1. Early
Irish
History
IRISH CONFLICT 1909-
1922

2. We will be covering:
Representations of Ireland.
Early Irish history pre British conquest.
Conquest and colonisation of Ireland
under the British until home rule.
Chapters 2,3 & 4 of “Troubled Ireland”
TODAYS LESSON

3. What would you nominate
as a representation of
Ireland?
How do these reflect Irish
Culture?
STARTER

4. Between 8000BCE and
950CE, Celtic, Gaelic and Viking
migrants settled Ireland. Living in clans
with rival chiefs and kings, these first
people created a distinctive Gaelic Irish
culture.
This culture includes mythical stories
about creatures such as leprechauns and
Irish warrior hero's such as Finn Mac
Cool and Niall Noigiallach.
OLD IRELAND

5. Mac Cool, born around
300CE, warrior exploits may
have been a model for the
stories of king Arthur.
Niall founder of the O'Neill royal
dynasty. 26 kings between the
fifth and tenth centuries.
OLD IRISH HEROES

6. In 1170, the Irish chieftain Dermott was defeated
by another in both love and war. Because of
this, he asked for the help of Henry II.
Henry sent lord Strongbow to invade Ireland
under Henrys name. The following year, Henry
himself invades, and proclaims himself lord of
Ireland.
The pope previous confirmation of English crowns
right to sovereignty in 1155 caused a smoother
transition. Henrys rule only extends to the pale.
1170

7. Henry VIII converted from Catholicism to
Protestantism and begins imposing his
religion on both England and Ireland. He also
takes the title of “King of Ireland”. This Begins
the Reformation stage of Ireland.
He established the Protestant Church of
Ireland and attacks traditional Irish customs
and language.
Most Irish could not read English nor had no
religious motivation to change.
1530S

8. Elizabeth I, suppressed Irish resistance
with military force.
She feared a Irish catholic uprising
supported by other catholic nations, such
as France or Spain, would lead to an
attack on England itself.
The potato is introduced, from south
America, enabling more tenants to be
fed on less land.
1580S-1603

9. James I aimed to build support
within Ireland by placing English and
Scottish Presbyterian Protestants
with anti-Catholic prejudices.
He settled these immigrants in
plantations of farms on land that
was confiscated from Irish rebels.
EARLY 1600S

10. Cromwell’s protestant parliamentary forces
win the English civil war and punished the
Irish harshly. Some 616,000 Irish killed or die
from disease.
Catholicism was banned, churches
burnt, priests killed and one million hectares
of land confiscated.
Sixty five thousand Irish sent to Barbados as
slaves for sugar plantations.
1650S

11. New king William (III) of orange defeats
old king James II at the battle of the
Boyne.
William III then stifles Catholic
resistance and established a protestant
ascendency in Ireland. More Irish land is
confiscated and Irish citizens reduced to
being tenant farmers under English
landlords.
1690

12. Continuing difficulties in controlling
Ireland, including a failed revolt two years
earlier, coupled with the possibility of the Irish
joining the French, leads to the act of union.
The act joined Ireland to England, Scotland
and Wales to form Great Britain. The Irish
parliament was abolished and only Irish
protestants were granted seats in the British
parliament.
1800

13. Read through Chapter two: The seeds of
conflict: British rule, Irish resistance.
Complete task one of the Things to do pg. 8
Read through Chapter three: The seeds of
conflict: Religion
Complete task one and three of the Things to
do pg. 12
Read through chapter four: The seeds of
conflict: Economic
ACTIVITIES