Deirdriu of Treibheanna na Eireann (Irish)

The History of Ireland is pretty distinct and has its own unique flavor in the celtic world, dating back as far as 8000 BCE. The origins of the first inhabitant of Ireland is somewhat still under the subject of numerous studies, though one of the established theory put forward the idea that Mesolithic hunter-gatherers arrived some time after 8000 BC. Another theory suggested that the inhabitants migrated from Britain during Ice age where Ireland and Britain was still connected by the so called "Ice Bridge". It was not until around 6000 BCE that the hunter-gatherer society adopted complex agriculture, a characteristic of High-Neolithic culture, with the evidence of pottery, tombs, farming field, stone tools as well as rectangular wooden houses.

What follows afterward is the adoption of metallurgy and complex societies that inhabitted the region. At first, Ireland came into Bronze Age at around 2000 BCE, followed by gradual development of more advance metalworking in the form or ornate jewelries, gold working, tools and weapons. At around 600 BCE, Iron gradually replaced the softer bronze metal and Ireland would soon enter the Iron Age. It was during this time that various ancient Irish Kingdoms, like that In Tuisceart, Airgialla, Ulaid, Mide, Laigin, Mumhain, Cóiced Ol nEchmacht began to emerge. Culturally and Linguistically speaking, the native Irish at this time spoke Goidelic languages, a branch of the Celtic Langauge, which is precursor to the Primitive Irish and ancestor to the modern Irish spoken today. The period also saw numerous cultural exchanges between the Celtic civilizations from Britain and Europe, either through trade or invasion, both of which as still under historical studies. Regardless, it is believed that the Celtic civilization had a strong influence on Ireland since late bronze age.

On the other hand, one of the earliest documented history or mention about Ireland came from one of the Greek Voyage under Pytheas of Massilia in 320 BCE, who called it as Ierne, while Ptolemy referred the island as Iouernía. As for the Romans, who conquered England during their Imperial reign, Ireland was called by Tacticus as Hibernia in late 1st century AD. Though the romans did made contact with the native Irish tribes, the extend of their influence and relationship remains unclear to this day.

During the time of Late roman empire in the 4th century, some of the Irish tribes, notably the Attacoti of South Leinster, had served as mercenaries in the Roman Army. It was thought that the returning mercenaries brought wealth, as well as the Christian Faith to the island, long before the arrival of St. Patirck in early 5th century. This was documented according to the Prosper of Aquitaine, a christian bishop by the name of Palladius was sent to Ireland in 431 as the first bishop of Irish christians, noting that there had already been Christians living in Ireland before the arrival of St. Patrick. From there on, numerous monasteries and christian missionaries began to spread the faith of Christianity to the majority of the Pagan population. It was a slow and gradual process, even up until early 6th century, the High Kings of Ireland were still practicing pagan rituals. However, in mid 6th century, under the leadership of Diarmait mac Cerbaill, Christianity was heavily adopted into the social life, with churches forming a central part of the communities. By late 7th century and beyond, Ireland was a nominally christian lands, with numerous active missionaries and monasteries attracting scholars and learned men to study in Ireland.

The period also saw the traditional account of Irish Lordships, such as the Ulaid (Ulster), the Connachta (Connacht), the Laigin (Leinster), Mumu (Munster) and Mide (Meath). According to Early Irish Annals, some of these independent power fought against each other for supremacy, but with the rise of the  Uí Néill in the north and midlands and the Eóganachta in the south-west, most of these traditional divisions were reduced to smaller counties or tributary state. Ireland, by this time, was enjoying its golden age of cultural height and was prosperous.....until the arrival of the Vikings in the late 8th century.

The Vikings first appeared in Ireland when Norwegian Vikings raided the Island in 795, and for the next 2 centuries onwards, waves and waves of Viking Raiders came to Ireland to plunder its monasteries and towns throughout the Island. By mid 9th century, the Vikings established numerous settlements along the coast, such as Dubllin, which allowed them to further raid inland. This initially shifted the attention of the numerous Irish kings to lauch counter-attack against the viking, and was successfully repelled by early 11th century. Although the period was often recorded as one of the bloodiest part of Irish history, the settlements built by the Vikings continued to remain active and prosperous, while the Vikings and their descendants more often than not, served under several Irish Kings to fight in their petty disputes and territorial conflicts.

The disunity between the Independent Irish powers is what made Ireland an inhospitable place for foreigners, and the constant warfare made Irish warriors reputed for their bravery and ferocity. However, with the Norman conquest of England, and their arrival at waterford in 1171, the Norman war machine started their conquest of Hibernia to bring the Irish under the fold of English Monarchy. by the 14th century, the majority of Ireland was under the thumb of English Throne, but several insurgences and rebellions resulted in a short-lived but independent Irish states, only to be conquered again by the English in early 16th century, and would remain a part of the Monarchy till the war of Independence between 1912 -1922 that gave birth to a truly, Independent Irish power under the banner of Republic of Ireland.