c.3000BC

Megalithic tombs first constructed.

c.500BC

Celts arrive.

c.900BC

Ireland divided into four kingdoms: Ulster, Leinster, Munster and Connaught.

432

Traditional date for the arrival of St. Patrick in Ireland.

795

Viking invasion. Previous incursions had been more like raids.

1014

Brian Boru defeats Vikings at Clontarf, but is murdered.

1169

Dermot MacMurrough, exiled king of Leinster, invites help from 'Strongbow'.

1171

Anglo Norman invasion, "the Pale" established around Dublin.

1172

Pope declares Henry II of England feudal lord of Ireland.

1366

Statutes of Kilkenny forbid intermarriage of English and Irish.

1534-40

Failed insurrection by Lord Offaly.

1541

Henry VIII proclaimed king (rather than feudal lord) of Ireland.

1558-1603

Reign of Elizabeth I. Plantation begins. System of 32 counties adopted.

1595-1603

Uprising of Hugh O'Neill and Red Hugh O'Donnell. Ends in defeat at Battle of Kinsale in 1602.

1607

Flight of the Earls of Tyrone and Tyrconnell. Their lands declared forfeit.

1641

Charles I's policies lead to insurrection in Ulster and Civil War in England.

1649

Cromwell invades Ireland.

1653

Act of Settlement. Cromwell takes Catholic lands, gives them to Protestant settlers.

1689-90

Battle of the Boyne 12 July. James 11 defeated by William of Orange.

1704

Penal Code enacted. Catholics barred from voting, education and military. Protestant Ascendancy begins.

1782

British declare Irish independence, but in name only.

1795

Foundation of the Orange Order.

1798

Wolfe Tone's uprising defeated. Reprisals include mass executions and transportation to Australia. Wearing green made a capital offence.

1801

Act of Union. Ireland becomes part of Britain.

1829

Catholic Emancipation Act passed after Daniel O'Connell elected as MP.

1845

Potato Blight causes major crop failures.

1846-50

The Great Famine. Millions die or emigrate to the New World.

1879-82

The Land War. Parnell encourages boycott of repressive landlords. Britain agrees to home rule for Ireland.

1914

Home Rule postponed because of outbreak of World War I.

1916

Easter Rising. Leaders executed, causing public opinion to swing to the martyrs.

1919-21

War between Britain and Ireland. Anglo Irish Treaty signed 6 December.

1922

Irish Free State and Northern Ireland created. Civil war follows.

1926

De Valera founds Fianna Fail [Soldiers of Destiny] party.

1932

De Valera elected, Fianna Fail takes power.

1936

IRA declared illegal.

1964

Campaign for civil rights in Northern Ireland begins.

1968-69

The Troubles begin with riots between Catholics and Protestants. British troops called in.

1971

Provisional IRA begins campaign to oust British troops from Ireland.

1972

UK and Republic of Ireland join European Community. 'Bloody Sunday' in Derry.

1985

Anglo-Irish Agreement signed by Garrett FitzGerald and Margaret Thatcher.

1994

IRA and Protestant groups agree to a ceasefire.

1998

Good Friday Agreement signed 10 April. Since then, sporadic outbreaks of violence by radical groups on both sides have failed to derail the peace process.