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• The Celts
The Celts were commonly thought to have come to Ireland as early as the 6th century BC, with subsequent groups arriving up to the time of Christ. The Celts had deep influence on Ireland. Among all the legacies of the Celts, it is their language that has proved the most lasting. Along with the language, the Celts also brought an instrument of social and cultural unity and a legal system to the island.
Christianity
Christianity was introduced into Ireland some time in the 5th century. Traditionally, it was said to have been brought by Saint Patrick. Although there were some Christians in Ireland before Patrick's arrival, by the time of his death in 461 AD, the whole island was effectively Christian.
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• Early Modern Period
In 1541, Henry Ⅷ declared himself king of Ireland---the first English monarch to do so. Queen ElizabethⅠcontinued and amplified her father’s Irish campaigns. When her army defeated the Irish at the Battle of Kinsale in 1601, the native political system was overthrown and, for the first time, the entire island was controlled by a strong English central government. Because of the repressive policies of the English administration, the English Protestantism was resisted in Ireland. When the new English republic was established under Oliver Cromwell, he took such drastic measures to crush the rebellion on Irish soil that the massacres of his parliamentary army are still recalled today.