Irish History

Manuscript speech of John O'Keefe on events in nineteenth-century Irish history, November 24, 1922.

Irish history reflects a rich tapestry spanning thousands of years. It is marked by waves of migration, foreign invasions and catastrophic events. These developments resulted in major demographic shifts and other fundamental changes in Ireland’s course. Understanding Ireland’s cultural, social, and political history can help you appreciate how these events shaped the lives of your Irish ancestors.

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Prehistoric and Early Christian EraPrehistoric and Early Christian Era

Ireland's earliest inhabitants arrived around 6000 Before the Christian Era (BCE). They established a Neolithic culture characterised by the development of stone tools and construction of megalithic tombs. Importantly this period also saw the domestication of plants and animals which led to a shift from hunting and gathering to a diet based on cultivated foods. This paved the way for the establishment of permanent settlements.

Converting to Christianity

The Iron Age began in Ireland from 600 BCE onwards. Celtic peoples from western Europe (Gaels) invaded Ireland and subdued the existing inhabitants. These Celtic-speaking groups gradually blended with the existing indigenous cultures, leading to the emergence of a recognisable Gaelic society. The basic units of Gaelic society were the tuatha, or petty kingdoms.

Christianity arrived in Ireland about the 5^th century.  It profoundly altered Irish society. Among the most important innovations was the introduction of writing. The early Christian period saw the establishment of monastic settlements and the development of a Christian tradition with some unique Celtic elements.

The Irish Annals, compiled by monks in medieval times, contain entries on significant events and notable figures from this period. Extant records from the Annals are only fragmentary. However, they do provide a fascinating glimpse into the lived experience of ancient Irish families and clans.

Viking and Norman Influence through to Medieval timesViking and Norman Influence through to Medieval times

Landing of a Viking fleet at Dublin (841)

Viking raids began in the late 8^th century. Settlements and cultural exchange with the Norsemen followed. The Battle of Clontarf (1014) was an important event in Irish history and is recorded in both Irish and Norse chronicles. In Ireland the battle came to be seen as the key event that freed the Irish from foreign domination. In subsequent decades Norsemen were progressively integrated into Irish society rather than seen as invaders.

But the next foreign intervention into Ireland was not far off. The arrival of Normans (1169-1172) initiated centuries of the intrusion of England into Irish affairs. This period saw the establishment of Anglo-Norman nobility and ongoing conflicts between the existing Gaelic Irish and newly arrived Norman-English settlers which lasted the next several hundred years. Despite the impact of the Normans Gaelic culture, language and some of its political structures survived through to the Middle Ages.

16^th and 17^th Centuries16th and 17th Centuries

The 16^th and 17^th centuries were marked by continuing efforts to bring Ireland under ever greater English control. Key events include the Flight of the Earls in 1607, which saw the end of the old Gaelic order; the Plantation (organised colonisation) of Ulster (1609), which resulted in the arrival of significant numbers of Scottish and English Protestant settlers; the Irish Rebellion (1641) and the subsequent Confederate Wars (1641-165). This period inevitably resulted in significant upheaval and population displacement. Many families were forced to migrate internally or were otherwise affected by the confiscation of their lands and related troubles.

18^th and 19^th Centuries18th and 19th Centuries

The 18^th century saw the implementation of harsh Penal Laws against Catholics. The failed 1798 rebellion led to the Act of Union in 1800, formally incorporating Ireland into the United Kingdom.

A cartoon by John Leech titled "Justice to Ireland", showing the public being controlled by the Coercion Bill during the Great Famine in Ireland

The Great Famine (1845-1852) was another pivotal moment in Irish history. It dramatically altered the lives and the future family history of many people. A disease, Potato Blight, devastated a crop on which most Irish depended. Families were torn apart by mass starvation, illness and forced emigration. A harsh Coercion Act was enforced to control civil unrest. The famine and its effects permanently changed the island's demographic, political, and cultural landscape. It resulted an estimated 2 million refugees and was the driver of a century-long population decline.

Of special significance to family historians is that the famine led to millions fleeing Ireland to seek better lives overseas, especially to United States, Canada and Australia. Emigration records, passenger lists and naturalisation papers from this period graphically illustrate the dispersal of the Irish diaspora.

During this period two major sources of genealogical information emerge: church records and civil registration. The Catholic Church's records of baptisms, marriages, and burials are invaluable, particularly given the scarcity of other types of records from earlier periods. Protestant church records also offer crucial insights, especially in the province of Ulster, where many Scots-Irish families settled, preferring continued association with the United Kingdom rather than the Catholic-dominated southern Irish counties.

20^th and 21^st Centuries20th and 21st Centuries

The early 20^th century was a period of further intense political activity and bloodshed. The long struggle for independence from the UK reached a climax. The Easter Rising (1916) sparked a series of clashes leading to the Irish War of Independence (1919-1921). The Anglo-Irish Treaty of 1921 established the Irish Free State covering most of the island, while Northern Ireland remained part of the UK. But conflict did not end there. Civil War (1922-1923) followed, reflecting internal divisions among the Irish over the terms of the Treaty.

Comparison of Irish and UK economic performance while Ireland enjoyed its "Celtric Tiger" boom

Ireland became a republic in 1949 and left the British Commonwealth. The latter half of the 20^th century saw a strong move towards closer integration with the European Union. The economy boomed during the Celtic Tiger era of the 1990s and early 2000s. But more recent times have been less positive for the Irish economy. Meanwhile the power and influence of the Catholic Church was substantially weakened both reflecting, and leading to, major changes in Irish society and public attitudes.

As far as family history is concerned the 1901 and 1911 Irish censuses provide detailed household information covering the late 19^th and first decade of the 20^th century. These censuses generally include details of family members, their ages, occupations and literacy levels. They are a cornerstone for anyone tracing their family roots during this transformative time.

The early 20^th century also saw a surge in efforts to document and preserve family histories. The publication of Griffith's Valuation (1847-1864), for example, provides a comprehensive survey of contemporaneous land holdings. This can be a valuable resource for genealogists as they detail the names of tenants and landlords, offering a snapshot of land occupation and usage at that time.

Ireland todayIreland today

Ireland, committed to the EU

More recent Irish history has seen further important changes in society and migration patterns from earlier times. There was a significant new wave of emigration to a wider group of countries, particularly following the 2008 financial crisis.  At the same time immigration to Ireland has increased in recent years. There have been substantial inflows from eastern European countries which had also joined the EU and whose citizens could therefore take advantage of free movement within the bloc.

Ireland today has demographic characteristics quite different from many of its European neighbours. This includes the highest net emigration rate as well as the youngest population of any EU member state. As a result, Ireland’s population is forecast to continue growing for many decades, unlike the decline in numbers predicted for many other European countries.

References

See alsoSee also

• Ireland
• Irish genealogy

Explore more about Ireland historyExplore more about Ireland history

• Ireland - Collection Catalog at MyHeritage
• Irish ancestors – Top 5 websites you need to know about webinar at Legacy Family Tree Webinars
• Irish Migration Patterns and How They Affected Irish Genealogy on the MyHeritage blog
• How to Trace Your Irish Genealogy

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