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Ireland was never invaded by either the Romans or the Anglo-Saxons.T he message of Christianity was spread in Ireland by a British slave, Parrick, who became the "patron saint" of Ireland. Christianit y brought wriring, which weakened the position of the Druids, who depended on memory and the spoken word. Christian monasteries grew up, frequen tly along the coast. This period is often ca lled Ireland's "golden age" .Five kingdoms grew up in Ireland: Ulster in the north , Mun srer in the sourhwest , Leinster in the southeast, Connaught in the west, with Tara as the seat of the high kin gs of Ireland.As in Wales, people were known by the family grouping they belonged ro. O urside their tribe they had no protect ion and no name of th eir own.In fact the system led to cont inuous cha llenges.It was a land of monasteries and had a flourishing Celtic culture.They had only the name of th eir tribe.The kings in this tribal society were chosen by election.Christianity came to Ireland in about A D 430.The beginnin g of Ireland 's history date s from that time, because for the first time there were people who could write down events.Invaders were unknown and culture flowered .The idea was that the strongest man should lead.

Ireland was never invaded by either the Romans or
the Anglo-Saxons. It was a land of monasteries and
had a flourishing Celtic culture. As in Wales,
people were known by the family grouping they
belonged ro. O urside their tribe they had no
protect ion and no name of th eir own. They had
only the name of th eir tribe. The kings in this
tribal society were chosen by election. The idea was
that the strongest man should lead. In fact the
system led to cont inuous cha llenges.
Five kingdoms grew up in Ireland: Ulster in the
north , Mun srer in the sourhwest , Leinster in the
southeast, Connaught in the west, with Tara as the
seat of the high kin gs of Ireland.
Christianity came to Ireland in about A D 430. The
beginnin g of Ireland 's history date s from that time,
because for the first time there were people who
could write down events. T he message of
Christianity was spread in Ireland by a British slave,
Parrick, who became the "patron saint" of Ireland.
Christianit y brought wriring, which weakened the
position of the Druids, who depended on memory
and the spoken word. Christian monasteries grew
up, frequen tly along the coast.
This period is often ca lled Ireland's "golden age" .
Invaders were unknown and culture flowered . But ir
is also true that th e five kingdoms were often at
war, each trying to gain advantage over the other,
often with great cruel ty.
This "golden age" suddenly ended with the arrival
of Viking raiders, who stole all that the monasteries
had . Very little was left except the stone memorials
that the Vikings could not carry away.
The Vikings, who traded with Constantinop le
(now Istan bul) , Italy, and with central Russia,
brought fresh economic and political action int o
Irish life. Viking raids forced the Irish to un ite . In
859 Ireland chose its first high king, but it was not
an effective solution because of the quarre ls that
took place each time a new high king was chosen.
Viking trade led to the first towns and ports. For
the Celts, who had always lived in small
settlements, these were revolutionary. Dublin,
Ireland 's futur e capital, was founded by the Vikings.
As an effective method of rule the high kingship of
Ireland lasted only twelve years, from 1002 to 1014 ,
while Ireland was ruled by Btian Boru. He is still
looked back on as Ireland 's greatest ruler. He tried
to create one single Ireland , and encouraged the
growth of organ isation - in the Church, in
admin istration, and in learning.
Brian Boru d ied in battle against the Vikings. O ne
of the fi ve Irish kings, th e king of Leinsrer , fought
on the Vikings' side. Just over a century later
another king of Lein ster invited the Norrnans of
England to hel p him against his high king. This
gave the Normans the excuse they wanted to
enlarge their kingdom.