FINAL IRELAND UNCOVERED

Palladius

First Christian bishop sent to Ireland by Pope Celestine I in 431 AD to minister to existing Christian communities.

St. Patrick

Romano-British missionary traditionally credited with converting Ireland to Christianity. Kidnapped as a youth, returned as missionary.

Christianization of Ireland

Gradual process beginning in 5th century, overlapping with pagan belief systems. Not a sudden religious shift.

Ogham

Early medieval Irish alphabet used primarily on stone monuments. Associated with Primitive Irish.

The Pale

Region around Dublin under direct English rule in late medieval and early modern Ireland. Outside it was largely Gaelic Irish territory.

Coyne and Livery

Practice of quartering soldiers on civilian populations during medieval and early modern periods.

Vikings

Scandinavian raiders and settlers active in Ireland from late 8th century; established towns like Dublin, Waterford.

Longphort

Viking ship fortress or base, often temporary initially, that developed into urban centers.

Hiberno-Scandinavian

Cultural blending of Norse settlers with Irish population, especially in urban areas.

Battle of Clontarf (1014)

Pivotal battle ending Viking military dominance in Ireland, led by Brian Boru.

Surrender and Regrant

Tudor-era policy requiring Irish lords to submit to the Crown and receive English titles in return.

Plantations

State-sponsored settlement of Irish land by English and Scottish Protestants, particularly in Munster and Ulster.

Kildare Rebellion (1534)

Revolt by Silken Thomas against Henry VIII's rule in Ireland. Crushed, leading to increased Crown control.

Desmond Rebellions (1569–1583)

Uprisings in Munster against English rule and Protestantism. Resulted in harsh suppression and land confiscations.

Nine Years’ War (1594–1603)

Major Gaelic uprising led by Hugh O’Neill against English rule. Defeated at Battle of Kinsale.

Battle of Kinsale (1601)

Decisive battle where Gaelic forces allied with Spanish were defeated by the English.

Flight of the Earls (1607)

Departure of leading Gaelic Irish lords, marking collapse of traditional Gaelic order.

Anglo-Irish

Term describing Protestant elite in Ireland and also English-language Irish literature from that group.

Irish English (Hiberno-English)

Dialect of English in Ireland shaped by Gaelic syntax and idioms. Features like "after perfect" and habitual "do be."

Stage Irishman

Colonial stereotype portraying Irish people as foolish or comic; common in British literature and theatre.

Famine (1845–1852)

Catastrophic potato blight, exacerbated by British policy, led to mass death and emigration.

John Mitchel

Nationalist writer who condemned British famine policy; author of The Last Conquest of Ireland (Perhaps).

Indian Corn

Maize imported by British as famine relief; difficult to digest and prepare for Irish population.

Workhouses

Poor Law institutions offering minimal aid in exchange for labor; overcrowded and punitive during the famine.

Encumbered Estates Act (1849)

Allowed forced sale of bankrupt estates; led to major change in Irish land ownership.

Anglo-Irish Treaty (1921)

Agreement creating the Irish Free State; ended War of Independence but caused Civil War.

Civil War (1922–23)

Conflict between pro- and anti-Treaty forces following Irish independence.

Michael Collins

Irish revolutionary and Treaty signatory; assassinated during Civil War.

Éamon de Valera

Anti-Treaty leader who became major political figure, author of 1937 Constitution.

First Dáil (1919)

Revolutionary Irish assembly declaring independence from Britain; led to War of Independence.

Flying Columns

Mobile IRA guerrilla units used during the War of Independence.

Black and Tans

British paramilitary forces in Ireland during War of Independence, infamous for brutality.

Douglas Hyde

First President of Ireland and founder of the Gaelic League, a key figure in Irish language revival.

Gaelic League (Conradh na Gaeilge)

Founded 1893 to revive the Irish language and promote Irish cultural nationalism.

Oireachtas na Gaeilge

Annual Irish-language arts and cultural festival celebrating Irish-language performance.

Sean-nós

Traditional Irish singing: unaccompanied, free rhythm, emotionally expressive, often in Irish.

Uilleann Pipes

Traditional Irish bagpipes played with elbow bellows; central to Irish music tradition.

1792 Belfast Harp Festival

Key event for Irish music revival, led to Edward Bunting's preservation of harp tunes.

Turlough Carolan

Famous blind harper and composer blending Irish and Baroque styles.

Paul Henry

Painter known for romanticized depictions of the West of Ireland.

Jack B. Yeats

Expressionist painter exploring modern Irish identity, brother of poet W.B. Yeats.

Tuam Babies Scandal

Discovery of mass child grave at Catholic Mother & Baby Home; emblematic of Church abuses.

Magdalene Laundries

Church-run institutions for “fallen women”; known for harsh conditions and forced labor.

Marriage Bar

Policy forcing women to leave public sector jobs upon marriage (abolished in 1973).

8th Amendment (1983–2018)

Constitutional ban on abortion giving equal right to life to mother and unborn; repealed by referendum.

Savita Halappanavar

Woman whose death in 2012 due to denied abortion sparked national outrage.

Panti Bliss

Drag performer and activist whose 2014 speech on homophobia became viral.

Marriage Equality Referendum (2015)

Legalized same-sex marriage in Ireland; first country to do so via popular vote.

Celtic Tiger

Period of rapid Irish economic growth (1995–2007) due to investment, tech sector, low taxes.

IMF Bailout (2010)

International rescue package following Ireland’s post-2008 financial crisis.

Northern Ireland Protocol

Brexit arrangement keeping NI aligned with EU rules to avoid hard border with Republic.

Leo Varadkar

First openly gay and non-white Taoiseach; led Fine Gael through multiple coalitions.

Sinn Féin

Irish republican political party advocating for reunification and social justice.

Bunreacht na hÉireann

1937 Constitution replacing Free State constitution; emphasized Irish sovereignty, Catholic identity, and gender roles.

Palladius

First Christian bishop sent to Ireland by Pope Celestine I in 431 AD to minister to Irish Christians.

Saint Patrick

Romano-British missionary, kidnapped as a slave to Ireland, later returned as a Christian missionary; not the first to bring Christianity.

Christianization of Ireland

Gradual process beginning in the 5th century; marked by coexistence of Christian and pre-Christian beliefs.

Ogham

Early Irish alphabet used primarily on stone monuments; associated with Primitive Irish language.

Gaelic (Goídelic)

Term referring to the culture, society, and language of the native Irish during the early medieval period.

Celtic

A problematic modern label for ancient Irish society; not used by the people themselves. “Gaelic” is more historically accurate for late Iron Age and early Christian Ireland.

Annals of Ulster

Medieval chronicle recording major events in Ireland from 431 AD onward; key primary source for Viking activity.

Longphort

Viking term for a defended encampment often built along rivers for raids and trade; many became permanent towns (e.g., Dublin, Waterford).

Viking Raids

Initial attacks on Irish coastal monasteries starting in 795 AD; led to inland raiding and eventual settlement.

Viking Settlements

Began in the 9th century; Norse established longphuirt and trade centers, often merging with Irish society.

Hiberno-Scandinavian

Cultural identity combining Irish and Norse elements through intermarriage, trade, and settlement.

Dublin

Founded by Vikings as a longphort around 841 AD; evolved into a major urban and trade center.

Plunder Economy

A system during early Viking raids in which wealth (often in the form of slaves, goods, and relics) was seized from monasteries and other targets.

High Crosses

Large, decorated stone crosses from early Christian Ireland, often featuring biblical scenes and knotwork.

Brehon Law

Indigenous Irish legal system based on restitution and compensation; remained in use into early modern times despite English common law imposition.

Surrender and Regrant

Tudor policy requiring Irish lords to submit to the Crown, surrender lands, and receive them back under English law and titles.

The Pale

Area around Dublin under direct English control; beyond it were Gaelic and Gaelicized Norman territories.

Tudor Conquest of Ireland

Campaigns from 1534–1603 aimed at centralizing English control; marked by military campaigns, plantations, and religious conflict.

Plantations

Settlement of confiscated Irish land by English and Scottish Protestants; most significant in Munster and Ulster.

Kildare Rebellion (1534)

Rebellion led by Silken Thomas against English rule, prompted by the execution of his father, the Earl of Kildare.

Desmond Rebellions (1569–1583)

Two major uprisings in Munster against English authority and Protestantism; led to massive destruction and land confiscations.

Nine Years’ War (1594–1603)

Major Gaelic uprising led by Hugh O’Neill against English rule; ended in defeat at the Battle of Kinsale.

Battle of Kinsale (1601)

Decisive battle in which English forces defeated O’Neill’s alliance with Spanish troops; marked end of Gaelic resistance.

Flight of the Earls (1607)

Departure of major Gaelic nobles from Ireland, signaling the collapse of traditional Gaelic leadership.

Penal Laws

Harsh laws enacted post-17th century to suppress Catholic political and economic rights in favor of Protestant rule.

Old English

Descendants of the Anglo-Norman settlers who retained Catholic faith and at times aligned with Gaelic Irish.

New English

Protestant English settlers arriving during Tudor and Stuart periods, loyal to the Crown.

Ulster Plantation (1610s)

Organized colonization of Ulster by Scottish and English Protestants after the Flight of the Earls; transformed landholding and demographics.

1641 Rebellion

Uprising by Irish Catholics seeking redress for land losses and religious discrimination; marked by violence and used to justify Cromwellian conquest.

Confederate Ireland (1642–49)

Short-lived Catholic self-governing state during the Wars of the Three Kingdoms; ended by Cromwell’s conquest.

Folklore

Informal, vernacular, traditional culture passed through oral transmission, performance, belief, and material practices. Not static or confined to the rural past.

Oral Literature

Stories, proverbs, riddles, songs, and other spoken cultural expressions passed down generationally.

Performing Folk Arts

Traditional cultural expressions involving music, dance, or drama (e.g., sean-nós singing, céilí dancing).

Social Folk Custom

Collective rituals and beliefs tied to calendar events, religion, life-cycle ceremonies, etc.

Material Folk Culture

Traditional objects and crafts (e.g., clothing, tools, architecture) reflecting vernacular knowledge.

Quarter Days

Seasonal festivals dividing the traditional Irish year: Imbolc (Feb 1), Bealtaine (May 1), Lúnasa (Aug 1), Samhain (Nov 1).

Imbolc

Festival marking the start of spring, associated with St. Brigid; involved divination and healing rituals like the Brat Bríde.

Bealtaine

May Day festival celebrating fertility and protection from supernatural harm; involved May Bushes, bonfires, and flowers.

Lúnasa

Harvest festival named after the god Lugh, featuring hilltop gatherings, markets, and rituals of abundance.

Samhain

New Year festival marking end of harvest and beginning of winter; associated with spirits, púca, and barmbrack.

Púca

A shape-shifting spirit associated with Samhain; believed to spoil crops and milk if not appeased.

Brat Bríde

A piece of cloth left outside on St. Brigid’s Eve to be blessed and later used for healing.

Barmbrack

Sweet bread with hidden items used in Samhain divination rituals to predict future events.

Irish Folklore Commission (1935–1971)

State-sponsored body responsible for collecting, preserving, and studying Ireland’s oral traditions; major contributor to the National Folklore Collection.

National Folklore Collection (UCD)

One of the largest folklore archives in the world, containing material gathered during the 20th century by the Commission.

Uilleann Pipes

Irish bagpipes inflated with elbow bellows, featuring a chanter, drones, and regulators; name means “elbow pipes.”