Irish Society
A short summary of Irish societies through the island's history.
Societies of Ancient Ireland
The first recorded societies of Ireland were its Gaelic courts, which ruled from about 500 BCE to the 16th or 17th century. In early times, the island was divided between small kingdoms, or túatha. These were controlled by clans, who elected their heirs through the tanistry system. This inheritance system ensured that the most worthy, eligible male member of a family was chosen to lead it. The túatha operated within a larger hierarchy. The major kingdoms of this era were Meath, Ulster, Leinster, and Munster. A semi-mythical kingdom, Tara, is tied to the Hill of Tara, where the High Kings of Ireland were crowned.
Each Gaelic court consisted of a ruling family and the upper classes who served them. Druids acted as religious officials as well as advisers, historians, and educators. In addition, courts kept musicians, metalworkers, Brehon law-keepers, doctors, and other skilled persons. These positions were generally hereditary. Students learned from masters of their trade, or ollamh, or studied at druidic schools.
Below them were the common farmers, craftsmen, and slaves who supported the court. Those who owned land and cattle were given greater preference. A person’s status determined his or her legal rights and the fines for breaking them. These penalties were generally paid in milk cows, which were used as currency on the island. Lords paid their court annual stipends of cows based on their performance and education. Cattle raiding was a common form of warfare between clans and a quick way to build wealth.
Social Structures of Medieval Ireland
Throughout the medieval era, the structure of the Gaelic courts changed little. The druid class faded with their religion. Their secular duties fell to fili poets, now commonly associated with less prestigious bards. The new centers of religious and scholarly power were monasteries, often controlled by hereditary abbots. Meanwhile, by the 10th century, the Gaelic lords were no longer the only rulers in Ireland. Viking raiders turned settler founded coastal cities like Dublin, Limerick, and Cork, which thrived through overseas trade.
The social structure of Ireland was upended again in 1169, when a series of invasions established Norman control over the island. Their power proved temporary, however, and the Gaelic courts soon re-emerged through all of Ireland except Dublin. The Anglo-Norman foothold in the city and its surrounding areas was known as the Pale.
Ireland Under English Rule
The uneasy balance between England and Ireland tipped in the 16th century. Under King Henry VIII, England expanded its influence on the island. Henry formally assumed the title of King of Ireland in 1541. His interest in Ireland would begin an era of religious and political upheaval. The Gaelic courts slowly died out through a combination of new laws and failed rebellions. Without Irish lords to support them, the ancient classes of Brehons, philosopher-poets, and musicians fell into decline as well. English laws restricted or forbade Irish customs and the Gaelic language, including traditional clothing and hairstyles.
This era saw the gradual loss of social status among native Irish Catholics in favor of a Protestant minority. Many Protestants, though not all, were immigrants from Scotland and England. These settlers took over lands confiscated from rebels. The most famous incident of this system was the Flight of the Earls in 1607. When the lords of Northern Ireland departed after the Nine Years’ War, their lands were left open for the Plantation of Ulster. This event would create a long-lasting divide between Northern Ireland and the rest of the island.
The wealth gained by these outsiders sparked significant resentment among the Irish lower classes. Tensions grew worse as landless farmers faced eviction and famine in the 19th century. Millions of young people chose to leave the island, draining much of its youthful workforce. As clan loyalties became a thing of the past, a growing sense of Irish nationalism developed in their stead.
Society of Modern Ireland
Following its War of Independence from 1919 to 1921, the complex social history of Ireland could not be immediately resolved. Northern Ireland chose to remain a member of the United Kingdom. This proved deeply unpopular among Irish nationalist groups like the IRA, which maintained that a divided Ireland was still under British control. The group splintered following a brief civil war. Their efforts to unite Ireland through political violence failed, but only after a string of terror attacks through the late 20th century.
Today, the nation of Ireland is a parliamentary democracy operating under a constitution, the Bunreacht na hÉireann. Its government is headed by a president and Taoiseach, or prime minister. Ireland’s culture is diverse but broadly similar to those of other European nations. Major differences still exist between its rural and urban areas. The Catholic Church has historically played a significant role in Irish society, though its influence has declined in recent years. Formerly conservative policies on issues such as contraception, divorce, gay marriage, and abortion were lifted in 1985, 1995, 2015, and 2018, respectively. The island’s native language, Gaelic, is now spoken as a first language by about 1,171,000 people in Ireland.
Northern Ireland is a member of the United Kingdom and participates in its political system. In addition to its settled populations, the island is also home to a large community of Travellers, or nomadic people who are now recognized as a separate indigenous ethnic group of Ireland.
References
Hegarty, Neil. The Story of Ireland: A History of the Irish People. Macmillan. 2012.
Hollis, Daniel Webster. The History of Ireland. Greenwood Publishing Group. 2011.
Joyce, Patrick Weston. A Smaller Social History of Ancient Ireland. Longmans, Green, and Co. 1908.
Ranelagh, John O'Beirne. A Short History of Ireland. Cambridge University Press. 2012.
Serhan, Yasmeen. “A 'Quiet Revolution' Comes to Ireland.” The Atlantic, The Atlantic Monthly Group, 26 May 2018, www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2018/05/a-quiet-revolution-comes-to-ireland/561347/.
“The World Factbook: Ireland.” Central Intelligence Agency, Central Intelligence Agency, 24 Oct. 2018, www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ei.html.
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