| The
first settlers : |
| The
first settlers arrived in Ireland 7000 BC. They came from Britain,
most of them were hunters. Around 3000 BC, the Neolithic settlers
came to Ireland. They were largely self-sufficient, cultivated
the land and raised animals, but also traded a little with products
such as axe-heads. 2000 BC, prospectors and metalworkers arrived,
but it was not until 600 BC that the first Celtic invaders from
Europe started to come to Ireland. The stream of Celtic invaders
continued up to the birth of Christ. The Celts did not unify
Ireland politically, but in terms of culture and language. |
| Ireland
in the Middle Ages : |
Back
to top |
Christianity
was introduced to Ireland around 500 AC by Saint Patrick. Monasteries
were built and had a strong effect on Irish culture, art and
language. Ireland had the luck that no barbarian invasions from
Europe destroyed its culture. Starting in the 8th century, Irish
monks founded many monasteries in Europe.
From the 8th to the 10th century, Ireland experienced a series
of invasions by the Vikings. But the effects of the Vikings
were not only negative, because they were also traders and cities
like Dublin, Cork and Waterford became trading centers under
their influence. The Viking's role in Ireland was weakened when
Brian Boru, the King of Ireland, defeated them in 1014 in Clontarf.
When the Normans came from Wales and England at the end of the
12th century, the development of a centralized monarchy based
on European models in Ireland was stopped. The Normans quickly
controlled wide parts of Ireland, which meant that they were
ruled by the King of Britain. For the next 400 years, the Normannic
influence on Ireland was very strong, although some areas remained
under Irish rule. In the 16th century, the Normannic settlements
were influenced by the Gaelic and the spread of Protestantism
in England could be felt in Ireland as well. |
| The
British Invasion : |
Back
to top |
| Ireland's
strategic importance for England grew because of its proximity
to France in the 17th century. The Normannic and the Gaelic
parts of Ireland's population were against the spread of Protestantism.
Gaelic uprisings caused by new British immigration plans were
crushed by William of Orange. This battle, fought in 1690, is
called Battle of the Boyne. Soon, the whole island was suppressed
by the English. The Wild Geese, the Gaelic who fought against
William of Orange, left Ireland. Protestantism became the dominating
religion in Ireland and its members seized control of Ireland's
politics and owned most of the land. |
| The
18th century : |
Back
to top |
In
the 18th century the most important economical development started
in Ireland, especially the linen industry in Ulster. Irish wool,
butter, beef and pork meat were exported to foreign countries.
At this time, an Irish Parliament was established, which was
suppressed by the Parliament in Westminster in the United Kingdom.
The Catholics were not allowed to become members of Parliament.
Furthermore, a lot of people, mostly Irish Protestants had emigrated
to the British colonies in North America in order to have a
better life. Beginning in 1760, many clashes between the United
Kingdom and its colonies in America took place. The reason for
that was the radical patriotism of the “Americans”.
As a result of the French Revolution, the Society of United
Irishmen was established. In 1798 the Irishmen started a rising
with the aim of establishing an independent Irish Republic.
The rising was crushed by British troops. The British answer
to the rising was the "Act of Union", the complete
parliamentical unity of Ireland and Great Britain. Ireland was
now completely dominated by Britain. |
| The
great famine and the fight of independence
: |
Back
to top |
After
the "Act of Union", Great Britain’s and Ireland’s
economy had developed differently. In Great Britain, the industrialization
and urbanization took place. In Ireland, except for Ulster,
it was exactly the opposite: Ireland became desindustrialised.
As a result of that, the Irish population increased and potatoes
became the most important food.
Around 1860, one million people died and one million people
emigrated to America due to a famine, caused by a failed potato
harvest. During the next ten years the population reduced from
eight million to six million. This situation remained the same
and emigration was one of the key signs of Irish society.
In the 19th century, Irish politics was dominated by attempts
to reform or to break up the unity of Ireland and Great Britain.
The great famine became a political topic, because everyone
knew that Great Britain was responsible for this misery. Now,
the Irish focused on one aim: Independence form Britain. Another
result of the famine was that political and economical pressure
on Irish landowners increased.
At the beginning of the 20th century, risings started in the
countryside. The British released laws, which forced landowners
to sell their land to farmers who got money from banks to buy
their own land for agriculture.
The question of independence (they called it "Home Rule")
was not solved yet. In the 40s and 50s of the 19th century,
Daniel O’Connell and Isaac Butt tried to achieve more independence,
but their attempts failed. More independence was finally achieved
in the 80s of the 19th century by the Irish leader Charles Steward
Parnell, who managed to force the Irish Parliament to make the
Irish problem a part of British politics. The British Premier
W.E. Gladstone, a member of the Liberal party, supported more
independence in Ireland. The Protestant Unionists who formed
the majority in Ulster started to fight against this decision.
They feared that the "Home Rule" affair would be the
start of the end of the British Empire. They were supported
by groups from British mainland, too. |
| The
way to independence
: |
Back
to top |
The
atmosphere in Ireland became more and more militaristic, because
private armies like the "Ulster Volunteer Force" and
the "Irish Volunteers" carried out military parades
and exercises. The First World War prevented confrontations
between those groups and the start of "Home Rule".
The First World War changed everything. Easter 1916, during
a military rising, the Republic of Ireland was declared in the
head post office in Dublin. First, the rising was not supported
by the public, but suppressed. The political members profited
from the public disagreement on the execution of army leaders.
When the Parliament elections took place in 1918, the Irish
members of Parliament, who had fought for "Home Rule",
were defeated. The members of the Sinn Féin party ("Sinn
Féin" is translated to "on our own") were
the champions of election, but did not enter the Parliament
in Westminster / Great Britain. In 1919 they established their
first Parliament in Dublin / Ireland, which is called Dáil
in Gaelic. By doing this, they took an important step to show
Irish independence, and a war for independence started all over
Ireland.
In 1921, the Anglo-Irish agreement (= Ireland accepted that
the district of Ulster became a part of the United Kingdom -
Northern Ireland was born.) was signedd, the result: six districts
in the northeast corner of Ulster, ruled by Earls, made up their
own Parliament in Northern Ireland. The remaining 26 Earl districts
in Ireland formed the Irish Free State - the Republic of Ireland
was born. By signing this agreement, Ireland became a divided
island between the United Kingdom and the "free" Republic
of Ireland.
Now, a short civil war started between those who supported the
agreement and those who wanted to have the Republic. It was
a short civil war, but it still influences the political opinion
of a lot of people until today. |
| |
Back
to top |
|
