function js_50193() { document.write (' '); } function js_50192() { document.write (' '); } function js_485941445322810() { document.write ('

Africa Guides

'); } function js_975405216946765() { document.write ('

Asia Guides

'); } function js_589002001462090() { document.write ('

Caribbean Guides

'); } function js_337178730147602() { document.write ('

Central America

'); } function js_553020274895450() { document.write ('

Europe Guides

'); } function js_985852956680314() { document.write ('

Middle East Guides

'); } function js_743676197582101() { document.write ('

North America

'); } function js_475047278490295() { document.write ('

Pacific Guides

'); } function js_406044232943068() { document.write ('

South America

'); } function js_672931861779283() { document.write ('

send page to a friend

'); } function js_716155874306508() { document.write ('

Evidence exists to suggest Ireland has been inhabited for around 9 millennia. Stone Age settlers are believed to have arrived sometime after the 8th century BC, with the culture of the region morphing from Mesolithic to high Neolithic over the following three or four thousand years.

'); } function js_126290154113177() { document.write ('

In 795, the Vikings arrived and for the next two centuries the island was subject to constant warfare. It wasn’t until 1014 when Brian Boru defeated the Vikings at Clontarf that an end to the tyranny was achieved. In 1171, Ireland was invaded by King Henry II who used a church-issued document to claim sovereignty over the island.

'); } function js_857562148278016() { document.write ('

Political protest and upheavals resulted but the Protestant Ascendancy asserted their authority and dominance throughout. The Irish Rebellion of 1798 which attempted with the assistance of France, to create a fully independent Ireland, was swiftly crushed by British forces.

'); } function js_149581384454852() { document.write ('

Today, political tensions are dramatically lessened and a period of relative peace has been enjoyed for some years. Both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland are considered safe places to visit with very little threat of the terrorist activity that was seen for many years during the 20th century.

'); }