The History of Ireland Continued


The beginning of the conflict between Catholics and Protestants took place approximately during this time. This was because of the fact that during this time the Church of England was being reformed and this resulted in the majority of English people being Protestants. But since these changes didn’t affect Ireland the majority of people here were Catholics. So when the English took over Ireland (it was especially easy for them was to take over the northern part of Ireland) they tried to force their religion on Irish people.

The efforts of Irish people to create a country independent of English rule provoked Oliver Cromwell to come to Ireland in 1649 and slaughter the Irish rebels using fire and sword.


Malahide Castle

To understand the impact of this tragedy better we will look at the statistics. A couple of years before this punitive raid, the population of Ireland was 1.5 million people but after the raid it was reduced to only 700,000 people; not counting the immigrants from England and Scotland.

The efforts of Ireland, to help keep the Catholic King James II on the throne ended badly. During the battle beside the river of Boyne in 1690, King William III of Orange managed to hold victory over King James II. This date is still celebrated by Protestants in Northern Ireland. This celebration takes place from the top of the island all the way to the bottom of Ulster. From this county onwards the Catholic part of Ireland begins.


The Sculptures were made in the Rememberance of Great Famine

By 1801 Ireland was not only officially adjoined to Great Brittan and was regarded as part of the United Kingdom but also used the state language, which was English. But this not only had a bad effect on Irish Christians, who were the majority of the population, but also led to the ‘Great Famine’ that lasted from 1845 – 1849. This famine killed 1 million people in Ireland and made 1.5 million immigrate.

A large amount of Irish immigrants moved to America, but without the sufficient funds for further living they were forced to stay in the place that they arrived, this caused some cities to become over crowded. The immigrants with a low level of education had to settle for the hardest and dirtiest jobs. Although because there were so much immigrants in these cities, finding any job was considered very lucky.


Kilmainham Gaol in Dublin

This tragic time has been reflected in so many literary productions and sculptures, some of which you can see in museums, for example the ‘Wax Museum’ or the 'museum-ship' ‘Jeanie Johnston Famine Museum’ in Dublin. Presently, Ireland’s population has not yet reached the level that it was at during 1841. At that time Ireland’s population was over 8 million people. Currently it is only around 4.5 million.

Irish immigrants didn’t forget their country of origin in America. There the ‘Irish Revolutionary Brotherhood’ was formed to help Ireland receive its independence.

In 1949, in Dublin, there was a rising that was organised by the Irish Revolutionary Brotherhood. But sadly this rising failed and 16 of the leaders behind it were executed in Kilmainham Gaol.


The Residence of the Irish President

Not including the defeat of the rebels, there were some positive results. The revolutionary efforts of the Irish people led to the fact that in 1921, England was forced to make an agreement with Ireland. This agreement stated that Ireland will have its independence by the rights of dominion (which is the law that Canada, New Zeland and Australia live by). Although with the exception of six counties.

In 1949, Ireland became a fully independent country, not in any way influenced by the views of Great Brittan. The problem with Northern Ireland is still undecided; and it led to the rising of the IRA against Northern Ireland’s law enforcement.


The Four Courts in Dublin

In 1973, Ireland became a part of the European Union, and after some 15 years, with the aid of well thought through political leadership, Irelands economy rose by so much that this period of Ireland’s history is called the ‘Celtic Tiger Phenomenon’.

Now, the economical situation of Ireland, like the economical situation of most countries in the world, isn’t in the best condition. But Ireland has shown its capability for living through hard times more then once so the best time of irish history are probably ahead.