A LITTLE HISTORY
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Many
see Ireland as a green island filled with myths and mysteries, full of
cottages, pubs, good music and poetry. Its political and economic situation
is of course less ideal, but Ireland remains one of the most inviting and
welcoming places to visit.
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As an island, Ireland remained quite isolated from
major European events throughout its history. Christianity never invaded
the country until approximately the fifth century AD with the arrival of
St. Patrick in 432. Until the Viking invasion of the ninth century, Ireland
enjoyed relative peace. Huge monasteries were built where scholarship and
art flourished. Although the Vikings failed to gain real control over the
island, the Anglo-Normans succeeded in 1169. Many Irish submitted to King
Henry II of England, who declared himself Lord of Ireland For centuries to
come, they would be under England's rule.
Matters changed when
King Henry VIII broke with the Catholic Church in 1532. Ireland then became
a battlefield between native Irish Catholics and the English forces.The
Irish were ultimately defeated, their lands were confiscated and granted
to Protestants from England and Scotland. The English conquest was completed
with the victory of William of Orange over James II in 1690. Tragedy would
strike again with the 1845 Potato Famine, which had killed nearly two million
habitants by 1848. Many had little choice but to emigrate, mostly to North
America.
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It was not until 1920
before the Government of Ireland Act divided the island. The south
became the Free State, gaining full independence in 1937, while the north
became part of the United Kingdom. Ever since, Northern Ireland has become
a battleground , where both Loyalist and Republican continue to fight and
bomb each other, despite the 1998 Good Friday Agreement (which had hoped to
pave the way for a new peace between Catholics and Protestants).
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