The earliest inhabitants arrive in present-day Ireland about 6000 BC.
Around the fourth century BC the Celts, a tall,
energetic people who had spread across Europe and Britain in the preceding
centuries, invade the island. The Celts, or Gaels, and their more numerous
predecessors divide into five kingdoms (Connacht, Leinster, Meath, Munster, and
Ulster) in which, despite constant strife, a rich culture flourishes. The
coming of christianity brings major changes and civilizing influences.
Tradition maintains that in 432 AD, St. Patrick arrives on the island and, in
the years that followed, works to convert the Irish to christianity. After 795 Vikings rule the island.
In the 12th century English penetration starts and from 1171 the English
conquest of Ireland begins. THis is completed in the upcoming centuries and in
1541 the island becomes the Kingdom of Ireland in personal union with England.
From 1801
Ireland is formally a part of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Ireland. Religious freedom (catholicism) is restored in 1829. This is
overshadowed by severe economic depression and mass famine from 1846-48 when
the potato crop failed. This leads to a mass emigration to the United States.
Since 1858 independence movements are active. The Home Rule Movement advocates
constitutional change for independence. Under Charles Stewart Parnell, this
party is able to force British governments after 1885 to introduce several home
rule bills. At the turn of the century the more radical Sinn Fein
("Ourselves Alone", SF) is founded.
When the
enactment of home rule is suspended in 1914 World War I ends, radicals lead the
unsuccessful Easter Rising of 1916. The decision to execute the leaders of the
rebellion produces massive support for Sinn Féin ("Ourselves", SF) in
the 1918 general election. Under the leadership of Eamon de Valera, the elected
SF deputies constitute themselves as the first Irish parliament. Tensions
increase: British attempts to smash Sinn Fein ignite the Anglo-Irish War of 1919-21.
The end of the war is brought by the Anglo-Irish treaty of 1921, which
establishes the Irish Free State of 26 counties within the Commonwealth and
recognizes the partition of the island into Ireland and Northern Ireland
supposedly as a temporary measure. Northern Ireland remains part of the United
Kingdom.
Ireland
becomes a parliamentary democratic republic under prime minister Michael
Collins of Sinn Féin. When he dies in 1922, he is succeeded by William Thomas
Cosgrave. A significant Irish minority repudiates the treaty settlement because
of the continuance of subordinate ties to the British monarch and the partition
of the island. This opposition leads to further hostilities, a civil war
(1922-23), which is won by the pro-treaty forces around Cosgrave. Sinn Féin
splits. The pro-treaty forces form the Cumman na nGaedheal (Society of the
Gaels, CG) under Cosgrave until 1932. Eamon de Valera forms the Fianna Fáil
('Soldiers of Destiny'/Republican Party, FF). In 1932 De Valera becomes prime
minister. A new Irish constitution is enacted in 1937, making Ireland a de
facto republic. The last British military bases are soon withdrawn and the
ports are returned to Irish control. Ireland is neutral in World War II.
In 1948
the government formally declared Ireland a republic. Irish politics remain
dominated by the two political parties that grew out of Ireland's civil war.
Fianna Fáil is formed by those who opposed the 1921 treaty that partitioned the
island. Although treaty opponents lost the civil war, Fianna Fail is mostly
Ireland's largest political party. Fine Gael ('Tribe of the Gaels'/United
Ireland Party, FG), as successor of the CG representative of the pro-treaty
forces, remains the country's second-largest party. These parties alternate in
government, whereas FG ususally forms a coalition together with the Páirtí
Lucht Oibre (Labour Party).
In 1948
FG and allies wins the elections, bringing John Aloysius Costello to the
premiership. This lasts until 1951, when De Valera becomes prime minister for
the 2nd time. Between 1954 and 1957 Costello is prime minister again, but in
1957 he is succeeded by De Valera. When De Valera becomes president in 1959,
his co-partisan Sean Francis Lemass takes over, succeeded in 1966 by Jack
Lynch. Ireland joins the European Communities (renamed European Union in 1993) in 1973.
In the same year Fine Gael wins the elections and Liam Cosgrave becomes prime
minister. He is succeeded in 1979 by Lynch. Haughey takes over in 1979. With
interruptions by Garret FitzGerald of Fine Gael in 1981/1982 and from 1982
until 1987, he remains in office until 1992. That year Albert Reynolds succeeds
him. Under his leadership the FF looses the 1994 elections, leading to a
coalition of Ff with Labour. This government collapsed and John Gerard Bruton
of Fine Gael comes to power. Since 1997 the government is led by Bertie Ahern
in a coalition with the liberal An Partí Daonlataoh/Progressive Democrats (PD).