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IRELAND
HISTORY
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HISTORIC TIMELINE
2500BC
construction of the Newgrange passage tomb
500BC
beginning of the Iron Age, which sees the arrival of the Celts
300 - 450AD
Irish warriors raid Roman Britain, leading to settlements being established on the Western coasts of Scotland and Wales
432
The supposed year St Patrick is sent to Ireland. Irish monasteries spread and flourished over the next 150 years
795
The Vikings begin to raid Ireland. By 837, they begin to establish settlement along the Eastern coast
841
The Vikings set up a permanent settlement at Dublin and Annagassen and expand their power to the South and West by taking Waterford in 914 and Limerick in 1920. Gradually, the Vikings became traders in close association with the Irish
1014
Brian Bóruma defeats the Scandinavian allies of Máel Mórda, king of Leinster, at the Battle of Clontarf, bringing Viking domination to an end. A period of political unsettlement follows as High Kings struggle for acknowledgement among the provincial kings
1155
Henry II of England is granted permission by pope Adrian IV to invade Ireland. Anglo-Normans have conquered substantial parts of Eastern Ireland
1171
Henry II arrives to Ireland and the Irish kings recognize his supremacy
13th century
King John establishes a civil government independent of the feudal lords which becomes more fully organized during the 13th century. English law is introduced and an Irish parliament developed, which is representing the Anglo-Irish only
14th century
English control is tightening with increased power and land given to the Anglo-Irish who are becoming increasingly Irish on the other hand by adopting Gealic customs and marrying Irish women. The Anglo-Irish Earldoms of Desmonde, Kildare and Ormonde are created
1366
Introduction of the Statute of Kilkenny, permitting intermarriage or Irish alliances. The Irish in territories outside English control (the "pale") were declared enemies
15th century
Ireland is ruled by the three great Earls dominating government in Dublin. By the end of the century the Earl of Kildare gain power through dynastic alliances and the chief Gaelic and Anglo-Irish lords, which is seen as a threat to English supremacy
1534
Kildare is dismissed by Henry VIII to re-establish direct English control. Catholicism is out of favour and reformation starts to make its way. Monasteries start to close in the English controlled territory in the following years
1540 - 43
Sir Anthony Saint Leger introduces the “surrender and regrant” policy, forcing Irish earls and lords to submit to the King of England in order to keep their land
1541
King Henry VIII is made King of Ireland by the Irish parliament. The later 16th century sees the enforced settlement of the Anglican church, rebellions supported by the Catholic Church and the Spanish are unsuccessful and lead to a tightening of English rule
1610
Beginning of the Ulster plantation. A confederation forms in Kilkenny to rise against the English
1649
Oliver Cromwell arrives to Dublin as commander in chief and his nine month campaign crushes all resistance. The following years see the confiscation of land from anybody involved in the rebellion and driving the Anglo-Irish off their land to Connacht. The confiscated land is given to Cromwells soldiers and creditors of the Commonwealth
1660 - 65
The Act of Settlement of 1662 enables Protestants loyal to the crown to recover their lands after Cromwells death and the Act of Explanation 1665 partially compensates Roman-Catholics for losses under the commonwealth though preventing Catholics to gain political influence
1688
After fleeing from England to France, King James arrives to Ireland and repeals the the Acts of Settlement and Explanation to provide restoration for expropriated Catholics
1690
King William III claims the throne from James and defeats James at the battle of Boyne. Catholics are pushed out from parliament and public office as a consequence and anti-catholic penal laws are introduced around the turn of the century
1772
The American revolution greatly influences Irish politics and brings some relief to Catholic oppression. The late 18th century sees some rights re-established for the Catholic Irish, including the right to take out leases and buy land, trade with the English colonies and to practise law
1798
Rising of the United Irishmen in May and June lead by Theobald Wolfe Tone, who is captured in November and convicted for high treason and sentenced to death
1801
Act of Union between Great Britain and Ireland tightens British grip on Ireland. Further small concessions are granted to the Catholic Irish as the desire for homerule grows
1845 - 48
The great famine, roughly one million people die from starvation and even more Irish immigrated in the course of the 19th and 20th century to England and North America. The Fenian movement spreads across Irish migrant groups, giving sympathy to Irish Home Rule
1870
Isaac Butt launches the home rule movement, but a motion is defeated. The Irish Republican Brotherhood withdraws their support for Home Rule in 1876
1879
Formation of the Irish Land League advocating for tenure, fair rents and the freedom to sell for tenants. The demands are met in the Land Act of 1881, but at the same time, the Land League is declared illegal and its leaders imprisoned, including Charles Steward Parnell, Leader of the Home Rule Party. The leaders were released from prison in 1882
1891
Death of Parnell and John Remond becomes the leader of the Parnellites advocating for Home Rule. The late 19th century sees the development of a cultural nationalist movement, which sees the formation of the Gaelic league and the reviving of Irish language, music and culture
1905
Arthur Griffith founds Sinn Fein. Revival of the Fenian Irish Republican Brotherhood. The homerule movement gains more speed and support. Several Home Rule bills are rejected by the House of Lords in the following 10 years
1913
Establishment of the Ulster Voluntary Force, Irish Citizen Army and Irish Volunteers. The proposal of excluding Ulster from the Home Rule bill is first introduced
1914
Nationalist and unionist forces bring in arms and Ireland seems close to civil war. The third home rule bill passes the Commons and receives royal assent but is suspended after Britain declares war on Germany on the 4th of August
1918
Sinn Fein wins 73 seats in the general election, virtually extinguishing the home rule party. The Republicans refuse to take their seat in Westminster, but set up their provisional government instead.
1919
The Irish volunteers become the Irish Republican Army and the War of Independence begins, characterized by IRA ambushes and attacks on police barracks and brutal British reprisals. A large proportion of the Irish police force resigns and is replaced by British recruits, known as the Black and Tans
1921
A truce is declared between the IRA and British army on July 9th and the Anglo-Irish Treaty is signed on December 6, proposing the split of Ireland into two self-governing areas
1922
The Dail Eireann approves the treaty on January 7 with strong opposition from Republicans led by Eamon de Valera. The IRA splits and civil war breaks out in June. Michael Collins, chairman of the provisional government, is killed in an ambush in August. The Dail approves the constitution of the free state in October and it is ratified by the constitution act in the UK in December
1932
After launching Fianna Fail in 1926, Eamon de Valera becomes president in Ireland and heads the government until 1948. His politics are strongly characterized by Irish-British relations and further efforts to end British influence in Ireland completely
1936
The IRA is declared illegal in the Free State
1949
Ireland left the Commonwealth
1950s
economic stagnation sees the development of an economic development plan, forming the formation for the modernization of a deeply conservative society and poor country
1973
Ireland joins the EEC, which brings social and economic change, bringing benefits to farmers and revolutionizing the infrastructure. The EEC membership also brings greater independence from Britain
1990
Mary Robinson becomes Ireland’s first female president
1990s
the economic position improves significantly with low inflation and reduced deficits The high technology sector fuels the economic boom in the late 1990s, which becomes known as the Celtic Tiger
2002
Ireland joins the eurozone
2011
Queen Elizabeth undertakes a four day visit to Ireland in May, being the first British monarch to set foot on Ireland in over 100 years
History Ireland