Ireland

Narrated by Harry Reasoner

Hear a sample from
The Golden Triangle

The "isle of poets and scholars" has known almost constant warfare for centuries. In 1920, it was divided into North and South; yet this purely political solution left a religious and cultural schism intact. This presentation follows Ireland's tragic course from St. Patrick to Britain's imposition of direct rule in 1974.

• ca 400--Patricius (at age 16) stolen into slavery, later becomes St. Patrick.
• ca 800--Barbarians plunder mainland Europe's art & scholarship; unharmed Ireland becomes teaching center.
• ca 1550-- Irish parliament endorses Henry VIII's break with Catholic Church; Henry named "King of Ireland", Anglican Church established there.
• 1558-1603--Irish Catholics brutally persecuted under Elizabeth I (Henry VIII's daughter).
• 1603--James I succeeds Elizabeth I, restoring Catholic throne; declares Ulster to be Crown domain (1605); region divided into six British counties (1609).
• 1641--Ulster's Catholic peasants revolt after decades of Protestant colonization; 10,000 + Protestants killed.
• 1649--Oliver Cromwell conquers Drogheda, massacres residents.
• 1654--Irish Catholics must reside in Connaught or face execution by British.
• 1690--William of Orange defeats James II & Irish army on the banks of the Boyne River.
• 1795--Orange Society established to promote the Protestant rule in Ulster.
• 1798 --Catholic uprising in county Wexford is crushed. British defeat last of three French expeditions designed to incite Irish rebellion. Irish Parliament dissolved.
• 1801--Act of Union unites Ireland & England under single parliament in England.
• 1845 --Potato blight causes famine known as The Great Hunger (through 1851). Two million people leave Ireland (one-fourth of population).
• 1858-- Irish Republican Brotherhood (IRB) founded in Dublin on St. Patrick's Day.
• 1886-- First "Home Rule" Bill for Ireland introduced in British House of Commons (defeated).
• 1912--"Government of Ireland Bill" proposes Irish parliament; Catholic vs. Protestant conflict leads to discussion that Ireland be partitioned.
• 1916-- Easter Rebellion (April 23) in Dublin fails after six days.
• 1919-- First meeting of Dail Eireann (Irish Assembly).
• 1921-- Ireland is officially partitioned (December 6).
• 1922 -- Civil War begins on June 26, soon after Special Powers Act of 1922 legalizes harsh treatment of Irish Catholics.
• 1937-- Eire (counties of southern Ireland) gains independence & gets new Constitution. Ulster remains contested territory.
• 1956 -- Ireland becomes member of United Nations.
• 1969 -- Derry riots. IRA is revived as a Catholic defense force. Further Derry violence (Bloody Sunday) in 1972.
• 1973 -- Ireland joins European Common Market. Sunningdale Agreement (December).