This course provides an overview of Irish history from prehistoric times until Brexit. We will proceed chronologically because this is the only way to make sense of the fascinating history of Éire which is heroic and tragic in equal measure. The course will explore the different influences on Ireland and its people – from Christian missionaries to English settlers. Starting with prehistoric Ireland, we will move on to the medieval period and the Norman conquest. Next, we will discuss early modern Ireland (1600-1800) which was probably the period of greatest upheaval in the history of the island. The consequences of the early modern period were felt all throughout the nineteenth century which saw Catholic emancipation, famine, and the Home Rule movement. This ultimately led to the Two Irelands of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries and the current Brexit complications.