Irish History For Dummies

A whistle stop journey through Ireland′s past Understand the people, disasters, and triumphs that have shaped the Ireland we know today. From the early Irish kings to political struggles and upheavals, discover more of Ireland′s rich history and uncover the past. This book takes you on a rollercoaster journey through the highs and lows of Ireland′spast, including invasions, battles, executions, religious divides,uprisings, emigration – and hurling! Ireland′s story is amazingly dramatic and intense – and today the influence of Irish culture can be felt around the globe. Saints and kings – discover the early years of a great nation, from the arrival of the first hunters and gatherers to the introduction of Christianity Invasion! Middle Ages style – check out the Viking and Norman invaders that made their way to the Irish shores Here come the English – rebellion, a Henry or two, the Wars of the Roses, the Reformation, and more rebellion leave their mark on the island A nation divided – the history of Catholicism, Protestantism, and the Troubles More top–ten lists than you can shake a hurling stick at – ten turning points, ten things the Irish have given the world, ten great places to visit, and more Open the book and find: Great places to visit – and their history The great turning points in Irish history Irish culture and its evolution around the globe The Reformation and its effects on Ireland Richard II, Henry IV and a lot of turmoil The Irish Cultural Revival The Revolution, the Irish Free State, and the Troubles Learn about: Early Irish history Ireland′s proud religious history Britain and Ireland′s complex relationship Irish culture and its impact throughout the world

Introduction 1 Part I: The Snakes Leave Ireland 9 Chapter 1: No Man Is an Ireland 11 Chapter 2: The First People Arrive 21 Chapter 3: The Early Irish Kings 35 Chapter 4: Snakes Alive! Christianity Comes to Ireland 45 Part II: The Normans Are Coming! The Twelfth and Thirteenth Centuries 63 Chapter 5: The Vikings Arrive First 65 Chapter 6: Irish vs Norman Invaders But Who’s in Charge? 79 Chapter 7: Boy Meets Gael: The Norman–Irish Alliance 93 Part III: The Invading English Kings: The Fourteenth and Fifteenth Centuries 109 Chapter 8: The Scottish–Irish Rebellion and Its Aftermath 111 Chapter 9: From Richard II to Henry IV: More Turmoil in Ireland 127 Chapter 10: Family Feuds I: The Wars of the Roses 139 Part IV: Religious Wars and Family Feuds: The Sixteenth and Seventeenth Centuries 155 Chapter 11: Popes Versus Archbishops: The Reformation and Ireland 157 Chapter 12: Religious Roundabouts and Irish Rebellion 169 Chapter 13: James I and the Plantations; Charles I and Chaos 185 Chapter 14: Family Feuds II and III: The English Civil War, then William and James 201 Part V: Catholic and Protestant: The Eighteenth and Nineteenth Centuries 217 Chapter 15: Going Irish? Grattan’s Parliament and Wolfe Tone’s Rebellion 219 Chapter 16: Going British: The Act of Union 231 Chapter 17: Three Strikes for Irish Independence: O’Connell, Davis, and Mitchel 247 Chapter 18: The Great Hunger and the Land War 263 Chapter 19: The Fight Over Home Rule 283 Part VI: Divided in Two: Life from the 1880s 299 Chapter 20: Balls and Books in Irish: The Cultural Revival 301 Chapter 21: Fighting Against Britain: The Revolution 315 Chapter 22: One Land, Two Systems: Partition 329 Chapter 23: Troubles Begin Again And Maybe Finish 347 Part VII: The Part of Tens 369 Chapter 24: Ten Top Turning Points 371 Chapter 25: Ten Major Documents 375 Chapter 26: Ten Things the Irish Have Given the World 379 Chapter 27: Ten Great Irish Places to Visit 385 Chapter 28: Ten Irish People Who Should Be Better Known 391 Index 397

Mike Cronin , PhD, is the Academic Director at the Centre for Irish Programmes, Boston College, Dublin. Mike has taught history to university students for close to 20 years, and he has written five books on Irish history.