Brian Donovan

There is a perception among many that Ireland has always been an entirely Roman Catholic country. Certainly, in 1961, 95% of the population of the Republic of Ireland stated they were Catholic. This connection had been consciously reinforced by the fledgling Irish Free State following independence in 1922.It was underlined by the partition that divided the country in two, leaving a rump province of Northern Ireland within the United Kingdom, defined as much by its Protestant faith as by its loyalty to

Over Ireland’s history, famine and hardship has forced countless families to make heartwrenching goodbyes, as loved ones travelled overseas to chase new fortunes in foreign lands.  The Irish story is one of migration and resilience. This is reflected in a fact that may surprise you: more people of Irish heritage live outside of Ireland than within it. Over 80 million people worldwide claim Irish ancestry.  Whether they fled the devastation of the Great Famine or sought out religious freedom overseas, your

Bitter religious conflict. Economic hardship. Land dispossession. A thriving literary and musical culture, and the endurance of strong family ties. Ireland’s history is made up of dramatic episodes and strong community spirit alike.   Our Irish ancestors' lives were full of ups and downs – from the joyous baptism of a new family member to wartime deaths and looming poverty, they lived through life events, big and small.   Although less than seven million people live in Ireland, more than 90 million people globally

Officially almost 38 million people were enumerated in the 1921 Census. Its remit was England, Wales, the Isle of Man and a number of British Islands. But not all those recorded were natives of those places. In fact, more than 1.2 million (3.4%) citizens in the 1920s were born elsewhere. The chart below lists where the largest numbers who were born abroad came from: Of course, many more were of foreign heritage too, the children or grandchildren of immigrants. It's more difficult to identify

The Irish War of Independence raged from January 1919 until July 1921. It pitted the Irish Republican Army (IRA) against British soldiers and ultimately ended with the Anglo-Irish Treaty and the formation of the Irish Free State.Some of the most famous names in Irish history were at the forefront of the struggle for independence - Michael Collins, Arthur Griffith and Eamon De Valera. But everyday people also became embroiled in the conflict.Was your family involved? What was life like for them?