Ireland

=Keely T.B.'s Irish Wiki!! =
 * ﻿ ** **Come with me as I show you the fascinating country of Ireland! I'll show you the history, culture, and more! Get a glimpse into the heart of Ireland. **

The first definite evidence of humans in Ireland dates from 7000-8000BC. Dating back to 8000 BC, Ireland progresses through the Old Stone, Middle Stone, New Stone, Early Bronze, Late Bronze, Dark, Viking, and Medieval Ages up to 1550AD. Christians first arrive to Ireland in 430AD. In 432, Saint Patrick arrives to Ireland to spread Christianity. He shows the people the shamrock in a whole new way, using it as a symbol of the Trinity Godhead, three Gods yet one; The Father, The Son, and The Holy Spirit. Ireland prospered fairly well for a long time, but in the nineteenth century north and south Ireland starting drifting apart due to economic differences. In the early twentieth century, political disagreements added to the tension between the north and south. Protestants and Catholics divided into two warring camps. Most of the Irish Catholics wanted complete separation from Britain, but the Irish Protestants were fearful of living in a country ruled by a Catholic majority. In an attempt to appease both factions, the British passed the Government of Ireland Act in 1920, dividing Ireland into two separate political entities, each with some powers of self-government. The Act was accepted by Ulster Protestants but rejected by the southern Catholics, who then continued their demands for a unified Ireland. A treaty was signed in 1921 creating the Irish Free State from 23 southern colonies and 3 Ulster counties, while the remaining 6 counties from Ulster formed Northern Ireland, which remained a part of UK. In 1949 the Irish Free State became an independent republic. Now we go back to a HUGE and terrible milestone in Irish history - the potato famine. It began in 1845, when disaster struck Ireland's potatoes and population. A new type of fungus hits the potato crops - Phytophthora infestons. This new blight was fast-acting and unpredictable, and it reduced entire potato crops into just rotted compost in a short amount of time. The blight then went into remission, but to resurfaced in 1846, preventing the sowing of that year's crop. Finally, in 1847, the disease declined long enough for Ireland's agriculture to get back on its feet... almost. Ireland, which was already ravaged by its first two bouts with the blight, was forced to fight yet another battle with famine. After this round, Ireland's economy is in shambles and the common people are despairingly poor. Between 1840 and 1911, the population of Ireland decreases from 8,200,000 to a staggering 4,400,000 due to disease, starvation and emigration. As many as a 250,000 people left Ireland each year, and the famine-related death counts are estimated at about 1,500,000. ||= **History Timeline** [|Ancient Ireland History] My Ireland Timeline [|Large Ireland Timeline]
 * = **Historical Summary**

||= **Historical Conflicts** In the nineteenth century north and south Ireland starting drifting apart due to economic differences. In the north the standard of living gradually rose as manufacturing and industry flourished. Meanwhile, in the south, the unequal distribution of land and resources resulted in a low living standard for the large Catholic population, as Anglican Protestants owned a large part of the land. In the early twentieth century, political disagreements added to the tension between the north and south. Protestants and Catholics divided into two warring camps. Most of the Irish Catholics wanted complete separation from Britain, but the Irish Protestants were fearful of living in a country ruled by a Catholic majority. In an attempt to appease both factions, the British passed the Government of Ireland Act in 1920, dividing Ireland into two separate political entities, each with some powers of self-government. The Act was accepted by Ulster Protestants but rejected by the southern Catholics, who then continued their demands for a unified Ireland. There was then a period of guerilla warfare between the IRA (Ireland Republican Army) and British forces. A treaty was signed in 1921 creating the Irish Free State from 23 southern colonies and 3 Ulster counties, while the remaining 6 counties from Ulster formed Northern Ireland, which remained a part of UK. In 1949 the Irish Free State became an independent republic. Though the armed hostilities between the Irish Catholics and the Protestants mostly subsided after the 1921 treaty, the violence once again erupted in the late 1960s. Bloody riots broke out in Londonderry and Belfast in 1969. The British sent troops in to restore order, but the conflicts rather intensified as the IRA and Protestant paramilitary groups carried out bombings along with other acts of terrorism. The conflict lingered into the 1990s, and was named "The Troubles." More than 3,000 people have died as a result of the strife in Northern Ireland. A serious attempt to make peace between the countries was made in 1985 when British prime minister Margaret Thatcher and Irish prime minister Garret Fitzgerald got together and signed the Anglo-Irish Agreement, recognizing the Republic of Ireland's right to have a consultative role in the affairs of Northern Ireland for the first time. But Protestant politicians opposing the agreement struck, blocking its implementation. In the early 1990s, the rival Catholic and Protestant officials and also the Irish and British governments talked further. The peace process landed a giant step in 1994 when the pro-Catholic IRA called a cease-fire. This allowed the possibility of Sinn Fein, who was the political arm of the IRA, to participate in the multi-party peace talks, where before he had been barred from such because of association with the IRA and their terrorist attacks. To read more about the conflicts between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, please visit the link below. [|Ireland Conflicts- Sinn Fein Participates in Official Talks] || Ireland never has really had much of an issue with enemies. Most of the countries that have a relationship with Ireland at all is that of an ally, not an enemy. Britain and Ireland were enemies for centuries, though they are now allies. Any country in the EU (European Union) is Ireland's ally. Canada is Ireland's ally. The United States of America is Ireland's ally. Australia is Ireland's ally. New Zealand is Ireland's ally. || **Flag & Significance** The Significance of the Irish flag
 * = **Historical Enemies**

Rarely has a flag possessed such lasting relevance as that of the "Tricolour," the national flag of the Republic of Ireland. Its three equal stripes illustrate the Irish political landscape as accurately today as in 1848, the year the flag was first unfurled.


 * orange — standing for Irish Protestants


 * green — signifying Irish Catholics and the republican cause


 * white — representing the hope for peace between them

Read more: [] || 1) Map of Country [|Ireland Map] 2) World Map with country highlighted ||
 * = Cultures and Traditions

[|Ireland & Music]

[|Ireland Symbols]

[|Ireland Culture]

[|Ireland & Sports]

||= Traditional Clothing



[|About Traditional Irish Clothing] [|My Dress] ||= Traditional Foods This is Irish Stew. Potatoes, Ireland's #1 food source. //Crubeens//, or pig's feet, are a local Irish delicacy. //Colcannon//, a mixture of potatoes and cabbage, is another local delicacy. Smoked salmon is yet another Irish delicacy. This is lamb stew, or Irish lamb, which again, is yet another local delicacy.

[|Irish Recipes]

[|Irish Dessert Recipes] ||

Ireland Bibliography