|
Introduction |
|
This page details the basics of Irish history. Summer holidays are finally here so I can
at last start adding to the site properly. Keep coming back to check it out.
|
|
Background |
|
Ireland and its background
Ireland or Éire,Republic in northwestern Europe,occupying fice sixths of the Island of Ireland.The Country is bounded on the west and south by the Atlantic Ocean and seperated from great britain by the Irish Sea.Ireland won its independance in 1921 and became a republic in 1949.Its an agricultural economy but also has a huge electronics industry.It is the largest exporter of computer components in the world (surpassing USA in 1994).It has poor natural resources.Most of its people are Roman Catholic.The country suffered terribly at the hands of the English,who dominated and used the Irish for several centuries.
The Land can be likened to a saucer,with a flat central limestone plain(Midlands I live there!!),averaging about 300ft above sea level,rimmed with low mountains along the coasts.On the Eastern coast,north of Dublin,the plain stretches to the sea, and the eastern and southern coasts are generally regular.In contrast,the rugged Atlantic coast is broken by countless rocky inlets and and islands,including the famous Achill and the Aran Islands.
The Almost treeless plain is studded with low ridges and innumerable lakes,around which are vast areas of bogs,such as "The Bog Of Allen" which is 250,000 acres.The plain is drained by the 250-mile long "Shannon River".The Largest of Irelands lakes are the "Ree" the "Derg" the "Mask","Lough Corrib","Lough Conn".The Most famous are the three lakes of Killarney,in county Kerry.
Irelands climate is extremely moist(what a bloody understatement).Strong Southwest winds from the Atlantic bring heavy rains,averaging 56in annually,and up to 100in near the West coast.On the east coast,Dublin receives about 30in per year.The Currents of the Gulf Coasts warm the Coast of Ireland keeping ports Icefree and the Island warmer than it should be at that latitude.
This damp,temerate climate produces the bright green grass of the "Emerald Isle" and favours dairy farming and livestock raising.Most of the once great Oak Forests of Ireland were stripped and exported by the English,leaving only sparse strands of pine and,oak,birch and beech.Native grasses stay green all year.Today 17% of the land is forested.
|
|
The people |
|
There are traces in Ireland of the short,dark Mediterranean people who first reached its shores about 6,000B.C(before Christ).They were later assimilated by Celtic tribes that appeared in the 4th Century B.C and soon conquered the whole island.Lesser immagrations of English,Normans and Scandinavians were absorbed.
The People used to be heavily dependant on agriculture(50%) but this has steadily changed and now (25%) are in the industry.About 20% of the polulation lives in Dublin and surrounding areas.Irelands most important cities are located on the coasts,they include;Dublin,Dun Laoighaire,Cork, Limerick,Galway and Waterford.The Inland Large towns include Kerry,Tipperary and Mayo.
Ireland has a past of Immagration 160,000 emmigrated per year during the worst times.Over 1 million emmigrated to the US during the "Great Famine"(The Potatoe Blight) in 1840's. At the moment the country is going through a continued boom.We are the largest growing economy in Europe(8% growth per annum) and the trend of past immigrants returning to Ireland is now growing.Especially Irish/Americans who are now being sought by The Irish Government. Take for example NY road workers being hired to build a network of Motorways last month costing $3 billion.They will be housed and employed here for the next three years.
95% of The polulation is Roman Catholic with the rest being made up of Protestants and minor communities.
Irish is the recognized Primary Language but English is spoken by the majority.Some 120,000+ people speak Irish Daily.There are also areas called "Gaeltachts" where Irish is spoken primarily.The Language is taught in Schools(compulsory subject) this along with the creation of An Irish tv station and the States continued support has meant that at last Irish is on the Increase.
Irelands greatest contribution is its literature.Early Irish literature reflected the Gaelic tradition of Heroic sagas and lyrical poetry.Irish Poets of note include Oliver Goldsmith, Richard Brinsley Sheridan,Oscar Wilde,George Bernard Shaw,Sean O'Casey,Samuel Beckett, William Butler Yeats and Seamus Heaney.
|
|
Early History |
|
In the Mesolithic Period tribes of Mediterranean origin landed on Irish shores to hunt and fish.Others followed who settled down to farm the land, on which they erected great megalithic tombs.During the Bronze age trade flourished as the island's deposits of gold and other minerals were exploited.Then,about 400B.C the Celts invaded and eventually established five tribal kingdoms.The Roman invasion of Britain never reached Ireland.
In the 5th Century A.D Saint Patrick(St Paddy) was sent by the Pope to convert the island to christianity.The New religion took root and flourished;monastaries sprang up,and by the 7th and 8th centuries Ireland had become "The land of Saints and Scholars".Learned Irish monks were to be found creating monastaries and teaching all across Europe.
In the 9th Century raiding pagan Norsemen(Vikings) plundered the monasteries and eventually founded settlements at Dublin,Limerick and Cork.In 1171 King Henry II of England arrived in Ireland to claim the land.He appointed Anglo-Norman overlords to the task of organizing towns.The Irish Chieftains(Rulers) accepted the English in the South and East,but the English met fierce opposition in the North and West Kingdoms.The Anglo-Normans had complete control of Dublin(the Capital) by now,and around the city(Called the Pale).Eventually The English gained control of most of Ireland,enslaving the Irish,taking their land and reducing them to serfdoms(peasants).The Native Gaels had no land no rights and were little more than slaves.
Until the 16th Century Ireland was ignored and neglected by the English Kings.The Power of the Anglo-Irish(English in Ireland) was strengthened.In mid-16th Century the Tudor Monarchs initiated the policy of plantation(start of Northern Ireland troubles).Under which native Irish landowners were forced to give up the land to settlers from England.The Largest and Most successful plantation took place in Ulster.This was settled by Scottish Protestants. The Plantations caused a number of rebellions one of which began in 1641 and smoldered in Ulster for 10 years until it was brutally crushed by Oliver Cromwell.His methods of "Burnt Earth" meant not one cow or field was left untouched.Everything was burned and Famine and Cromwells men killed the Irish and any who survived fled to other provinces,many resettled in Connaught.
|
|
Rebellion |
|
The Plantations continued and by 1688 much if not all land was owned by the English. The Irish payed rents to the English and were second class citizens.There were rules banning education of the Irish,practising our religion and the speaking and teaching of Gaeilge(our language).The Irish continued to suffer greatly during the 17th and 18th centuries.A rebellion organized by the "United Irishmen" failed in 1798,in 1801 Ireland was put under the English Crown(We were the white cross in the Union Jack I think).The Population of Ireland continued to grow up until the Famine.It reached a height of 8 Million.1 Million died in the Famine and Another Million Emigrated.Since then up till just a decade back The Irish have always been forced to emmigrate in search of a decent life :(.
Movements were set up by the Irish to once and for all get freedom.Sinn Féin was set up in 1905 ("Our Selves Alone") which fiercly demanded full independance.
The Easter Rebellion in 1916,which was supported by Sinn Féin was soon crushed and its leaders executed.This was the English's biggest mistake as soon the whole country was enraged and wanted freedom.The Dead Leaders became martyrs and hatred for England increased.Guerilla warfare was continued by the I.R.A (Irish Republican Army).British auxillary troops known as the "Black and Tans" were formed to restore order and through their brutality earned the lasting hatred of The Irish.
|
