History Facts 1 – The Battle of The Boyne was an iconic event in Irish history which took place on the 1st July 1690. The Battle of The Boyne is commemorated every year on the 12th July by Protestants who march to celebrate the victory of Protestant King Billy over the Catholics and is known simply as ‘The Twelfth’

History Facts 2 – The famous Irish saying ‘To Hell or to Connaught’ is a result of Oliver Cromwell’s plans for the Irish according to the Act of Settlement 1653 where the Irish people were forced from their lands which were then given to the English. The people had the choice to die or move to Connaught!

History Facts 3 – Irish legend credits St Patrick with the Celtic Cross. It is believed he combined the pagan sun god (the circle) with a traditional Christian cross to create a Celtic cross

History Facts 4 – The Celtic Trinity Knot symbolises the ‘Trinity’ and represents the three forms of God as a single being. God the father, his son Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit

History Facts 5 – From the 12th to the 20th Century, Ireland was not an independent national state

History Facts 6 – Irish soldiers fought in the battles of numerous other countries from the thirty years war fought in Europe to the American Civil War

History Facts 7 – In 1678, half the population of the Caribbean Island of Montserrat were Irish! It is the only other country outside Ireland that has a national holiday on the 17th March, St Patricks Day

History Facts 8 – National Schools were established in Ireland in 1831 by the British Government. Parents no longer had to pay for their children to attend Hedge Schools

History Facts 9 – In the 2012 during the Queen’s Jubilee River Thames Pageant, the barge ‘Gloriana’ displayed flags for the four nations of the United Kingdom, the Saint Patrick’s Cross was flown to represent Northern Ireland instead of the Union Banner also known as the Union Jack

History Facts 10 – The Classical Latin name for the island of Ireland is Hibernia

History Facts 11 – Ireland was never conquered by the Romans, one of only a few Western European countries that the Romans didn’t invade

History Facts 12 – In 1949, Eire becomes a Republic and leaves the Commonwealth

History Facts 13 – Ireland joined the United Nations in 1955

History Facts 14 – On the 30th January 1972, 13 demonstrators in Derry are killed by soldiers from the Parachute Regiment, known as ‘Bloody Sunday’