The charm of beautiful Ireland is hard to ignore. The capital city of Dublin combines historical marvels with the jazzy nightclubs, pubs, and bars to offer the visitors a rare peek into a vibrant city with traditional touch. The rest of the country is dotted with small mountains, valleys, water bodies (lakes, waterfalls, rivers, ponds, etc.), heather moors, majestic castles, and other prehistoric and religious locations.
Irish history is as fascinating as the country itself. Catholicism is deeply entrenched in the lives of Irish people due to the establishment of pioneering monastic orders in the 5th and 6th Centuries. Soon after the monastic age, Viking invaders established their rule in Ireland and built heavily fortified ports, which were ultimately responsible for the development of major Irish cities. The principal Irish chieftains fought the Vikings and got Richard of Clare (a.k.a. Strongbow), Earl of Pembroke, involved in their conflict. Instead of helping the Irish chieftains, Strongbow conquered most of Ireland during 1169-70. Several Norman families moved across the Irish Sea, which effectively colonised the country.
The decisive twist in the polarised political situation of Ireland came after the English Civil War, when Irish favoured the deposed monarchy in 1649. However, the victorious Oliver Cromwell mercilessly clamped down the rebellions. All the Catholic land was expropriated and given to a new wave of Protestant immigrants.
The Act of Union, 1801 was enacted to incorporate England, Wales, Scotland, and Ireland within the UK. But the Irish people soon realized the indifferent attitude of the English to their plight when potato famine struck Ireland in 1845-46 that had devastating effect on the Irish populace, and the result was large-scale deaths and emigrations. This started an independence struggle that finally culminated into Home Rule in 1920. Ireland was divided into two parts – Northern Ireland and Ireland. Northern Ireland mostly comprised of Protestant settlers who were opposed to being ruled by a government of a Catholic country.
The historically unpleasant Anglo-Irish relations also add to the mysticism of Ireland. In spite of being a neighbour to hugely significant England, Ireland has preserved its traditions and unique way of life.
The Irish Free State was given full sovereignty within the Commonwealth in 1937, and the country finally and completely parted ways with Britain. EEC gave Ireland its membership in 1973 and it culminated with Ireland adopting Euro in 2002.
Undoubtedly, EU membership has brought economic prosperity to the country, yet there are some contentious issues that remain unresolved. For instance, the orthodox morality of Catholic Church, abortion is still illegal in the country despite divorce being legalised in 1995, and of course, the political and sovereign uncertainty of Northern Ireland. Despite all the problems, interestingly, the Republic of Ireland is still better placed, economically and internationally, than the Northern Ireland.
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Ireland
