Britain in Ireland, by David Alber

The Luck of the Irish

It wasn’t easy, and it certainly wasn’t quick. In fact, it took almost 800 years. In 1169, some Norman-Anglo adventurers invaded Ireland from Britain at the invitation of an Irish minor king who had been deposed by his High King. Seven hundred and fifty-three years later, Ireland – or most of it – achieved independence from Britain. In the meantime, there was conquest, revolution, blood, and famine until the Irish fled their own country for the promise of faraway parts. By 1900, more Irish lived abroad than lived in Ireland. However, just when it looked like hope had died, a wild, absurd, romantic gesture united a nation and led to the beginnings of independence.

This is the story of that long road to freedom, of the great characters – British kings and politicians, Irish revolutionaries, international statesmen, and the poor and destitute.

Mostly, it is a story of a dream that never died until, eventually, as the parties fought each other to a standstill, bolder men saw a better way, and for the first time in almost a millennium the island experienced peace. And neighbours became friends.

It is a story worth the telling.