History of Ireland in Timeline
Ireland is an island in Northwestern Europe, divided between the Republic of Ireland (a sovereign state) and Northern Ireland (part of the UK). It is the second-largest island of the British Isles and the third-largest in Europe. The island's total population is just over 7 million, with the Republic of Ireland holding 5.1 million and Northern Ireland having 1.9 million, making it the second-most populous island in Europe after Great Britain.
1900: Gaelic Revival
By 1900, cultural nationalists had begun the Gaelic revival, which saw the beginnings of modern literature in Irish.
1900: Publication of Aether and Matter
Sir Joseph Larmor's influential work, Aether and Matter, a book on theoretical physics was published in 1900.
1904: Founding of the Abbey Theatre
In 1904, the Republic of Ireland's national theatre, the Abbey Theatre, was founded.
1913: Ulster Volunteers Formed
In 1913, the Ulster Volunteers were formed under the leadership of Edward Carson to prevent the Home Rule bill from passing.
1914: Home Rule Bill
In 1914, after several attempts to pass a Home Rule bill through parliament, it looked certain that one would finally pass.
1914: Establishment of Irish Volunteers
In 1914, the Irish Volunteers were established to ensure that the Home Rule Bill was passed.
1916: Easter Rising
In 1916, the Easter Rising was carried out by the Irish Volunteers together with the Irish Citizen Army.
1918: Conscription Crisis
In 1918, support for Irish republicanism increased further due to the ongoing war in Europe, as well as the Conscription Crisis.
1918: Sinn Féin Election
In 1918, the pro-independence republican party, Sinn Féin, received overwhelming endorsement in the general election.
1919: Irish Republic Proclaimed
In 1919, Sinn Féin proclaimed an Irish Republic, setting up its own parliament (Dáil Éireann) and government.
1920: Government of Ireland Act
In 1920, Northern Ireland resulted from the division of the United Kingdom by the Government of Ireland Act 1920.
July 1921: Truce
In July 1921, a three-year guerrilla war launched by the Irish Republican Army (IRA) ended in a truce.
December 1921: Anglo-Irish Treaty Concluded
In December 1921, the Anglo-Irish Treaty was concluded between the British government and representatives of the Second Dáil.
1921: Population Decline
By 1921, the population of Ireland had been reduced to slightly over four million, a significant drop from over eight million in 1841.
1921: Formation of the Football Association of the Irish Free State
In 1921, Dublin-based clubs formed the Football Association of the Irish Free State after a dispute with the IFA over the location of an Irish Cup semi-final replay.
1921: Partition of Ireland
Prior to the partition in 1921, Ireland had a long history as an economic colony.
June 1922: Violence in Northern Ireland
In June 1922, violence continued mostly in Northern Ireland.
1922: Publication of Ulysses
James Joyce's 1922 novel Ulysses is considered one of the most important works of Modernist literature.
May 1923: Civil War Ends
In May 1923, the Irish Civil War officially ended when de Valera issued a cease-fire order.
1926: FAI organises first international fixture
In 1926, the FAI organised its first international fixture against Italy.
1928: Establishment of An Taibhdhearc
In 1928, the national Irish-language theatre, An Taibhdhearc, was established in Galway.
1929: Government Controlled by the Ulster Unionist Party
In 1929 the government of Northern Ireland was controlled by the Ulster Unionist Party.
1937: New Constitution Adopted
In 1937, a new constitution was adopted, completing a process of gradual separation from the British Empire.
September 1941: German Intelligence Operations Ended
In September 1941, German intelligence operations in Ireland ended when police made arrests based on surveillance.
1941: Bombing Raids in Belfast
In 1941, Belfast suffered four bombing raids during the Second World War.
1947: Fred Daly
In 1947, Fred Daly won the British Open at Carnoustie, being the first Irishman to win the British Open.
1948: Republic Declared
In 1948, the Irish Free State declared itself a republic with the Republic of Ireland Act of 1948.
1949: Republic of Ireland Declared
In 1949, the state was declared, officially, to be the Republic of Ireland.
1949: Publication of Cré na Cille
Máirtín Ó Cadhain's 1949 novel Cré na Cille is regarded as a modernist masterpiece.
1951: Nobel Prize in Physics
In 1951, Ernest Walton won the Nobel Prize in Physics.
1953: FIFA designates team names
In 1953, FIFA directed that the FAI's team be known as the "Republic of Ireland" and the IFA's team be known as "Northern Ireland".
1953: Irish government survey
In 1953, an Irish government survey, found that 50% of whiskey drinkers in the United States had never heard of Irish whiskey.
1958: Northern Ireland qualified for the World Cup finals
In 1958, Northern Ireland qualified for the World Cup finals, reaching the quarter-finals.
1961: Population Decline
In 1961, the population continued to fall in Ireland after the Great Famine.
1967: Discovery of Pulsars
In 1967, the astronomer Jocelyn Bell Burnell, from Lurgan, County Armagh, discovered pulsars.
1969: Emergence of the Provisional IRA
In 1969, the paramilitary Provisional IRA emerged from a split in the Irish Republican Army and began a campaign against what it called the "British occupation of the six counties".
1970: First European to win the U.S. Open
In 1970, first European to win the U.S. Open.
1972: British Government Suspends Home Rule
In 1972, owing to the civil unrest during the Troubles, the British government suspended home rule and imposed direct rule.
1972: Self-Governing Jurisdiction
Until 1972, Northern Ireland was a self-governing jurisdiction within the United Kingdom with its own parliament and prime minister.
1973: Accession to the EEC
In 1973, The Republic of Ireland and the United Kingdom both acceded to the European Economic Community (EEC).
1973: Joined European Economic Community
In 1973, both the Republic of Ireland and the United Kingdom, including Northern Ireland, joined the European Economic Community.
1973: Sunningdale Agreement
In 1973, there was an unsuccessful attempt to end the Troubles politically, known as the Sunningdale Agreement.
1982: Northern Ireland qualified for the World Cup finals
In 1982, Northern Ireland qualified for the World Cup finals.
1986: Northern Ireland qualified for the World Cup finals
In 1986, Northern Ireland qualified for the World Cup finals.
1987: Economy Improved
Beginning in 1987, the Irish economy improved, setting the stage for the Celtic Tiger.
1988: Republic of Ireland qualified for the European Championship
In 1988, the Republic of Ireland qualified for the European Championship.
1990: Republic of Ireland qualified for the World Cup finals
In 1990, the Republic of Ireland qualified for the World Cup finals, reaching the quarter-finals.
1991: Ireland hosted games during the Rugby World Cup
In 1991, Ireland hosted games during the Rugby World Cup, including a quarter-final.
1994: Armagh Granted City Status
In 1994, Armagh was re-granted city status by Queen Elizabeth II.
1994: Republic of Ireland qualified for the World Cup finals
In 1994, the Republic of Ireland qualified for the World Cup finals.
1994: Provisional IRA and Loyalist Ceasefires
In 1994, violence had decreased greatly after the Provisional IRA and loyalist ceasefires.
1995: Economic Growth
Between 1995 and 1999, the Republic's real GDP grew by an average of 9.6% per annum.
1995: Start of the Celtic Tiger Period
From 1995 onwards, Ireland experienced a period of rapid economic expansion that became known as the Celtic Tiger period.
1995: Sonia O'Sullivan won gold at World Championships
In 1995, Sonia O'Sullivan won gold at the World Championships.
1998: Good Friday Agreement Concluded
In 1998, following a ceasefire by the Provisional IRA and multi-party talks, the Good Friday Agreement was concluded as a treaty between the British and Irish governments, annexing the text agreed in the multi-party talks.
1999: Cosgrave's Number Theory Discovery
In 1999, John B. Cosgrave was a specialist in number theory.
1999: Discovery of Corrib Gas Field
In 1999, economically significant finds of natural gas were made in the Corrib Gas Field off the County Mayo coast.
2000: Cosgrave Discovers Prime Number
In 2000, John B. Cosgrave discovered a 2000-digit prime number.
2000: Sonia O'Sullivan won silver at Sydney Olympics
In 2000, Sonia O'Sullivan won silver at the Sydney Olympics.
2000: Discovery of the Helvick Oil Field
In 2000, the Helvick oil field was discovered, estimated to contain over 28 million barrels of oil.
2000: Sixth-Richest Country
In 2000, the Republic of Ireland was the sixth-richest country in the world in terms of GDP per capita.
2001: Local Government Act
Since the 2001 Local Government Act, Kilkenny is no longer a city for administrative purposes but is entitled by law to continue to use the description.
2002: Republic of Ireland qualified for the World Cup finals
In 2002, the Republic of Ireland qualified for the World Cup finals.
2003: Sports Attendances in Ireland
In 2003, Gaelic football represented 34% of total sports attendances at events in Ireland and abroad, followed by hurling at 23%, soccer at 16% and rugby at 8%.
2003: Gillian O'Sullivan won silver at World Championships
In 2003, Gillian O'Sullivan won silver in the 20k walk at the World Championships.
2003: Discovery of Composite Fermat Number
In 2003, John B. Cosgrave discovered a record composite Fermat number.
2004: Ireland won Triple Crown
In 2004, the Irish International side had success in the Six Nations Championship, including Triple Crowns
2004: Increased Research and development in renewable energy
Since 2004, research and development in renewable energy (such as wind power) has increased.
2004: EU Expansion
Since the European Union expanded to include Poland in 2004, Polish people have comprised the largest number of immigrants (over 150,000) from Central Europe.
2005: Provisional IRA Ends Armed Campaign
In 2005, the Provisional IRA announced the end of its armed campaign and an independent commission supervised its disarmament and that of other nationalist and unionist paramilitary organisations.
2005: Katie Taylor won gold
Since 2005, Katie Taylor has won gold in every European and World championship.
2006: Canadian Population of Irish Descent
As of 2006, 4.3 million Canadians, or 14% of the population, were of Irish descent.
2006: Foreign Nationals in the Republic of Ireland
As of 2006, there were 420,000 foreign nationals in the Republic of Ireland, about 10% of the population.
2006: County Leitrim Population Increase
In 2006, County Leitrim was the final Irish county to record a population increase post-famine.
2006: Derval O'Rourke won gold at World Indoor Championship
In 2006, Derval O'Rourke won gold at the World Indoor Championship in Moscow.
2006: Munster won the Heineken Cup
In 2006, Munster won the Heineken Cup.
2006: The Ryder Cup was held at The K Club
In 2006, The Ryder Cup was held at The K Club in County Kildare.
2006: Closing of salmon driftnet fishery
In 2006, salmon fishing in Ireland received a boost with the closing of the salmon driftnet fishery.
July 2007: Pádraig Harrington won the British Open
In July 2007, Pádraig Harrington became the first Irishman since Fred Daly in 1947 to win the British Open at Carnoustie.
2007: International sports played at Croke Park
In 2007, Croke Park hosted international rugby and soccer games during the Lansdowne Road stadium redevelopment.
2007: Restoration of Assembly and Executive
In 2007, the Assembly and power-sharing Executive were restored again, and the British government officially ended its military support of the police in Northern Ireland (Operation Banner) and began withdrawing troops.
2007: Ireland won Triple Crown
In 2007, the Irish International side had success in the Six Nations Championship, including Triple Crowns
July 2008: Pádraig Harrington defended his British Open title
In July 2008, Pádraig Harrington successfully defended his British Open title.
2008: End of Celtic Tiger Period
In 2008, Ireland's Celtic Tiger period came to an end with an unprecedented financial crisis.
2008: Kenneth Egan won a silver medal in the Beijing Games
In 2008, Kenneth Egan won a silver medal in boxing at the Beijing Olympic Games, and Paddy Barnes secured a bronze medal.
2008: Munster won the Heineken Cup
In 2008, Munster won the Heineken Cup.
2008: Financial Crisis
In 2008, the financial crisis began, dramatically ending the period of boom in Ireland. GDP fell by 3%.
2009: Irish whiskey popularity researched by CNBC
In 2009, CNBC researched and reported that Irish whiskey remains popular domestically and has grown in international sales.
2009: GDP Fell
In 2009, GDP fell by 7.1%, the worst year since records began in Ireland.
2009: Economic Depression
In 2009, Ireland experienced an economic depression.
2009: Leinster won the Heineken Cup and Ireland won the Grand Slam
In 2009, Leinster won the Heineken Cup, and the Irish International side won a Grand Slam in the Six Nations Championship.
2009: Olive Loughnane won silver at World Athletics Championships
In 2009, Olive Loughnane won a silver medal in the 20k walk at the World Athletics Championships in Berlin.
2009: Births to Mothers Born Outside of Ireland
In 2009, nearly a quarter of births (24 percent) in the Republic of Ireland were to mothers born outside of Ireland.
2010: Graeme McDowell won the U.S. Open
In 2010, Graeme McDowell became the first Irish golfer to win the U.S. Open, and the first European to win that tournament since 1970.
2010: Paddy Barnes won gold
In 2010, Paddy Barnes secured gold in the European Amateur Boxing Championships and Commonwealth Games.
2010: End of Lansdowne Road stadium redevelopment
In 2010, the Lansdowne Road stadium redevelopment was completed and international rugby and soccer games no longer needed to be played at Croke Park.
2010: Religious Survey
In a 2010 survey conducted on behalf of the Irish Times, 32% of respondents said they went to a religious service more than once per week.
2010: Unusually Cold Weather
Ireland experienced unusually cold weather during the winter of 2010-11, with temperatures falling as low as -17.2°C in County Mayo on 20 December.
2010: Bundoran hosts European championship surfing
Since just before the year 2010, Bundoran has hosted European championship surfing.
2011: Leinster won the Heineken Cup
In 2011, Leinster won the Heineken Cup.
2011: Rory McIlroy and Darren Clarke won major championships
In 2011, Rory McIlroy won the U.S. Open and Darren Clarke won the Open Championship at Royal St. George's.
2011: Census
The Muslim community is growing in Ireland, mostly through increased immigration, with a 50% increase in the republic between the 2006 and 2011 census.
June 2012: Symbolic Handshake in Belfast
On 27 June 2012, Northern Ireland's deputy first minister and former IRA commander, Martin McGuinness, shook hands with Queen Elizabeth II in Belfast, symbolising reconciliation between the two sides.
August 2012: Katie Taylor wins gold at the London Olympic Games
In August 2012, Katie Taylor became the first Irish woman to win a gold medal in boxing at the Olympic Games in London.
August 2012: Rory McIlroy won the USPGA Championship
In August 2012, Rory McIlroy won his 2nd major championship by winning the USPGA Championship by a record margin of 8 shots.
2012: Leinster won the Heineken Cup
In 2012, Leinster won the Heineken Cup.
2012: Genetic Markers Research
In 2012, research showed that the occurrence of genetic markers for the earliest farmers was almost eliminated by Beaker-culture immigrants.
2012: Republic of Ireland qualified for the European Championship
In 2012, the Republic of Ireland qualified for the European Championship.
2013: Irish-Americans and Americans of Irish Ancestry
As of 2013, there were 40 million Irish-Americans and 33 million Americans who claimed Irish ancestry.
2014: Republic in top 10 for clean-tech investment
In 2014, the Republic of Ireland ranked as one of the top 10 markets for clean-technology investment in the Global Green Economy Index.
2015: Ireland Ranked Sixth Most Developed Nation
In 2015, the Republic of Ireland was ranked the sixth most developed nation in the world by the United Nations' Human Development Index.
2016: Referendum vote to leave the EU
Following a referendum vote in 2016, the United Kingdom, Northern Ireland included, voted to leave the European Union (EU).
2016: Northern Ireland qualified for the European Championship
In 2016, Northern Ireland qualified for the European Championship.
2016: Referendum on EU Membership
In 2016, a referendum on EU membership was held in the UK, resulting in a vote to leave the bloc.
2018: Ireland won the Grand Slam
In 2018, the Irish International side won a Grand Slam in the Six Nations Championship.
2020: United Kingdom left the EU
In 2020 the United Kingdom, Northern Ireland included, left the European Union (EU).
2020: Kellie Harrington won gold
In 2020, Kellie Harrington won a gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics.
2020: UK Leaves the European Union
In 2020, the UK officially left the European Union following a referendum held in 2016.
2021: GDP Data
In 2021, the GDP of the Republic of Ireland was €423.5 billion (nominal), with a per capita of €84,049.9 (nominal). In Northern Ireland in 2021, the GDP was £52 billion (GVA Balanced), with a per capita of £27,154 (GVA Balanced).
2021: Earliest evidence of human activity
Since 2021, the earliest evidence of human activity in Ireland is dated to 33,000 years ago.
2022: Island Population
In 2022, the population of the entire island of Ireland was just over 7 million, with 5.1 million in the Republic of Ireland and 1.9 million in Northern Ireland.
2023: Cost of living comparison
In 2023, monthly cost of living and average wage after tax were compared between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.
2024: Ireland Ranked Second Most Peaceful
According to the 2024 Global Peace Index, Ireland is the second most peaceful country in the world.
2024: Global Innovation Index Ranking
Ireland was ranked 19th in the Global Innovation Index in 2024.
2025: ICC Men's Test Team Rankings
In 2025, Ireland is ranked 10th in the ICC Men's Test Team Rankings with a rating of 30.
