History of Ireland

The first Irish people, who probably arrived from Scotland about 9000 years ago, were hunter gatherers, constantly on the move in search of food.

The legacy of extraordinary buildings and artefacts that they left us are evidence that by 3000BC people lived in complex societies with considerable knowledge and skills.

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The Celts were artists and craftsmen and had a complex and well ordered social structure, and have left us a legacy of language and culture that has persisted for centuries.

The Celtic system of Brehon Law was an incredibly detailed code for social interaction, based on fairness and equality, and one which many would see as superior to anything we have today!

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The coming of Christianity brought not just faith but the important skills of reading and writing, until now unavailable to the Celts.

It also heralded the beginning of a rise in prosperity as farming skills improved and settlements, some of which would later be among Ireland’s largest cities and towns, grew up around the monasteries.

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The Vikings held sway in Ireland from 795 AD until defeated by Brian Boru at the battle of Clontarf in 1014.

While they are not remembered fondly in Ireland, with good reason, their legacy is not entirely negative, they introduced coinage to Ireland and established many of what are now the most important cities and towns in the country.

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In 1170 Ireland was again invaded, by the Normans, led by Strongbow, beginning a period of almost 800 years of occupation.

The importance of the Normans in Ireland’s history cannot be overstated – they had an effect on every aspect of life and the legacy of their building is still visible throughout the country. Some of the most popular tourist attractions in Ireland are Norman castles.

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