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.