It's been quite a few posts since I attempted to write brief information about Irish History. I'm not trying to write a history book but am trying to give myself a guide through the History of Ireland. It does give one some perspective even when you are researching your family tree. You never know when a bit of high level history can lead to your own family line.
So back to when the English took over Ireland after the English Reformation.........I find it pretty amazing that by the end of the seventeenth century that Catholics were banned from Irish parliament when they made up 85% of the population of Ireland. The Protestants dominated the government of Ireland. So who were these Protestants? They were Anglo colonial settlers, and the minority. Because they belonged to the Church of Ireland (basically, the Church of England), they won out in their rule. By 1801, the Irish parliament was abolished and the rule of Ireland fell to Great Britain. Until Catholic Emancipation in 1829, Irish Catholics were banned from participating in their own government.
That's really making a long story short. It does give some insight into the Irish though. Mind you, there was fighting along they way. When I look back at why the Irish left their country, it mainly revolves around drought, famine, and a lack of a physical place to live. It does not seem to be based so much in religious or political persecution but those maybe underlying reasons. In my mind, the Irish stayed and held onto their country, culture, and religion despite the other parties trying to conquer them. They then assimilated their conquerors into their culture.
At some point, I'll write a Part 5 about modern Irish History. Maybe one of my other researchers would like to give it a try. :-)
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