Irish roots

Ireland and Britain which today are not very close were connected thousands of years ago by a strip of land, an unswerving link. As a result of it around 8000 bc, in the Mesolithic period a group of human beings were able to settle in the country of the shamrock. Their descendants had the first real impact on the landscape: they built dolmens, for example.

But it's really from the 5th century that we have the first important historical data. At this time Christianity was introduced to Ireland and the country acquired its nickname of "island of the saints". The famous site of Tara can testify to the relevance of religious ceremonies during this period. Nevertheless the political organisation of the country was weakened by the competition between the various chiefs who were seeking the high-kingship. Meanwhile, bands of Scandinavian warriors arrived on the irish beaches and founded numerous cities and among them Dublin, Limerick and Cork.

This contentious cohabitation between the Vikings and the Christian feudal lords perpetuated until the Anglo-Norman invasion during the 12th century. Then, with Richard de Clare, the famous Strongbow, the English rule over Ireland started.