The Celts came to Ireland during the Iron Age, in a series of waves between the 8th and 1st centuries BC and then divided the island into five kingdoms. They exist fleetingly in Roman writing, but not much else is known from this period. In the medieval period a High King presided over the different Kingdoms, with his seat based in Tara. Catholic missionaries were sent to the island, although it is thought that they already believed in Christianity. Bishop Palladius and Saint Patrick, Ireland's patron saint cam in the 430’s on a mission from Pope Celestine I. Tradition says that Saint Patrick then beat all the snakes from Ireland with a stick.

The Vikings arrived in Ireland in the 9th century, killing and raping many as well as establishing towns such as Dublin, Cork, Limerick and Waterford. It was in 1169 that the English first started to exert their influence on the island, with the Cambro-Norman warlords, led by Richard de Clare, 2nd Earl of Pembroke (Strongbow) arriving in Ireland upon an invitation from the King of Leinster. To years later King Henry II came to Ireland demanding that the Norman and Gaelic Kings accept his rule, which by means of force they did in many areas. Consequently English law and feudal system were introduced to the island. Many monasteries, manors and towns were established during this period. During the periods of weakened English rule, the Gaelic lords often fought back to take control over some of the land. However in 1603 a concerted effort by the English led to the complete take over of the whole of Ireland.

Rebellions and Freedom

The resentment amongst the population was widespread, and resulted in an uprising in 1641, however this was repressed and Irish Catholics were barred from voting or attending the Irish Parliament. Over time the Protestant rulers of the Ireland gained more political independence form London, but most of the country was still excluded from the political system, The Irish Rebellion of 1798 was a big test to the authorities as it was heavily supported by France, but it was successfully put down by British forces. Ireland came under direct rule from the United Kingdom as part of the state’s creation in 1801 at what was to be the start of a harsh century for the Irish population. During the Great Famine of the 1840s, one million Irish people died and over a million emigrated. Many more continued to do so searching for a better life and the population has never returned to its 1841 level of eight million.

Irish nationalism continued to rise throughout the 18th and 20th Centuries. These came in various guises form the successful unarmed campaign for Catholic Emancipation led by Daniel O'Connell as well as the armed rebellion of 1916, known as the Easter Rising. The Irish War of Independence was over by 1921, but part of the country (the protestant north) remained under British rule.

From Independence to Modern Times

The Irish Free State existed until the 1930s, when the population chose to rename it Éire (or Ireland in English). The state subsequently chose to be termed a Republic in 1949, giving birth to its current name the Republic of Ireland. However the country continued to suffer from widespread unemployment and poverty, leading to continued emigration from the 1950s to the 1980s. However from this time onwards things started to pick up and the economy improved dramatically. Nowadays Ireland is one of the richest countries in the European Unction in terms of GDP per capita, and is a country of immigration as many come from the east in search of the high wages and job opportunities in the country.