History: Irish History

This first part of a two-part series covering Irish history from medieval times to the Good Friday Agreement traces Irish history from the end of the 11th century to the middle of the nineteenth century. In this first section we consider the settlement of the Anglo-Normans and the subsequent Gaelic resurgence. We examine the Tudor conquest, colonisation and plantation before moving on to the Jacobite wars, the protestantisation of the nation, Wolfe Tone and the United Irishmen of the late eighteenth century. We conclude with the union with Great Britain, creating the United Kingdom and the near half-century dominance of Irish politics by Daniel O’Connell (up to the eve of the Great Famine of 1848). Throughout we will consider economic, social and cultural issues as well as international influences from the Reformation to the American and French revolutions. Inevitably the relationship between Ireland and England will loom large. The course will use primary evidence, historical writing and a wealth of visual material from paintings to cartoons to encourage debate and insight.