History of Ireland

Prehistoric Ireland spans a period between the first known settlement around 8000 B.C.E. until the emergence of "protohistoric" Gaelic Ireland at the time of Christianization in the 5th century; Celtic Christianity had subsumed or replaced the earlier polytheism by the end of the 6th century. The Norman invasion of the late 12th century marked the beginning of more than 700 years of direct English and, later, British involvement in Ireland. In 1177, Prince John Lackland was made Lord of Ireland by his father Henry II of England at the Council of Oxford.[1] The Crown did not attempt to assert full control of the island until after Henry VIII's repudiation of papal authority over the Church in England and subsequent rebellion of the Earl of Kildare in Ireland threatened English hegemony there. Henry proclaimed himself King of Ireland and also tried to introduce the English Reformation, which failed in Ireland. Prehistory (8000 BC–400 AD)[edit] The Iron Age in Ireland began about 600 BC.

History of Ireland (1536–1691) Ireland during the period 1536–1691 saw the first full conquest of the island by England and its colonisation with Protestant settlers from Britain. This established two central themes in future Irish history – subordination of the country to London based governments and sectarian animosity between Catholics and Protestants. This period also saw the transformation of Irish society from a locally driven, inter-tribal, clan based Gaelic structure to a centralised, monarchical, state governed society, more like those found elsewhere in Europe. There is some debate about why Henry VIII decided to re-conquer Ireland. Ireland was changed from a lordship to a full Kingdom under Henry VIII. With the institutions of government in place, the next step was to extend the control of the English Kingdom of Ireland over all of its claimed territory. Cahir Castle – besieged repeatedly in this period

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