REPUBLIC OF IRELAND: History

1845: Start of the Great Famine of the 1840s, which kills at least 1 million people. People begin to emigrate to America, Britain Australia, and Canada.

1916: A rebellion breaks out in Dublin against British rule. It is crushed, but it makes more people rise up against British rule. Easter Rising 1916.

1920s; War breaks out, which results in the Anglo-Irish Treaty of 1921. This parts the island. But people want it completely free, so the Civil War starts.

1947: Republic of Ireland (Eire) is created, and Ireland breaks away from the Commonwealth. Ulster is not included, which annoys many Irish nationalists, especially the IRA.



A map of the 32 traditional counties of Ireland, showing the 26 counties of the Republic of Ireland (dark green) and the 6 counties of Northern Ireland (light green).


1969: First sign of trouble in Northern Ireland that is included in what is known as the Troubles. This is caused by the difference in religion in Ireland, between Catholicism and Protestantism.

This poem was written by one of the 10 year-old student in Gaelscoil Bheanntraí (the school where I taught Spanish in 2001). It shows how Irish people felt the division of their country and the differences marked by religion.

1969-1998: Troubles tear Northern Ireland apart. Many outbreaks occur in towns and cities across Northern Ireland, including Bloody Sunday, Derry 1972, and Omagh 1998.

1998: The Belfast Agreement is made, which results in an end to the War in Northern Ireland. Ireland and the UK work together to towards the end of the century.

Peace in Ireland.