A brief History of Ireland - English speaking Countries

3000BC	The Megalithic tombs are constructed (Newgrange).
700BC	The Celts arrive from parts of Gaul and Britain.
350AD	Christianity reaches Ireland.
432	St. Patrick arrives in Ireland and confronts King Laoghaire who allows him to spread the word of Christianity in Ireland.
700-800	Monastic culture is at its height.
795	Invasion by the Vikings.
1014	Brian Boru defeats the Vikings at Clontarf.
1169	Dermot MacMurrough, the exiled king of Leinster, seeks help from “Strongbow”.
1172	King Henry II of England is declared Feudal Lord of Ireland by the Pope.
1366	Statues of Kilkenny belatedly forbid intermarriage of English and Irish. Gaelic culture unsuccessfully suppressed.
1534-40	Insurrection by Lord Offaly fails.
1541	Henry VIII proclaimed King of Ireland.
1558-03	Plantation of Ireland commences under the reign of Elizabeth I.
1595-03	Failed uprising of Hugh O’Neil.
1607	Flight of the Earls, leading Ulster families go into exile.
1641	King Charles I’s policies cause insurrection in Ulster and Civil War in England.
1649	Cromwell invades Ireland.
1653	Cromwell’s opponents stripped of land under the Act of Settlement.
1689-90	Deposed James II flees to Ireland and is defeated at the Battle of the Boyne.
1704	The Penal Laws enacted: Catholics are barred from voting, education and the military.
1775	American War of Independence instigates Irish unrest.
1782	Grattan’s Parliament persuades English to declare Irish independence, but in name only.
1795	The Organge Order is founded.
1798	Uprising by Wolfe Tone and the United Irishmen is crushed.
1801	Ireland becomes part of Britain under the Act of Union.
1829	Catholic Emancipation Act passed after Daniel O’Connell elected as MP.
1845-49	The Great Famine claims over 1 million lives through starvation and disease. Emigration over the next 10 years results in departure of a further 1 million people.
1879-82	The Land War is instigated by Parnell who encourages the boycott of repressive landlords. The 3 “F”s are gained for the peasantry: Fixity of Tenure, Fair Rent, Freedom to sell their holding.
1914	The Implementation of Home Rule is postponed because of the outbreak of World War I.
1916	The Easter Rising is led by Pearse, Connolly and others. The 7 leaders are executed which shifts public opinion in favour of the rebels.
1920-21	Michael Collins masterminds the War of Independence between Britain and Ireland. The Irish Free State is created (excluding the 6 Northern Counties).
1922-23	Civil war breaks out between the Free State Army and the Irregulars (the IRA).
1926	Fianna Fail party formed and led by de Velera.
1932	De Valera elected Taoiseach of Ireland.
1939-45	Ireland remains neutral during WW2 despite the offer of a United Ireland having been made to de Velera if Ireland enters the war on behalf of the Allies.
1948	Ireland declared a Republic by Costello. Northern Ireland is declared a separate entity.
1969	Rioting between Catholics and Protestants. Civil Rights marches. British troops called in to keep order.
1971	Provisional IRA begins campaign to oust British troops from Ireland.
1972	Republic of Ireland joins the European Community.
1985	Anglo-Irish Agreement signed.
1994	Peace Declaration and IRA ceasefire.
1998	“Good Friday” agreement reached promising the creation of a Northern Assembly.