Irish History Timeline

The history of Ireland begins approximately 7500BC when the island was first people may have arrived.  It wasn’t until the arrival of the Christians in 430AD that recorded written history began.

Please bookmark this page as we’re always adding new history articles to the below timeline.

Ancient Ireland

Early Christian Ireland

Medieval period in Ireland

  • 795 – The Vikings arrive in Ireland performing small raids
  • 832 – 120 Viking ships arrive in Ireland’s northern and eastern coasts
  • 841 – Dubhlinn (Dublin) begins as a Viking settlement
  • 856 – The Vikings create settlements near Cork
  • 848 – Viking army is defeated in Sligo, Kildare, Cashel and Cork
  • 850 – The Vikings create the settlement of Waterford
  • 852 – Armagh is destroyed by the Vikings
  • 902 – The Irish attack and drive the Vikings from Dublin into Wales
  • 914 – Large Viking Fleets being arriving at Waterford. Further settlements built in Limerick and Wexford
  • 915 – The Vikings attack Dublin and regain control from the Irish
  • 940 – Brian Boru is born
  • 976 – Brian Boru becomes King of Munster
  • 980 – The Battle of Tara
  • 999 – Brian Boru defeats the Vikings
  • 1002 – Brian Boru becomes High King of Ireland
  • 1005 – Máel Mórda mac Murchada begins to rebel against Brian Boru
  • 1014 – Battle of Clontarf – Brian Boru & Máel Mórda mac Murchada are killed
  • 1155 – English King Henry II is given authority over Ireland by Pope Adrian IV, an authorised invasion of Ireland
  • 1166 – Dermait MacMurrough, King of Leinster, flees Ireland and asks King Henry II of England for help.
  • 1169 – The Anglo-Norman invasion of Ireland begins
  • 1170 – Strongbow arrives in Ireland from England
  • 1171 – Strongbow becomes king of Leinster.
  • 1171- King Henry II of England invades Ireland
  • 1171 - John de Courcy Invades Ulster
  • 1175 – King Henry II of England has most of Ireland under his control
  • 1188 – John de Courcy invades the province of Connacht
  • 1203 – Hugh de Lacy captures John de Courcy
  • 1204 – John de Courcy is expelled from Ireland
  • 1205 – Hugh de Lacy becomes 1st Earl of Ulster
  • 1297 – Irish Parliament is founded
  • 1235 – Richard de Burgo conquers Connacht
  • 1248 – Goffraidh Ó Dónaill becomes the first to be inaugurated as “The O’Donnell (chief of the clan)
  • 1257 – The Creadran-Cille Battles
  • 1259 – élite mercenary warriors from Scotland arrive to help the Irish
  • 1315 – Edward Bruce of Scotland arrives in Ireland
  • 1318 – Edward Bruce is killed by the English
  • 1333 – The Earldom of Ulster collapses
  • 1367 – The Statutes of Kilkenny are introduced
  • 1394 – King Richard II lands at Waterford and marches to Dublin
  • 1394 – King Richard II is deposed and murdered on his return from Ireland

16th Century in Ireland

17th Century Ireland

18th Century Ireland

19th Century Ireland

20th Century History

21st Century History of Ireland

  • 2005 – The IRA begins decommissioning
  • 2007 – Ian Paisley is elected First Minister of the Northern Ireland Assembly
  • - Martin McGuinness becomes deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland
  • 2009 – the UVF and other loyalist paramilitary groups begin decommissioning.

About the author

Pádraig Mac Donnchadha Pádraig Mac Donncha was born and raised in the North West of Ireland. He is a fluent Irish speaker with an interest in the history of Ireland. In his spare time he enjoys travelling Ireland with his grandchildren teaching them local history and folklore.




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