The Irish (Irish: Muintir na hÉireann or Na hÉireannaigh) are a
nation and ethnic group native to the island of Ireland, who share a
common Irish ancestry, identity and culture. Ireland has been
inhabited for about 12,500 years according to archaeological studies
(see Prehistoric Ireland). For most of Ireland's recorded history, the
Irish have been primarily a Gaelic people (see Gaelic Ireland). From
the 9th century, small numbers of Vikings settled in Ireland, becoming
the Norse-Gaels. Anglo-Normans conquered parts of Ireland in the 12th
century, while England's 16th/17th-century (re)conquest and
colonisation of Ireland brought many English and Lowland Scots people
to parts of the island, especially the north. Today, Ireland is made
up of the Republic of Ireland (an independent state) and the smaller
Northern Ireland (a part of the United Kingdom). The people of
Northern Ireland hold various national identities including British,
Irish, Northern Irish or some combination thereof.The Irish have their
own customs, language, music, dance, sports, cuisine and mythology.
Although Irish (Gaeilge) was their main language in the past, today
most Irish people speak English as their first language. Historically,
the Irish nation was made up of kin groups or clans, and the Irish
also had their own religion, law code, alphabet and style of
dress.There have been many notable Irish people throughout history.
After Ireland's conversion to Christianity, Irish missionaries and
scholars exerted great influence on Western Europe, and the Irish came
to be seen as a nation of "saints and scholars". The 6th-century Irish
monk and missionary Columbanus is regarded as one of the "fathers of
Europe", followed by saints Cillian and Fergal. The scientist Robert
Boyle is considered the "father of chemistry", and Robert Mallet one
of the "fathers of seismology". Famous Irish writers include Oscar
Wilde, W. B. Yeats, Samuel Beckett, George Bernard Shaw, Bram Stoker,
James Joyce, C.S. Lewis and Seamus Heaney. Notable Irish explorers
include Brendan the Navigator, Sir Robert McClure, Sir Alexander
Armstrong, Sir Ernest Shackleton and Tom Crean. By some accounts, the
first European child born in North America had Irish descent on both
sides. Many presidents of the United States have had some Irish
ancestry.
nation and ethnic group native to the island of Ireland, who share a
common Irish ancestry, identity and culture. Ireland has been
inhabited for about 12,500 years according to archaeological studies
(see Prehistoric Ireland). For most of Ireland's recorded history, the
Irish have been primarily a Gaelic people (see Gaelic Ireland). From
the 9th century, small numbers of Vikings settled in Ireland, becoming
the Norse-Gaels. Anglo-Normans conquered parts of Ireland in the 12th
century, while England's 16th/17th-century (re)conquest and
colonisation of Ireland brought many English and Lowland Scots people
to parts of the island, especially the north. Today, Ireland is made
up of the Republic of Ireland (an independent state) and the smaller
Northern Ireland (a part of the United Kingdom). The people of
Northern Ireland hold various national identities including British,
Irish, Northern Irish or some combination thereof.The Irish have their
own customs, language, music, dance, sports, cuisine and mythology.
Although Irish (Gaeilge) was their main language in the past, today
most Irish people speak English as their first language. Historically,
the Irish nation was made up of kin groups or clans, and the Irish
also had their own religion, law code, alphabet and style of
dress.There have been many notable Irish people throughout history.
After Ireland's conversion to Christianity, Irish missionaries and
scholars exerted great influence on Western Europe, and the Irish came
to be seen as a nation of "saints and scholars". The 6th-century Irish
monk and missionary Columbanus is regarded as one of the "fathers of
Europe", followed by saints Cillian and Fergal. The scientist Robert
Boyle is considered the "father of chemistry", and Robert Mallet one
of the "fathers of seismology". Famous Irish writers include Oscar
Wilde, W. B. Yeats, Samuel Beckett, George Bernard Shaw, Bram Stoker,
James Joyce, C.S. Lewis and Seamus Heaney. Notable Irish explorers
include Brendan the Navigator, Sir Robert McClure, Sir Alexander
Armstrong, Sir Ernest Shackleton and Tom Crean. By some accounts, the
first European child born in North America had Irish descent on both
sides. Many presidents of the United States have had some Irish
ancestry.
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