Irish History At The Guild Terms One, Two, Three

TERM THREE STARTS WEDNESDAY 19TH APRIL

Words of praise from students of term one: 'Fascinating!'  'Interesting and gripping' 'Such an interesting course!'

ENROL NOW FOR TERM THREE AND JOIN US ON THIS AMAZING JOURNEY INTO IRELAND'S PAST

This expansive history of the nation of Ireland will cover all three terms of the 2022-2023 academic year, and you will be able to join any or all of the courses as you wish.  The titles for each term are:

Autumn: From protohistory to 1500

Spring: The Tudor Conquest to Catholic Emancipation, 1829

Summer: 1829 to the Home Rule Act, 1914

Here's what each term will cover:

Term One (Autumn) From Protohistory to 1500:

- What archaeology can tell us about  Ireland, pre- written records

- What the earliest records for Ireland tell us

- 'Celtic' culture and polytheism; the arrival of Christianity

- Viking influence, late eighth century onwards

-The Norman invasion of 1169

-  The English incursions into Irish politics and land; the English Pale

Term Two (Spring term 2023, starts January) The Tudor Conquest to Catholic Emancipation, 1829

- Resistance to the imposition of authority and protestantism from the English crown: the Kildare rebellion; the Desmond rebellions; the Nine Year's War. 

- The plantation of English and Scottish settlers

- The last stand of the Gaelic Ireland: the Battle of Kinsale

- Seventeenth century: conflict between Protestant and Catholic; the Confederate Wars and the Williamite War. The Protestant Ascendancy

- The United Irishmen Rebellion and the abolition of the Irish Parliament

- The impact of Catholic Emancipation, 1829

Term Three (Summer term 2023, starts after Easter)  1829 to the Home Rule Act, 1914

- The Great Famine

- Migration and the growth of the Irish diaspora across the world

- Nationalism and rebellion

 - Land ownership and the Land War; Michael Davitt and the Land League

- Parnell and the Irish Parliamentary Party

- Home rule, and the Home Rule Act of 1914

For each term, the above topics will be placed firmly in a wider context  as appropriate, including an examination of  daily life, culture, and Ireland's connections with close and more distant neighbours the rest of the world. A reading list will be available for each term. 

How will the courses be delivered?

The course will consist of two hour, weekly Zoom classes, with follow-up emails summarizing each session, and offeringlinks, copies of any slides used, and any discussion points raised. Email support from the tutor is always available.

The Tutor

The tutor, Gill Rossini, is a highly experienced and published historian who  has a long standing and strong interest in the history of the six 'Celtic Nations'. She has taught for the University of Aberystwyth and has experience of tracing her own Irish ancestry. She was recently commissioned by a television company to devise and present a series of history documentaries, which will be filmed over the next twelve months, circumstances permitting.