Ireland: A Short History

by Joseph Coohill, Enda Oates (Read by)

Overview

From Ireland's first inhabitants to the most recent developments in the peace process, this new edition of Joseph Coohill's popular survey balances historical narrative with insightful commentary, creating a uniquely accessible guide to the history of Ireland and its people.

With a particular focus on the last two hundred years, the book covers all of the key events and personalities, including the Great Famine, Parnell and Home Rule, and the Good Friday Agreement and beyond. The key to understanding the Irish people lies in understanding their past yet, as Professor Coohill demonstrates, that past has been interpreted in many different ways to serve many different ends; the book thus provides a section on interpretation at the end of each chapter, allowing readers to assess the arguments for themselves.

Newly updated with all of the latest developments in the political situation, as well as new historical interpretations, this highly readable work will provide the perfect resource for students, travellers and anyone wishing to gain an insight into the complex identity of Ireland and its people.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9798228001077
Publisher:	Dreamscape
Publication date:	09/10/2024
Product dimensions:	5.20(w) x 5.70(h) x (d)
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

Joseph Coohill earned his doctorate in Modern History from Oxford. He specialises in the history of nineteenth-century Britain and Ireland, areas in which he has taught and published widely.

Table of Contents

	Acknowledgements	viii
	Preface	ix
	Pronunciation guide for Irish words	xi
	Map	xiv
	Introduction	1
1	Ireland Before 1800	7
	Geography	7
	Prehistoric Ireland	8
	Early Irish society	9
	Early Christian Ireland	10
	The age of the Vikings	12
	Norman Ireland (1169-1300)	14
	Thirteenth- and fourteenth-century Ireland	16
	Fifteenth- and sixteenth-century Ireland (1400-1534)	17
	The Tudor conquest	19
	Stuart Ireland (1603-60)	20
	Ireland during the Restoration and the Jacobite War (1660-91)	24
	Ireland under the Penal Laws (1691-1778)	26
	Ireland 1775-1800	28
	Interpretations	34
2	O'Connell, Religion and Politics, 1800-48	39
	O'Connell and Catholic emancipation	40
	The Catholic Association and the Catholic Rent	41
	Political pressure and the granting of emancipation	44
	Repeal	46
	Young Ireland	49
	Economy, society and religion	51
	Interpretations	56
3	The Famine, 1845-52	59
	Preconditions	60
	The blight	62
	The coming of famine	64
	The soup	66
	Hunger, disease and emigration	67
	The extension of the Poor Law	68
	New relief policies	70
	Effects	71
	Interpretations	74
4	Fenianism and the Land, 1848-81	79
	The three Fs and the Tenant League	81
	Fenianism	83
	The land problem resurfaces	85
	The Land League and the Land War	88
	Religion	90
	Interpretations - Fenianism	91
	Interpretations - Land War	93
5	Home Rule, 1870-93	97
	Isaac Butt and the origins of Home Rule	98
	The rise of Parnell	100
	Parnell's fall	103
	Conservative and unionist opposition to Home Rule	105
	Interpretations	106
6	Nationalism, Unionism and Irish Identity, 1891-1922	112
	Land reforms continue	112
	Rural and urban life	114
	Gaelic revival	115
	Nationalism and unionism, 1891-1914	119
	War in Europe and war in Ireland, 1914-22	124
	Interpretations	130
	Interpretations - the Easter Rising	131
	Interpretations - partition	135
	Interpretations - nationalism and unionism	137
7	The Making of Two Irelands, 1922-66	142
	The Irish Free State, 1922-32	143
	Northern Ireland, 1922-32	147
	The Free State and Eire, 1932-49	149
	Northern Ireland, 1932-66	155
	The Republic of Ireland, 1949-66	159
	Interpretations	163
8	Troubles and Triumphs, 1966-Present	168
	The Republic of Ireland, 1966-82	168
	Northern Ireland and the Troubles, 1966-82	172
	Ireland since 1982	179
	The peace process	180
	Social and political life in the Republic	182
	The Good Friday Agreement and beyond	185
	Interpretations	193
9	Conclusion: Themes in Irish History	204
	Bibliography and Further Reading	211
	Index	225

Editorial Reviews

‘Fair to both the Nationalist and Unionist tradition.’

Jeremy Black

‘A brisk and clear introduction to Irish history.’

Cormac Ó Gráda

'With this new edition of his Ireland: A Short History, Joseph Coohill performs an incredible service—he provides a narrative history of Ireland from prehistory through the early twenty-first century that is accessible without being reduced to caricature. It offers general readers an excellent introduction to Irish history. It should earn a place of honor on the shelves of those who love Ireland and want to know more about its rich past. ' Dr Tim McMahon, Marquette University

From the Publisher

‘Hands down the best textbook on the market.’

Patrick McDevitt

'A brisk and clear introduction to Irish history.'

Cormac O’Grada

‘Hands-down the best textbook on the market.’

Patrick McDevitt – Associate Professor at the University of Buffalo

'A brisk and clear introduction to Irish history.'

Cormac O’Grada