Page 37 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Ireland

INTRODUCING IRELAND  35

THE HISTORY

OF IRELAND

Ireland’s relative isolation has cut it off their lands were confiscated and granted
from several of the major events of to Protestants from England and Scotland.
European history. Roman legions, for England’s conquest was completed with
example, never invaded and the country’s the victory of William of Orange over
early history is shrouded in myths of James II at the Battle of the Boyne in 1690.
warring gods and heroic High Kings. Repressive Penal Laws were put into place,
Nevertheless, the bellicose Celtic tribes but opposition to English rule continued.
were quick to embrace Christianity after the The Famine of 1845 to 1848 was one of
arrival of St Patrick on the island in AD 432. the bleakest periods in Irish history. About
Until the Viking invasions of the 9th 1.5 million people died, two million
century, Ireland enjoyed an era of relative emigrated, and many who stayed were
peace. Huge monasteries like lonmacnoise evicted by English landlords. A campaign
and Glendalough were founded, where for Home Rule gath ered strength, but it
scholarship and art flour ished. The Vikings was 1920 before the Government of
failed to gain control of the island, but in Ireland Act divided the island. The South
1169 the Anglo-Normans did. Many Irish became the Irish Free State, gaining full
chiefs submitted to Henry II of England, independence in 1937, while the North
who declared himself Lord of Ireland. He be came part of the UK. In the 1970s, 1980s
left in 1172, and his knights shared out and much of the 1990s, Northern Ireland
large baronies between themselves. was a battleground, with both Loyalist and
Matters changed when Henry VIII broke Republican paramilitary groups wag ing
with the Catholic church in 1532. Ireland bombing campaigns. In 1998, the Good
became a battleground between native Friday Agreement was signed, paving the
Irish Catholics and the forces of the English way for a new Northern Ireland Assembly
Crown. Where the Irish were defeated, and hopes of peace.

Map of Ireland, printed in 1592, showing the four traditional provinces
The Feast of St Kevin amid the Ruins of Glendalough by Joseph Peacock (1813)

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