Do you have Irish ancestry? If so why not learn a little about Irish history? But it's not just as simple as just being Irish. You could be descended from Gaels, Vikings, or Normans, even the English. You could be an O'Donoghue (Donovan) or Cagney (Ó'Caingne), an O'Rourke or McManus, or a Walsh or a Barry, even a Stack (an Old English derived name). And then there's the impact of the English, who were in Ireland (not always all of it) for nearly eight hundred years. The English were the last invaders (although actually most of the first 'English' invaders were Welsh Normans). But again, it's not that simple: there were the Old English and later the New English. As part of the latter, we will look at the destructive impact of the Tudors on Gaelic society. In week three we'll look at the British Penal Laws against the Irish and in week four the role Irish culture played in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries in facilitating (southern) Irish independence.
Course aim
The course is an introduction to Irish history. It covers four main themes: invasion and assimilation, Gaelic society, the Penal laws and the role played by Irish culture in facilitating independence.
Do I need any particular skills or experience?
- This course is for beginners and improvers
By the end of the course I should be able to:
- Distinguish some Gaelic, Viking and Norman names.
- From the Vikings, place those groups who invaded Ireland in chronological order.
- Identify some elements of Gaelic society.
- Understand the impact of the Penal Laws
- Assess the role of culture in facilitating Irish independence.
What else do I need to know?
Some background knowledge of Irish history would be useful, but not essential. The course is online but you should bring a pen and a pad to write notes. You will also have to have Zoom on your computer, but this can be downloaded easily and for free
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