with the defeat of the Anti-treaty forces.

History since partition


Irish Independence: The Irish Free State, Éire, Ireland

The Anglo-Irish Treaty was narrowly ratified by the Dáil in December 1921 but was rejected by a large minority, resulting in the Irish Civil War Irish Civil War

The Irish Civil War was a conflict between supporters and opponents of the Anglo-Irish Treaty [i] of December 6 [i] ... 

 which lasted until 1923. In 1922, in the middle of this civil war, the Irish Free State Irish Free State

The Irish Free State was the name of the state comprising the 26 of Ireland [i]'s 32 counties that wer ... 

came into being. For its first years the new state was governed by the victors of the Civil War. However in the 1930s Fianna Fáil, the party of the opponents of the treaty, were elected into government. The party introduced a new constitution in 1937 which renamed the state "Éire Éire

ire is the Irish [i] name of the island called Ireland [i] in the English language [i] ... 

or in the English language, Ireland" '.

The state was neutral during World War II World War II

World War II, or the Second World War, was a worldwide [i] conflict [i] fought betwe ... 

 which was known internally as The Emergency The Emergency

The Emergency was an official euphemism [i] used by the Irish Government [i] during the 1940s [i] to re ... 

, but offered some assistance to the Allies, especially in Northern Ireland. Indeed, more than 60,000 volunteers from the Republic fought in the British armed forces . In 1949 the state declared itself to be a republic and that henceforth it should be described as the Republic of Ireland Republic of Ireland

The Republic of Ireland is the official description of the sovereign state which covers approximately f... 

. The state was plagued by poverty and emigration until the mid-1970's. The 1990's saw the beginning of unprecedented economic success, in a phenomenon known as the "Celtic Tiger Celtic Tiger

The Celtic Tiger is a nickname [i] for the Republic of Ireland [i] during its period of rapid economic growth [i] ... 

". By the early 2000's, it had become one of the richest countries in the European Union European Union

The European Union is an intergovernmental [i] and supranational [i] ... 

, moving from being a net recipient of the budget European Union Budget

The European Union [i] has an independent parliament and civil service which is distinct from those of the 25 ... 

 to becoming a net contributor during the next Budget round , and from a country of net emigration to one of net immigration.

Northern Ireland

From its creation in 1921 until 1972, Northern Ireland enjoyed limited self-government within the United Kingdom, with its own parliament and prime minister. However the Protestant and Catholic communities in Northern Ireland each voted almost entirely along sectarian lines, meaning that the government of Northern Ireland was always controlled by the Ulster Unionist Party Ulster Unionist Party

The Ulster Unionist Party is a moderate unionist [i] political party in Northern Ireland [i], ... 

. Consequently, Catholics could not participate in the government, which at times openly encouraged discrimination in housing and employment.

Northern Ireland was largely spared the strife of the Civil War in the south but there were sporadic episodes of intercommunal violence between Catholics and Protestants during the decades that followed partition. Although the Irish Free State Irish Free State

The Irish Free State was the name of the state comprising the 26 of Ireland [i]'s 32 counties that wer ... 

 was neutral during World War II World War II

World War II, or the Second World War, was a worldwide [i] conflict [i] fought betwe ... 

, Northern Ireland, as part of the United Kingdom was not and Belfast suffered a bombing raid from the German Luftwaffe Luftwaffe

The Deutsche Luftwaffe or Luftwaffe is the commonly used term for the German [i] air force [i] ... 

 in 1941.

Nationalist grievances at unionist discrimination within the state eventually led to large civil rights Civil rights

Civil rights are the protections and privileges of personal liberty given to all citizens by law.... 

 protests in 1960s, which the government suppressed heavy-handedly, most notably on "Bloody Sunday". It was during this period of civil unrest that the paramilitary Provisional IRA Provisional Irish Republican Army

he Provisional Irish Republican Army is an Irish Republican [i] paramilitary [i] organisation which, un ... 

, who favoured the creation of a united Ireland United Ireland

A United Ireland is the common demand of Irish nationalist [i]s, envisaging that the island of Ireland [i] ... 

, began its campaign against what it called the British occupation of the six counties. Other groups, legal and illegal on the unionist side, and illegal on the nationalist side, began to participate in the violence and the period known as the "Troubles The Troubles

The Troubles is a generic and euphemistic term used to describe a period of sporadic communal viole... 

" began. Owing to the civil unrest the British government suspended home rule in 1972 and imposed direct rule.

In 1998, following a Provisional IRA ceasefire and multi-party talks, the Good Friday Agreement was concluded and ratified by referendum in both the north and south. This agreement attempts to restore self-government to Northern Ireland on the basis of power sharing between the two communities. Violence has greatly decreased since the signing of the accord. The power-sharing assembly has only operated for brief periods and is currently suspended.

In 2001 the police force in Northern Ireland, the Royal Ulster Constabulary Royal Ulster Constabulary

The Royal Ulster Constabulary GC was name of the police [i] force in Northern Ireland [i] from 1922 [i]... 

, was replaced by the Police Service of Northern Ireland Police Service of Northern Ireland

The Police Service of Northern Ireland
... 

.

On 28 July 2005, the Provisional IRA announced the end of its armed campaign and on 25 September 2005 international weapons inspectors supervised what they currently regard as the full decommissioning of the Provisional IRA's weapons.

Sport



Gaelic football Gaelic football

Gaelic football , commonly referred to as "football", "Gaelic" or "gah", is a form of ... 

 and hurling Hurling

Hurling is an outdoor team sport [i] of Celt [i]ic origin, administered by the Gaelic Athletic Association [i]... 

 are the most popular sports in Ireland. Along with Camogie Camogie

Camogie is a Celtic [i] team sport [i], the women's variant of hurling [i].... 

, Ladies' Gaelic football Ladies' Gaelic football

Ladies' Gaelic Football is the most prominent amateur team sport for women in Ireland [i]. ... 

, handball Gaelic handball

:For more information on this topic see Senior Hardball Singles [i] or Senior Softball Singles [i] ... 

 and rounders Rounders

Rounders is a sport [i] which originated in Great Britain [i] and Ireland [i]. ... 

, they make up the national sports of Ireland, collectively known as Gaelic Games Gaelic Athletic Association

The Gaelic Athletic Association is an organisation which is mostly focussed on promoting gaelic games... 

. All Gaelic games are governed by the Gaelic Athletic Association Gaelic Athletic Association

The Gaelic Athletic Association is an organisation which is mostly focussed on promoting gaelic games... 

 , with the exception of Ladies' Gaelic Football, which is governed by a separate organisation. The GAA is organised on an all-Ireland basis with all 32 counties competing; traditionally, counties first compete within their province Provinces of Ireland

colspan="2" style="background:#ccccff" align=center | Provinces of Ireland
... 

, in the provincial championships, and the winners then compete in the All-Ireland senior hurling All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship

The All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship is the premier "knockout" competition in the game of hurling [i] ... 

 or football All-Ireland Senior Football Championship

The All-Ireland Senior Football Championship is the premier "knockout" competition in the game of Gaelic football [i] ... 

 championships. The headquarters of the GAA is located at the 82,300 capacity Croke Park Croke Park

Croke Park in Dublin [i], Ireland [i] is the largest sports stadium [i] in Ireland and the principal stadium [i] ... 

 in north Dublin. All major GAA games are played here, including the semi-finals and finals of the All-Ireland championships. All GAA players, even at the highest level, are amateurs and receive no wages.

The Irish rugby Rugby union

Rugby union is a variant of rugby football [i]. ... 

 team includes players from north and south, and the Irish Rugby Football Union Irish Rugby Football Union

The Irish Rugby Football Union is the body managing rugby union [i] in Ireland [i]. ... 

 governs the sport on both sides of the border. Consequently in international rugby, the Ireland team represents the whole island. The same is true of cricket Cricket

Cricket is a team sport [i] played between two teams of eleven players each.... 

, golf Golf

Golf is a sport where individual players or teams hit a ball [i] into a hole using various clubs [i] ... 

, tennis Tennis

Tennis is a game played between either two players or two teams of two pla