sign in sign up
<<
Home , History of Ireland, Ireland, Northern Ireland

SUPER Brief History of , 1536-present

Ireland divided into four kingdoms (later ): Munster, , Connaught, and [see map]

1536- Henry VIII of declares Ireland a kingdom and assumes control of it in 1541. Additional consolidation under , James I, and .

Mid-1500s-early 1600s- period of - land confiscation and . Scottish and English Protestant Farmers (in turn forced off their own lands) sent mainly into Munster (SW) and Ulster (NE), replacing Irish Catholic landowners

1690- , the single most important date in Irish history until independence. (Catholic) James II defeated by (Protestant) William of (Holland), husband of Queen Mary (Protestant son of James II).

1691-1801- Protestant Ascendency- Protestants favored, Catholics marginalized as much as possible (- harsh discrimination against Catholics)

Mid 1700s- first large migration of (mostly semi-wealthy Protestant framers from Ulster of Scots and English heritage) Irish to US (primarily Midwest, Atlantic South, and Appalachia) and (Ontario and Nova ).

1801- abolition of Irish self-government with the Acts of Union (bringing Ireland under direct control of British )

1845-1849- The - caused by blight. Between starvation and emigration, population drops by nearly half. Second major migration to US (poor Catholics to urban ports- NY, , , New Orleans, San Francisco), Canada, and (colonists and prisoners), mostly by poor Catholic farmers in the West (Connaught and Munster).

1916- - failed military attempt at independence 1919-21- Irish war for independence 1921-22 Anglo-Irish Treaty creates the Irish ( under UK similar to Canada and Australia), 26 (all of Munster, Leinster, Connaught, plus 3 counties from Ulster) with primarily Catholic (Nationalist) ideology. 6 of the 9 counties of Ulster remain as part of the UK and become , primarily Protestant (Unionist) ideology.

1949- (now called Ireland) declares itself fully independent and becomes the ; Northern Ireland remains part of UK

1960s-1998- in Northern Ireland- period of intense ethnic/nationalist conflict between Catholics (Republicans) and Protestants (Loyalists). Paramilitary guerilla warfare groups on both sides and the claim many civilian lives.