Irish History
The History of Ireland began with the first known human settlement in Ireland around 8000 BC, when hunter-gatherers arrived from Britain and continental Europe, probably via a land bridge.[1] Few archaeological traces remain of this group, but their descendants and later Neolithic arrivals, particularly from the Iberian Peninsula, were responsible for major Neolithic sites such as Newgrange.[2][3] Following the arrival of Saint Patrick and other Christian missionaries in the early to mid-5th century, Christianity subsumed the indigenous pagan religion by the year 600. Christianity has played a major role in Ireland’s history, culture and internal conflict.
From around 800, more than a century of Viking invasions wrought havoc upon the monastic culture and on the island’s various regional dynasties, yet both of these institutions proved strong enough to survive and assimilate the invaders. The coming of Anglo-Norman mercenaries under Richard de Clare, 2nd Earl of Pembroke, nicknamed Strongbow, in 1169 marked the beginning of more than 800 years of direct English involvement in Ireland. The English crown did not begin asserting full control of the island until after the English Reformation, when questions over the loyalty of Irish vassals provided the initial impetus for a series of military campaigns between 1534 and 1691. This period was also marked by an official English policy of plantation which led to the arrival of thousands of English and Scottish Protestant settlers. From this period on, sectarian conflict became a recurrent theme in Irish history.
Throughout this period, Ireland regained a form of self-governing status through the Parliament of Ireland, but power was limited to the Anglo-Irish, Anglican minority while the majority Roman Catholic population suffered severe political and economic privations. In 1801, this parliament was abolished and Ireland became an integral part of a new United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland under the Act of Union.
In 1922, after the Irish War of Independence, the southern twenty-six counties of Ireland seceded from the United Kingdom (UK) to become the independent Irish Free State — and after 1948, the Republic of Ireland. The remaining six north eastern counties, known as Northern Ireland, remained part of the UK. The history of Northern Ireland has been dominated by sporadic sectarian conflict between (mainly Catholic) Nationalists and (mainly Protestant) Unionists. This conflict erupted into the Troubles in the late 1960s, until an uneasy peace thirty years later. For further information from source please see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Ireland
Alphabetical List of Towns in Ireland
A
Abbeyleix
Achill Island
Adare
Ahakista
Aherlow
Aldergrove
Aran Islands
Ardara
Ardmore
Arklow
Armagh
Athlone
Athy
B
Ballina
Ballinafad
Ballinasloe
Ballybofey
Ballybunnion
Ballyconneely
Ballyconnell
Ballycotton
Ballylickey
Ballyliffin
Ballymacarbry
Ballymena
Ballyshannon
Ballyvaughan
Banagher
Bandon
Banteer
Bantry
Belfast
Belturbet
Birr
Blackrock
Blarney
Blessington
Boyle
Bray
Bunclody
Buncrana
Bundoran
Bunratty
Bushmills
C
Caherdaniel
Cahir/Caher
Cappoquin
Caragh Lake
Carlingford
Carlow
Carrick-on-Shan
Carrick-on-Suir
Carrickmacross
Cashel
Cashel Bay
Castlebaldwin
Castlebar
Castleblaney
Castledermot
Cavan
Clifden
Clonakilty
Clondalkin
Clones
Clonmel
Cobh
Coleraine
Cong
Cork City
Courtown Harbour
Crossmolina
D
Dalkey
Derry
Dingle
Donegal
Doolin
Drogheda
Dublin
Dun Laoghaire
Dunadry
Dundalk
Dundrum
Dunfanaghy
Dungarvan
Dunlavin
Dunmanway
Durrus
E
Ennis
Enniscorthy
Enniskillen
Ennistymon
F
Fahan
Fermoy
Furbo
G
Galway City
Glandore
Glendalough
Glengarriff
Gorey
Gougane Barra
Greystones
H
Hillsborough
Holywood
Howth
I
Innishannon
K
Kanturk
Kenmare
Kilkee
Kilkenny
Killaloe
Killarney
Killiney
Killybegs
Kilrush
Kilternan
Kinsale
Knock
L
Lahinch
Larne
Leenane
Letterfrack
Letterkenny
Limerick City
Lisdoonvarna
Longford
Lucan
M
Macroom
Malahide
Mallow
Maynooth
Midleton
Moycullen
Mullinavat
Mullingar
N
Navan
New Ross
Newbridge
Newcastle
Newmarket
Newport
O
Oughterard
P
Parknasilla
Portlaoise
Portmarnock
Portrush
R
Rathlin Island
Rathmullan
Rathnew
Recess
Renvyle
Rosapenna
Roscommon
Rosslare
Rosslare Europort
Rossnowlagh
Roundstone
S
Shanagarry
Shankill
Shannon
Skibbereen
Skull
Slane
Sligo
Spiddal
Stillorgan
Strabane
Straffan
T
Tahilla
Templeglantine
Thomastown
Tipperary
Tralee
Tramore
V
Virginia
W
Waterford City
Waterville
Westport
Wexford
Wicklow
Y
Youghal
