SUL Language Schools
Ireland
A Brief History of Ireland for Visitors
The Republic of Ireland was settled by the Celts and Gaels. The Romans left them alone as did the post Roman invaders of England and continental Europe. So this essentially Gaelic – Celtic culture has kept its essential culture ever since.
Christian monasteries thrived as centres of learning and Christian culture, sending missionaries to England and throughout Europe. The Vikings raided many of the monasteries but founded what became Ireland’s largest cities Limerick and Dublin.
When England became a Protestant nation under Henry VIII, they could not tolerate a Catholic country, often in alliance with its enemies, on their doorstep. So from the early 17th until the early 20th centuries they extended their harsh rule over Ireland.Protestants, loyal to the English crown were brought to settle in the north, by the English from Scotland in the 17th century. This led to the northern province of Ulster being split away from the south in 1921 when independence was won. Ulster remains part of Great Britain.
The IRA and Catholic minority of the north never accepted this division, resulting in many deaths, until peace finally came at the start of the 21st century, echoing the lines of Yeats And I shall have some peace there, for peace comes dropping slow.Working in Ireland
Ireland was not blessed with rich natural resources. Farming and fishing rarely make people rich. The poverty of the people was reinforced by the English occupation. The result was a history of emigration with far more people of Irish descent living in other countries than in Ireland itself.
In the last few decades all this was reversed when Ireland joined the European Union. Huge European investment led to the growth known as the Celtic Tiger economy. The financial sector in Dublin boomed every town and city in Ireland became a building site.
Immigration from Eastern Europe reversed the traditional population flow. Incomes rose rapidly and earning more money became a dominant force in society. Unfortunately prices rose quickly and life became expensive, until the latest world economic depression that is.Tourism remains a hugely important sector of the Irish economy. Millions come to enjoy the Irish hospitality and cultural richness in such cities as Cork, Galway and of course the capital city of Dublin. Most visitors also come to explore the extraordinary beauty of the Irish landscape, such as the sub-tropical south-west peninsular, the mountains and lakes of Kilarney and haunting wilderness of Connemara in the west.
The highly educated Irish population still find ready employment all over the world, not only in the high tech industries such as finance, computing and engineering but in the many organisations dedicated to improving the quality of life of the poorest people in the world.
Enjoying the Irish Culture
Despite the tragedies of their history, the Irish are famous for the warmth of their hospitality to visitors. Their distinctive culture is reflected today in the Irish language, music, unique sports and literary tradition.
While few speak Irish or play hurling outside Ireland, Irish music and Irish literature is well known all over the western world. The popularity of Irish folk songs and dance music never wanes. The literary giants such as the poet W B Yeats and the novelist James Joyce are just two of many who express the depth of feeling and imagination in the Irish soul.
