The 19th and 20th centuries brought catastrophe, war and eventually peace to Ireland.

The Great Famine (1845-49)

The potato, the staple food of poor Irish farmers, was hit by a fungus called blight. About 1 million people died of starvation and disease; another million emigrated. Britain's government, committed to laissez-faire economics, did little to help: food continued to be exported from Ireland while people starved. Whether this was negligence or genocide is still debated today.

Home Rule, Easter Rising and War

Through the late 1800s and early 1900s, Irish MPs campaigned for Home Rule - their own parliament. The bill passed in 1914 but was suspended for WWI. Frustrated, Irish republicans staged the Easter Rising in Dublin in 1916, declaring an Irish republic. The British executed sixteen leaders, including Patrick Pearse and James Connolly - turning them into martyrs.

An Irish War of Independence (1919-21) led to partition in 1922:

The Irish Free State (later the Republic of Ireland) - 26 counties.
Northern Ireland - 6 counties with a Protestant majority - stayed in the UK.

The Troubles (1968-98)

From 1968, Northern Ireland was torn apart by violence between Catholic nationalists (who wanted to leave the UK) and Protestant unionists (who wanted to stay), with the British army caught in between. The Provisional IRA and loyalist paramilitaries bombed and killed. Around 3,500 people died.

After years of secret talks, peace came with the Good Friday Agreement in 1998, signed by all sides. Power was shared between unionists and nationalists in a new Northern Ireland Assembly.

Year 8 Power & Protest

Ireland 1845-1998: Famine to Good Friday