History of Ireland

References for Irish history

Date	External events
8,000 BC	First settlers in the north of Ireland, probably from Scotland.
3,000 BC	Arrival of neolithic people in Ireland.
500-300 BC	Probable arrival of Celts in Ireland; assimilation of previous non-Indo-European population.
78-84	Agricola, Roman governor of Britain, considers invading Ireland.
c 130-80	Ptolemy gives a geographical sketch of Ireland,
c 400	Ireland has strong footholds in western Scotland (the kingdom of Dalriada) and south Wales; The Irish language is brought to Scotland and forms the basis for what later becomes Scottish Gaelic.
431	Pope sends Palladius to the Irish Christians.
432	St. Patrick arrives and succeeds in officially christianising Ireland (date is contested).
c 550	Monasticism begins to expand in Ireland and leads to a flourishing of art, seen in manuscripts and religious artefacts.
563	Columba founds a monastic settlement on the island of Iona, western Scotland.
c 590	With Columbanus Irish missionary work on the continent of Europe is initiated; the first remains of Old Irish in the form of glosses stem from the continental monasteries of this time (Würzburg, St. Gall, Milan). This marks the beginning of the Old Irish period.
c 670-700	Hagiographical studies of St. Patrick produced by Irish scholars Tírechán and Muirchú.
795	Viking raids in Ireland begin from the north.
c 800	Book of Kells, the most famous illuminated manuscript, is completed.
806	Vikings ravage settlement on Iona.
836	Viking make considerable incursions into Ireland.
c 841	Dublin is founded by the Vikings as a base on the estuary of the Liffey; settlement remains in Wood Quay.
c 900	Beginning of Middle Irish period.
914	Another series of Viking raids.
975-1014	Brian Boru is King of Munster.
1002-14	Brian Boru is King of Ireland.
1014	Battle of Clontarf with the success of Brian Boru signals the end of Viking power in Ireland.
1169	Anglo-Norman invasion in the south-east of the country (Wexford and Waterford) by Normans from Pembrokeshire, south-west Wales.
1170	Arrival of the Norman leader ‘Strongbow’ who is made King of Leinster.
1171	Henry II comes to Ireland to consolidate invasion. Most of the Irish bishops and kings submit to him.
1172	Charter of Dublin issued; Normans strengthen their presence in the city and in the surrounding countryside.
1175	Treaty of Windsor between Henry II and Rory O’Connor High King of Ireland effectively make the latter subject to English rule.
1177	Prince John is made Lord of Ireland; his first visit to Ireland is in 1185.
c 1200	Beginning of Early Modern Irish period (lasts until c 1600).
1210	Second visit of King John. Earldom of Ulster is confiscated.
1235	Anglo-Norman invasion of Connacht (Western province).
1315-8	Bruce invasion with resistance to Anglo-Norman rule; attempt to have Edward Bruce high king.
1316	Non-submitting Irish chiefs defeated at Athenry.
1318	Battle of Faughart where Edward Bruce is killed.
1333	Earl of Ulster, William de Burgh, is murdered. The English crown begins to loose its grip on both Connacht and Ulster.
1366	Statutes of Kilkenny, proscribing the Irish language and Irish customs, attempt to curb the rapid Gaelicisation of the Anglo-Norman settlers.
1394+9	Visits of Richard II to Ireland to stem the Gaelic revival are unsuccessful. Anglo-Norman colony is reduced to the Pale (Dublin, its immediate environs and a coastal strip down to Waterford).
15c	Gaelic revival continues.
1471-1513	Garret More, Earl of Kildare, rules in Ireland (Geraldine supremacy).
1494	Henry VII dismisses Kildare in 1492 for his support of Perkin Warbeck. The Lord Deputy, Sir Edward Poynings, establishes ‘Poynings Law’ making all English parliamentary legislation applicable to Ireland.
1496	Garret More is re-appointed.
1509	Henry VIII King of England.
1534	The Kildare rebellion takes place. Lord Offaly takes leadership of revolt.
1540	Sir Anthony St Leger becomes Governor of Ireland
1541	Henry VIII accepted by Irish parliament as King of Ireland.
1549-57	Plantation of Leix and Offaly (centre of country).
1553-58	Mary succeeds Edward VI to the English throne leading to Marian reaction and increase in papal authority in Ireland.
1558	Elizabeth I, last of the Tudors, ascends the throne and attempts to curtail the freedom of the Irish.
1559-	Various uprisings by Shane O’Neill in Ulster and the Desmonds in Munster.
1565	Sir Henry Sidney becomes governor of Ireland.
1569	The Lordship of Tyrone is taken under the power of the English Crown. This indirectly prompts revolts in Munster, Leinster and Connaught against English policy.
1571	William FitzWilliam becomes governor of Ireland.
1573	Private colonisation schemes take place in the north-east of Ulster.
1583	Defeat of the Desmonds and extinction of their palatinate (North Cork and Tipperary).
1586-92	Plantation of Munster.
1588	Parts of the Spanish Armada wrecked off the west coast of Ireland.
1592	Foundation of Trinity College, Dublin.
1595	1603 Rebellion of Hugh O’Neill, Earl of Tyrone.
1598	O’Neill victorious at Yellow Ford, Ulster, causing a serious setback for Elizabeth’s army in Ireland.
1600	Beginning of Modern Irish period.
1601	Irish Spanish forces are defeated by Lord Mountjoy at the Battle of Kinsale, Co Cork.
1603	Death of Elizabeth I. The accession of James I (James VI of Scotland) results in a strengthening of English Law in Ireland, in particular in Ulster where resistance had been high. Hugh O’Neill and Earl of Tyrone surrender.
1607	On 14 September many Ulster leaders leave for the continent (Flight of the Earls) depriving Ulster of native leadership.
1608-10	The resulting vacuum is filled by plantations which begin in Ulster. The city of Derry is renamed Londonderry with London undertaker companies active in the city.
1613-5	Irish parliament of James I.
1634-5	Irish parliament of Charles I.
1641	Beginning of the Ulster rising against Protestant settlers.
1642	The English Parliament introduced the ‘Adventurers Act’ which was intended to curtail Irish rebellion. An English army under Robert Munro lands in Ulster in April. Catholic Confederation assembles at Kilkenny.
1642	Civil war in England starts.
1642-9	Owen Roe O’Neill engages in various minor uprisings ending in his death in Nov 1649.
1649-50	Oliver Cromwell’s campaigns in Ireland.
1652-3	Cromwellian confiscation of lands as part of mercenaries’ payment. ‘Act of Settlement’ regulates this. This leads to large number of English settlers being planted in the Irish countryside and initiates a new wave of Anglicisation.
1658	Death of Cromwell.
1660	Restoration of Charles II. The Cromwellian conquest is maintained but a certain amount of property is restored to ‘innocent papists’ (those who did not actively support the Irish rebels).
1665	‘Act of Explanation’ requires that those given land by Cromwell surrender one third to ‘innocent papists’.
1661-6	Irish parliament of Charles II.
1685	Death of Charles II and accession of James II (Catholic).
1686-7	Richard Talbot replaced Protestant officials with Catholics on his appointment as Earl of Tyrconnell.
1688	Deposition of James II in England. Gates of Derry closed to James’ troops by apprentice boys.
1689	Arrival of James in Ireland. He holds an Irish parliament from May to July.
1690	Arrival of William III (of Orange) in Ireland. Battle of the Boyne (1 July); William victorious. The military conquest continued for a year after William had left Ireland.
1691-1703	Land confiscation follows.
1692	Catholics are excluded from Irish parliament.
1695	Beginning of a series of legislative measures against the Irish Catholics known as the Penal Laws which were to last into the beginning of the 19th century. The laws restrict the rights of Catholics in education. The Catholic clergy is banned.
1704	Catholics are greatly restricted in their right to hold land and public office.
1713	Jonathan Swift becomes Dean of St Patrick’s in Dublin.
1728	Act removing franchise from Catholics.
1740-1	Famine in large parts of the country.
1742	Händel’s Messiah is performed Fishamble Street Music Hall for the first time.
1775	Henry Grattan becomes leader of Patriot Party.
1778	Catholic relief act (Gardiner).
1779-80	Restrictions on Irish trade removed by British.
1780	Grattan demands Irish parliamentary independence.
1782	Parliamentary independence conceded by British.
1791	Societies of United Irishmen founded in Belfast and Dublin. Wolfe Tone’s Argument on behalf of the Catholics of Ireland published.
1792	Relief Act (Hobart) enables Catholics to practice law.
1795	Maynooth College founded; preparations for rebellion by the United Irishmen continue.
1796-8	Rebellion by the United Irishmen takes place in Wexford in May. French forces land in Killala, north Co. Mayo in August. Wolf Tone is arrested and dies in November.
1801	Act of Union of Great Britain and Ireland comes into force (1 Jan).
1803	Rising of Robert Emmet followed by his trial and execution.
1808	Beginning of rise of Daniel O’Connell to power.
1822	Irish Constabulary Act establishes a regular police force.
1823	Catholic Association founded, led by Daniel O’Connell.
1828	Clare election in which O’Connell is returned.
1829	Catholic Emancipation Act.
1830	Tithe War begins in which Catholics refuse to pay tithes to English.
1831	Primary education system instituted.
1837	Reign of Queen Victoria begins.
1838	Tithe Act; Poor Law Act.
1840	Municipal Reform Act; Daniel O’Connell’s Repeal Association founded.
1841	O’Connell becomes lord mayor of Dublin.
1842	The patriotic newspaper The Nation is founded by Thomas Davis.
1843	Many of O’Connell’s ‘Monster Meetings’ for Repeal of the Union take place.
1844	O’Connell is sentenced to prison but later released.
1845	Potato blight starts in some counties and begins to spread. Beginning of the Great Famine (1845-49).
1846	Blight deteriorates rapidly. Relief work gets under way.
1846	Repeal of Corn Laws. Expectations of new harvest are dashed with the complete failure of the potato harvest. Public Works restarted (having been suspended temporarily). By the end of the year the hungry were dying of starvation.
1848-49	Worst years of Great Famine. There is a rebellion by Young Ireland movement.
1847	Blight recedes but the potato crop is insufficient.
1848	Second general failure of potato crop.
1850	Queen’s University of Belfast founded.
1854	Catholic University of Ireland founded with John H. Newman first rector.
1858	Foundation of Fenian movement.
1858	The Irish Republican Brotherhood founded by James Stephens. The Fenian Brotherhood founded at the same time in America.
1866	Archbishop Paul Cullen becomes the first Irish Cardinal in the United States.
1867	Fenian rising takes place in five counties including Dublin.
1868	First cabinet formed by Gladstone.
1870	Home Rule movement launched by Isaac Butt. Gladstone’s first Land Act recognising the rights of tenants.
1875	Parnell returned to parliament as member for Co. Meath.
1879	With the threat of famine and after many evictions the Irish National Land League was founded at Dublin under the initiation of Michael Davitt.
1879-1882	Land War is waged.
1880	Second cabinet formed by Gladstone. The system of ‘Boycotting’ (not working for landlord) is introduced.
1881	Parnell imprisoned; Gladstone’s second Land Act.
1885	Gladstone defeated.
1886	Gladstone forms his third administration; Home-rule bill defeated in House of Commons.
1891	Death of Parnell after marrying Kitty O’Shea.
1892	Gladstone forms a fourth administration; Home-rule bill passes House of Commons.
1893	Second Home Rule Bill is introduced. The Gaelic League is founded.
1898	The United Irish League is founded.
1899-	Literary revival gets well under way; Irish Literary Theatre founded; Griffith’s United Irishman published.
1900	John Redmond is elected chairman of Irish Parliamentary Party and United Irish League.
1904	Abbey Theatre opened.
1906	First issue of Sinn Féin.
1907	Strike of dockers and riots in Belfast.
1908	Irish Universities Act establishing the National University of Ireland.
1913	Ulster Volunteer Force formed in Belfast; Northern resistance to various attempts at home rule hardens particularly under the figurehead of Edward Carson.
1914	Both the Ulster Volunteers and the Irish Volunteers are involved in illegal arms trafficking. The Buckingham Palace conference collapses shortly before World War I begins. Reorganisation of the Irish Republican Brotherhood.
1916	Rising of rebels on Easter Monday in Dublin with an Irish Republic proclaimed on 24 April. After a week’s bitter fighting the rebels surrender. They are court-martialled and 15 executed. In the Battle of the Somme the Ulster Division of the English army suffer sever losses.
1917	The Irish Convention is not a success and the other groups, Sinn Féin and the Irish Volunteers, reorganise.
1918	The General Election leads to success for the republicans.
1919	Sinn Féin party increases in strength meets in Dublin as Dáil Éireann in January.
1919-21	Anglo-Irish War begins. This consists of sporadic and uncoordinated resistance against the British presence in Ireland.
1920	Government of Ireland Act provides for separate parliaments for the North and South of the island of Ireland.
1921	Northern Ireland parliament is opened by the king. Anglo-Irish truce and treaty on 11 July and 6 December respectively. Sir James Craig is Prime Minister in Northern Ireland.
1922	Convention of Anti-Treaty IRA. The police in Northern Ireland are given special powers. In the south the National Army is given emergency powers after the murder of Michael Collins. The Irish Free State established, Northern Ireland excluded. The majority of the population is for the treaty in the ensuing election. Civil war begins.
1923	End of civil war. The Irish Free State admitted to League of Nations.
1925	Partition of Ireland is confirmed by a tripartite agreement.
1926	Éamonn de Valera founds Fianna Fáil.
1927	General elections in which Fianna Fáil is the largest opposition party.
1929	Proportional representation abolished in Northern Ireland.
1930	Irish Labour Party and TU Congress separate.
1931	The IRA is banned in the south of the country.
1932	Fianna Fáil are victorious in general elections under Éamonn de Valera.
1932-8	Unsuccessful economic war with Britain.
1933	National Guard grouping, so-called Blueshirts, is formed. United Ireland Party, later Fine Gael, is founded by the leader of the Blueshirts O’Duffy.
1934	Cosgrave is re-instated when O’Duffy resigns.
1937	New constitution introduced. The country is now officially called Éire (this replaces the ‘Irish Free State’, the former name).
1938	The treaty ports restored to Ireland as part of the Anglo-Irish agreement.
1939	An IRA bombing campaign in Britain takes place during World War II. Ireland remains neutral despite pressure from Churchill on de Valera. Economic sanctions imposed on the country.
1941	Air raids by Germans on Belfast and on Dublin (much less).
1948	John Costello repeals External Relations Act which paves the way for a republic. Inter-party government set up after Fianna Fáil are defeated in elections. De Valera leaves office after 16 years.
1949	Republic of Ireland is declared (18 April).
1951	De Valera and Fianna Fáil return to office.
1954	Second inter-party government is formed under John Costello.
1955	Ireland becomes a member of the United Nations.
1956-62	Border campaign initiated by the IRA.
1957	De Valera once more in office. Becomes president 1959 (two seven year terms until 1973).
1958	First programme for economic growth in the south.
1961	Ireland unsuccessfully attempts to join the European Economic Community.
1964	Talks on reconciliation between Seán Lemass (Éire) and Terence O’Neill (Northern Ireland). Anglo-Irish free trade agreement is introduced.
1966	New University of Ulster at Coleraine, Co. Derry opened.
1967	Civil Rights Association is founded in Northern Ireland.
1968	Civil rights marches begin. Clashes in Derry between Civil Rights Association and B-special (riot) police. O’Neill initiates a programme for removing discrimination of Catholics in local government, housing and franchise (the major matter of contention between the two ethnic groups in Northern Ireland).
1969	People’s Democracy march from Belfast to Derry takes place in January with attendant violence. Chichester Clark becomes Prime Minister. British troops sent to Ulster.
1970	Southern politicians are accused of gun-running. Dublin Arms Trial ensues. Sinn Féin and IRA split into provisional and official factions.
1970	Provisional IRA begins a campaign of violence against British troops.
1971	Ian Paisley’s conservative Democratic Unionist Party is founded. Internment without trial is introduced.
1972	Direct rule follows the suspension of the parliament of Northern Ireland.
1973	Northern Ireland Assembly formed with elections held. Éire and the United Kingdom join the European Economic Union (former Common Market) on 1 Jan. Proportional representation reintroduced in Northern Ireland. Sunningdale Agreement is reached.
1973-	Fine Gael – Labour coalition is formed with Liam Cosgrave its leader.
1974	Power sharing executive set up but defeated by the Protestant sector in an all-out strike (May) Several serious bombings in Dublin. Also in Guildford and Birmingham at the end of the year.
1975	Internment without trial is suspended.
1976	British ambassador in Dublin killed.
1977	Fianna Fáil wins election again with Charles Haughey as leader from 1979-1981.
1978	IRA kill 12 people in restaurant fire bombing.
1979	18 British soldiers killed at Warrenpoint, County Down. Earl Mountbatten killed in boat off the north-west coast of Ireland. Pope John Paul II visits Ireland.
1981	Fine Gael – Labour coalition returned to office. Several IRA hunger-strikers die; this form of protest ends.
1982	Again many British soldiers killed: 1) Knightsbridge (July) and Ballykelly, Co. Derry (December).
1982	In March Fianna Fáil return to office briefly. Fine Gael – Labour coalition government under Garret Fitzgerald back in power.
1985	Hillsborough Anglo-Irish Agreement is rejected by Protestants.
1987	IRA bomb kills 11 people at Enniskillen service on Remembrance Sunday.
1989	Fianna Fáil enter a coalition government for first time. The Progressive Democrats accept Charles Haughey who remains Taoiseach (prime minister)
1990	Ireland electorate vote for Mary Robinson as seventh President of Ireland, the first woman to hold this office.
1992	The position of the Catholic church in Ireland is weakened by the publicity given to the sexual misconduct of many of its senior members such as the Bishop of Galway, Dr. Eamonn Casey, who had misappropriated church funds for support of the child he had fathered.
1994	Both the IRA and the loyalist paramilitaries announce ceasefires.
1996	The second constitutional referendum on civil divorce and re-marriage is approved by a narrow margin.
1996	The IRA ceasefire is terminated.
1997	New Labour are victorious in British general elections. The ‘peace process’ is further by the appointment of Dr. Marjorie Mowland Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and by the untiring attempts of the American Senator Mitchell to achieve an agreement between the opposing ethnic political groups in Ulster.
1997	Following general elections a Fianna Fáil – Progressive Democrats coalition under Bertie Ahern replaces the so-called Rainbow coalition (Fine Gael, Labour, Democratic Left under John Bruton).
1997	IRA declare a resumption of the 1994 ceasefire.
1998	Loyalist paramilitaries announce a ceasefire. The ‘Good Friday’ agreement, worked out by American Senator Mitchell and Northern Ireland Secretary Mowland, is accepted by electorate north and south of the border. David Trimble returned as First Minister. 29 people killed in bombing in Omagh (August) carried out by splinter group calling itself the ‘real’ IRA. Public outrage leads to Irish and British governments introducing tougher anti-terrorist legislation speedily.
1999-2004	Stalemate in the peace process as the IRA further refuses to decommission arms and there is no change in the status of Northern Ireland. On a general level the ceasefire still holds. Success for the more extreme parties (Sinn Fein versus the Social Democratic Labour Party [SDLP]; Democratic Unionist Party [DUP] versus the Ulster Unionist Party) in elections in 2004.
2005	IRA promises to decommission weapons (summer). Riots in Protestant areas of Belfast, but no return to extreme violence.
2006	Ceasefire continues to hold.
2007	New Stormont parliament with Democratic Unionist Party under Ian Paisley and Sinn Finn under Gerry Adams.
2008	Sudden economic recession as fallout from subprime lending in the USA.
2011	Fine Gael / Labour government come to power.
2015	Same sex marriage legalised after positive referendum.
2020	Historic coalition of Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael come to power.
2020	Great Britain leaves the European Union with a special protocol for trade to and from Northern Ireland. Protestant Unionists are opposed to the protocol and refuse to cooperate in the power-sharing executive.
2023	The Democratic Unionist Party continues to block the formation of a new Northern Ireland Executive and Assembly.

References for Irish history