A Timeline of Irish History

A Timeline of Irish History

PreHistoric Times

c 10,000 BC Earliest settlers arrived in Ireland, in the Mesolithic or Middle Stone Age period. They crossed by land bridge from Scotland. These people were mainly hunters. See what archeology is finding out about them.

c 3000 BC Colonists of the neolithic, or new stone age period, reached Ireland. These people were farmers. Remnants of their civilization have been excavated at Lough Gur in Co. Limerick. They traded in a limited form in products, such as axe-heads. One of their monuments, a megalithic tomb at Newgrange in Co. Meath, has survived. Visit the ancient tombs in knowth, Boyne Valley.

cc 2000 BC Prospectors and metalworkers arrived. Metal deposits were discovered, and soon bronze and gold objects were made. Items (such as axe-heads, pottery and jewelery) made by these bronze-age people, have been found.

1699 BC Beginning of the Milesian Genealogies

early ages The time of legends. and the Fianna.

c 1200 BC More people reached Ireland, producing a greater variety of weapons and artifacts. A common dwelling of this period was the "crannog", an artificial island, constructed in the middle of a lake.

c 600 BC Celts started arriving in Ireland, from central Europe. They continued to arrive, up to the time of Christianity. They soon began to dominate Ireland, and the earliet settlers. The Celts belonged linguistically to the Indo-European culture.

c 200 BC The Celtic culture of the La Tene civilization, named after a Celtic site in Switzerland, reached Ireland. Celtic Ireland was not politically unified, only by culture and language. The country was divided into about 150 minitature kingdoms, each called a 'tuath'. A minor king ruled a 'tuath', subject to a more powerful king who ruled a group of 'tuath', who was in turn subject to one of the five provincial kings. (Early on there were five provinces, with Meath as a separate province.) This caused constant shifting in power, among the most important contenders. Celtic Ireland had a simple agrarian economy. No coins were used, and the cow was the unit of exchange. There were no towns. Society was stratified into classes, and was regulated by the Brehon Laws, based largely on the concepts of the 'tuath' as the political body, and the 'fine', or extended family as the social unit.

c100 BC Arrival of the Gaels

200 AD Beginnings of High Kingship at Tara, Co Meath

c 300 AD Ireland inhabited by tribes known as Scoti

377-405 Naill of the Nine Hostages, High King

428-463 AD King McNeill reigned

431 AD Pope Celestine 1 sent Palladius to the Irish, as their first Bishop. Palladius died soon after.

432 AD Arrival of St. Patrick to help convert pagan Gaelic Kings to Christianity.

550 AD onwards Irish monks re-Christianize Europe

Time of Written History

461	St. Patrick dies, after having achieved his dream of introducing both Roman Civilisation, and the Christian Church to Ireland.
521	Columba or Colum Cille born at Gartan in Tyreconnell.He became a priest and became first Abbot of a church at Derry.
561	Battle of Culdremna.
563	Columcille sails to Iona, where he Christianised Scotland and much of England.
597	Columcille dies. his name and reputation was the greatest in the Irish Church. He had a great reputation as a missionary.
800	Ireland attacked by Viking Norsemen, on Lambay Island, off Dublin.
908	The Eoganachta were defeated, when they tried to subject Leinster to Cashel's rule.Their king, Cormac MacCullenan, was killed.
914	Vikings established settlements at Waterford.
916	Vikings established settlements at Dublin.
920	Vikings established settlements at Limerick.
940	Brian Boru was born. Son of a leader of one of the royal free tribes of Munster.
976	Brian succeeded his brother Mahon, as King of Munster until 1014.
999	Brian Boru defeated Vikings.
1002	Brian Boru wins recognition as king of all Ireland
1014	High King Brian Boru, killed at Battle of Clontarf.
1066	Normans defeat Saxons in England
1156	Turloch More O'Connor, a king of Connacht, who had become High King in 1119, and who was the greatest of Brian Boru's successors - died.
1167-69	Arrival of Normans at Baginbun, Co. Wexford, thus started 800 year struggle between English and Irish.
1170	Arrival of Richard de Clare, known as Strongbow.
1171	Strongbow becomes king of Leinster. Arrival of Henry II, end of the Milesian Kings thus began the political involvement of England in Ireland's affairs.
1166-1175	Reign of Rory O'Connor, Last native High King of Ireland
1235	Richard de Burgo conquered Connacht.
1258	Gallowglasses (mercenary soldiers) come to Ulster from Scotland
1264	Walter de Burgo was made Earl of Ulster.
1272	The English had now conquered Ulster, east of Lough Neagh, in Meath, as well as most of Connacht and of Munster.
1315	After Battle of Bannockburn, Edward Bruce of Scotland invaded Ireland but failed in his attempt to overthrow Norman Rule.
1318	Edward Bruce killed by the English, near Dundalk, after having failed to become the Ard Ri, so long sought after by the Irish.

1361	An edict bans pure-blooded from becoming mayors, baillifs, officers of the king or clerygmen, serving the English.
1366	Statutes of Kilkenny forbade Irish/English marriages and preventing English to use Irish language, custom or laws.
1394	October. King Richard II, landed at Waterford, and marched up to Dublin.
1496	Line of "the Pale" at Clongowes. This was a small enclave around Dublin, which became the area of English rule.
1507	Accession of Henry VIII.
1515	Anarchy in Ireland.
1529-36	Henry VIII made his great breach with Rome, and set himself up as head of the Church in England.
1534	Kildare rebellion.
1541	Henry VIII declares himself king of Ireland.
1545-63	The Council of Trent gives Catholics a greater sense of purpose.
1547	Henry VIII dies, succeeded by the boy king Edward VI. England and Ireland were ruled by the senior nobility of England.
1553	Mary ascends the Throne.
1558	Accession of Elizabeth I.
1562	Elizabethan Wars in Ireland.
1588	Spanish Armada sent by Philip of Spain, to conquer England.
1594	August. Hugh O'Neill defeated a small English force at the Ford of Biscuits near Enniskillen.
1595	Rebellion of Hugh O'Neill, Earl of Tyrone.
1598	O'Neill's great victory at Yellow Ford in Ulster
1601	Defeat of O'Neill, O'Donnell and Spaniards by Mountjoy at Battle of Kinsale.
1603	Accession of James 1. Surrender of Hugh O'Neill. Enforecement of English Law in Ireland.
1606	Settlement of Scots in Ards Peninsula. Land in six counties of Ulster consficated by English.
1607	Flight of O'Neill, Earl of Tyrone,and O'Donnell, Earl of Tyrconnell. "The flight of the Earls" to Spain.
1608	Plantation of Derry and others confiscated counties planned.
1632-38	Compilation of the Annals of the Four Masters
1641	Great Catholic-Gaelic rebellion for return of lands, later joined by Old English Catholics in Ireland. Under leadership of Irish chieftain, Rory O'More, conspiracy was formed to seize Dublin and expel the English. English settlers were driven out of Ulster. Catholics hold 59% of land in Ireland.
1642	Confederation of Kilkenny met.
1647	Alliance between lords of Pale and native Irishmen came to an end

1649	English soldier & statesman, Oliver Cromwell, landed at Dublin. His troops killed 2,000 men. A great part of lands in Munster, Leinster and Ulster (Drogheda and Wexford) was confiscated and divided among the English soldiers
1650	Catholic landowners exiled to Connaught.
1656	Over 60,000 Irish Catholics had been sent slaves to Barbados, and other islands in the Caribbean.
1658	The population of Ireland,estimated at 1,500,000, before Cromwell, was reduced by two-thirds, to 500,000, at Cromwell's death in 1658.
1660	Accession of Charles II.
1661-68	The Duke of Ormond ruled Ireland as Viceroy.
1672	Over 6,000 Irish boys and women sold as slaves since England gained control of Jamaica.
1685	Accession of James II.
1688	English Revolution James II deposed in England. Gates of Derry shut in face of James' troops. Catholics now hold 22% of land in Ireland.
1689	Siege and relief of Derry. James II's Parliment restored all lands confiscated since 1641
1690	William of Orange (William III) lands at Carrickfergus and defeats James II at Battle of the Boyne. 11,000 "WILD GEESE soldiers sail for France.
1691	Catholic defeat at Aughrim and surrender at Limerick.
1692- 1829	Exclusion of Catholics from Parliament and all professions.
1695	Anti-Catholic Penal Laws Introduced Catholics hold 14% of land in Ireland.
1698	William Molyneaux pamphlet against England making laws for Ireland.
1714	Catholics hold 7% of land in Ireland.
1740	The Forgotten Famine
1775	Henry Gratten, becomes leader of "Patriot Party".
1775	Daniel O'Connell born at Derrynane,Co.Kerry.Received early schooling from Parish Priest, then sent to France to receive further instruction at St. Omer and Douai.
1782	Legislative Independence won from Britain by Irish Parliament.
1791	Events leading up to the Revolution of 1798
1798	March: arrest of Leinster Directory of United Irishmen. May: arrest and death of Lord Edward Fitzgerald. Battle of Vinegar Hill. Battle of Antrim November: death of Wolfe Tone. More about 1798 Rebellion
1798	Daniel O'Connell takes law degree at Trinity College, and is admitted to the Bar.
1800	Act of Union passed (effective 1 January 1801)
1803	Robert Emmett's rising, trial and execution.
1823	Daniel O'Connell's Catholic Association founded.
1828	O'Connell elected for Clare.
1829	Catholic emancipation passed. Tithe War began.
1837	Accession of Queen Victoria.
1839	January 6.. the Night of the BIG WIND
1840	O'Connell's Repeal Association founded.
1842	"The Nation" newspaper founded by Thomas Davis.
1843	O'Connell's "Monster Meetings" for Repeal of the Union.

1845	Blight in the Potato Harvest.
1845-49	Beginning of Famine. Charles Tteveleyan, permanent Head of Treasury. Sir Robert Peel, Prime Minister, imports Indian Corn.
1846	April. Treveylan opens depots for sale of Indian corn, but closes them later in summer. Repeal of Corn Laws.
1846	July. Lord John Russell replaces Peel as Prime Minister. August: Total failure of potato harvest. October: First deaths from starvation.
1847	Fever spreading. Treveleyan winds up Soup Kitchen Act, and retires to write history of famine.
1848-49	Worst years of famine. By 1848 through emigration and deaths by famine, Ireland's population decreased by more than 2 million people (8.5 to 6.5).

1848	Smith O'Brien (Young Ireland Leader) arrested. James Stephens flees to France.
1856	Stephens returns from France.
1858	Stephens founds Irish Republican Brotherhood. Fenian Brotherhood founded in America.
1861	Beginning of American Civil War.
1863	"Irish People" newspaper founded.
1865	End of American Civil War. Arrest of editorial board of "Irish People". James Stephens arrested, and escapes from Richmond Jail.
1867	February: Abortive raid on Chester Castle. March: Fenian rising in Ireland. December: Clerkenwell explosion.
1869	Gladstone, Prime Minister, dis-establishes Protestant Church in Ireland.
1870	Gladstone's first Land Act.
1875	Charles Stewart Parnell elected MP for Co Meath.
1879	Threat of famine. Evictions.Irish National League founded.
1879-82	Land War
1881	Gladstone's 2nd Land Act. Parnell imprisoned.
1882	Kilmainham "Treaty". Parnell's release. Phoenix Park murder.
1886	First home Rule Bill.
1891	Parnell loses three by-elections in Ireland. Parnell dies in October.
1893	Second Home Rule Bill. Gaelic League founded.
1903	Land Purchase Act (Wyndham Act).
1906	Liberals win General Election.
1909	Land Purchase Act.
1912	Third Home Rule Bill.
1914	Outbreak of First World War. IRB decides on Rising.
1916	Easter Rising in Dublin. May 3-12 executions.
1917	De Valera wins East Clare.
1918	November: end of First World War.
1919-21	Irish War of Independence against Britain.
1920	Burning of Cork by Auxiliaries.
1921	December. Anglo Irish Treaty.
1922	Civil War starts between Free State army and IRA.
1923	End of Civil war.
1926	De Valera founds Fianna Fail.
1927	General Elections in Ireland. De Valera and Fianna Fail enter Dail.
1932	General Election. Fianna Fail victory.
1937	Constitution of "Eire", claims 32 counties.
1939	Second World War.
1945	End of Second World War.
1948	General Election. Fianna Fail defeated.
1949	Repeal of External Relations Act. Ireland leaves Commonwealth. Republic of Ireland declared (26 counties)
1951-62	IRA campaign in North.
1955	Ireland joins the United Nations.
1965	O'Neill-Lemass Talks.
1967	Northern Ireland Civil Rights Association founded.
1968	August: First Civil Rights March. October: Derry Civil Rights March, banned by William Craig, Minister of home Affairs, held but broken up by brutality by police.
1969	January: People's Democracy Belfast to Derry Civil Rights March. January 4: Marchers attaacked at Burntollet Bridge. April: O'Neill resigns. Chichester Clark Prime Minister. August 14: British troops sent to Derry. October: Protestant riot in Belfast.
1970	Dublin Arms Trial.
1971	First British soldier killed by IRA in Belfast. Chichester Clark resigns, Faulkner Prime Minister. Unionist government of NI introduces internment without trial for suspected Republicans.
1972	Irelalnd joins the European Economic Community
1972	January 30: Bloody Sunday in Derry. British paratroopers shoot 13 civilians during civil-rights march. March: Stormont suspended.
1973	Sunningdale Agreement.
1974	Ulster Workers Strike brings down Faulkner and Assembly. Direct Rule re-imposed. Loyalits bomb Dublin and Monaghan, killing 30
1981-82	Ten Republicans die on hunger strike in Maze Prison, NI Dying hunger-striker Bobby Sands elected to British Parliament

1993	Downing Street Declaration; British Government accepts the right of the people of Irelalnd to self-determinination.
1994	IRA declares cease-fire
1996	Cease-fire breaks down after Britain's Conservative government refuses to allow Sinn Fein to join all-party talks on NI.
1997	IRA cease-fire resumes; talks begin in Belfast between government of Irish Republic, Britain's ne Labor government, and representatives of all NI's political parties.

1998	Initial peace-plan accepted by all parties.
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	Prepared by Christopher J O'Brien