Top 50

Palladius

First bishop sent to Christianize Ireland before St. Patrick.

St. Patrick

Central missionary figure in Irish Christianity.

Christianization of Ireland

Key process transforming Irish society.

Ogham

Early Irish script; symbol of pre-Christian and Christian overlap.

The Pale

Shows English control vs Gaelic territory divide.

Vikings

Raided and settled; shaped urban Ireland.

Longphort

Viking base that became towns like Dublin.

Battle of Clontarf (1014)

Ended Viking dominance in Ireland.

Brehon Law

Native Irish legal system coexisting with Christianity.

High Crosses

Symbolize the blending of Christian and native Irish art.

Surrender and Regrant

Tudor strategy to control Irish lords.

Plantations

English/Scottish settlements; changed land + demographics.

Kildare Rebellion (1534)

Major early challenge to Tudor rule.

Desmond Rebellions

Catholic revolts in Munster; brutally suppressed.

Nine Years' War

Last major Gaelic resistance before English dominance.

Battle of Kinsale (1601)

Turning point; English victory.

Flight of the Earls (1607)

Collapse of Gaelic leadership.

Penal Laws

Enforced Protestant dominance.

1641 Rebellion

Catholic uprising; led to Cromwellian conquest.

Ulster Plantation

Large-scale settlement post-Earls flight.

Gaelic League (Conradh na Gaeilge)

Cultural nationalism; revived Irish language.

Douglas Hyde

League founder and first President of Ireland.

Sean-nós

Key example of traditional Irish cultural expression.

Uilleann Pipes

Central traditional instrument.

1792 Belfast Harp Festival

Music preservation milestone.

Gaeltacht

Regions preserving Irish language.

Irish English (Hiberno-English)

Reflects linguistic fusion.

Stage Irishman

Colonial stereotype; appears in literature/theatre.

Turlough Carolan

Blended Irish and Baroque music; national icon.

Maria Edgeworth

Anglo-Irish author reflecting class and identity issues.

Easter Rising (1916)

Pivotal rebellion proclaiming Irish Republic.

Proclamation of the Irish Republic

Declaration of independence read during Rising.

British Executions (1916)

Created public sympathy for nationalists.

First Dáil (1919)

Declared independence; start of IRA actions.

Black and Tans

British paramilitary; remembered for brutality.

Flying Columns

IRA guerrilla units; effective during War of Independence.

Anglo-Irish Treaty (1921)

Ended war but caused Civil War.

Michael Collins

Treaty negotiator, revolutionary, assassinated in Civil War.

Éamon de Valera

Anti-Treaty leader; shaped Irish politics post-war.

Civil War (1922–23)

Split the country; shaped future politics.

Bunreacht na hÉireann (1937)

Current constitution; reflects Irish identity.

8th Amendment (1983–2018)

Central to abortion debate; repealed in 2018.

Savita Halappanavar

Her death led to calls for abortion reform.

Marriage Equality Referendum (2015)

First in the world passed by popular vote.

Tuam Babies Scandal

Revealed institutional Church abuse.

Panti Bliss

Icon of LGBTQ+ rights and freedom of speech.

Celtic Tiger

Economic boom years (1995–2007).

IMF Bailout (2010)

Marked the crash and austerity response.

Northern Ireland Protocol

Brexit response to border issue.

Leo Varadkar

Symbol of a changing, diverse Ireland.