
Celtic tribes settled
on the island in the 4th century B.C. Invasions by Norsemen that
began in the late 8th century were finally ended when King Brian
BORU defeated the Danes in 1014. English invasions began in the
12th century and set off more than seven centuries of Anglo-Irish
struggle marked by fierce rebellions and harsh repressions. A failed
1916 Easter Monday Rebellion touched off several years of guerrilla
warfare that in 1921 resulted in independence from the UK for 26
southern counties; six northern (Ulster) counties remained part
of the United Kingdom. In 1948 Ireland withdrew from the British
Commonwealth; it joined the European Community in 1973. Irish governments
have sought the peaceful unification of Ireland and have cooperated
with Britain against terrorist groups. A peace settlement for Northern
Ireland, known as the Good Friday Agreement and approved in 1998,
is currently being implemented.. LOCATION:
Western Europe, occupying five-sixths
of the island of Ireland in the North Atlantic Ocean, west of Great
Britain CLIMATE: Temperate
maritime; modified by North Atlantic Current; mild winters, cool
summers; consistently
humid; overcast about half the time BORDERS:
UK 360 km