Changes

*Chappell, Bill (September 20, 2018). [https://www.npr.org/2018/09/20/649959209/ireland-plans-to-offer-abortions-for-free-as-ban-is-officially-repealed Ireland Plans To Offer Abortions For Free, As Ban Is Officially Repealed]. ''NPR''. Retrieved September 20, 2018.

*Chappell, Bill (September 20, 2018). [https://www.npr.org/2018/09/20/649959209/ireland-plans-to-offer-abortions-for-free-as-ban-is-officially-repealed Ireland Plans To Offer Abortions For Free, As Ban Is Officially Repealed]. ''NPR''. Retrieved September 20, 2018.

*Folley, Aris (September 21, 2018). [https://thehill.com/policy/international/407729-ireland-to-offer-free-abortions Ireland to offer free abortions after ban's repeal]. ''The Hill''. Retrieved September 21, 2018.

*Folley, Aris (September 21, 2018). [https://thehill.com/policy/international/407729-ireland-to-offer-free-abortions Ireland to offer free abortions after ban's repeal]. ''The Hill''. Retrieved September 21, 2018.

*Murphy, James (September 23, 2018). [https://www.thenewamerican.com/world-news/europe/item/30145-irish-lawmakers-look-to-make-abortions-free Irish Lawmakers Look to Make Abortions Free]. ''The New American''. Retrieved September 23, 2018.</ref> In 2019, Irish voters removed restrictions on divorce.<ref>Wheaton, Sarah (May 26, 2019). [https://www.politico.eu/article/ireland-marriage-referendum-irish-voters-back-loosening-divorce-laws/ Irish voters back loosening divorce laws]. ''Politico''. Retrieved May 26, 2019.</ref> In several other referendums, the country abandoned its formerly strict adherence to traditional [[Christian]] morality.  In furtherance of the [[homosexual agenda]], a complete ban on [[conversion therapy]] is proposed by the government of [[Ireland]] in 2022.<ref>https://www.irishtimes.com/news/social-affairs/government-to-introduce-ban-on-conversion-therapy-aimed-at-transgender-people-1.4881194</ref>

*Murphy, James (September 23, 2018). [https://www.thenewamerican.com/world-news/europe/item/30145-irish-lawmakers-look-to-make-abortions-free Irish Lawmakers Look to Make Abortions Free]. ''The New American''. Retrieved September 23, 2018.</ref> In 2019, Irish voters removed restrictions on divorce.<ref>Wheaton, Sarah (May 26, 2019). [https://www.politico.eu/article/ireland-marriage-referendum-irish-voters-back-loosening-divorce-laws/ Irish voters back loosening divorce laws]. ''Politico''. Retrieved May 26, 2019.</ref> In several other referendums, the country abandoned its formerly strict adherence to traditional [[Christian]] morality.  In furtherance of the [[homosexual agenda]], a complete ban on [[conversion therapy]] is proposed by the government of Ireland in 2022.<ref>https://www.irishtimes.com/news/social-affairs/government-to-introduce-ban-on-conversion-therapy-aimed-at-transgender-people-1.4881194</ref>

Heterosexual marriage in Ireland has declined, while same-sex marriages (which often result in divorce) have increased.  The average age of marriage has become quite old in Ireland: "the average age for brides was 35.4 years and 37.4 years for grooms in opposite-sex marriages," while about 40 years old for same-sex marriages in both genders.<ref>https://www.msn.com/en-ie/lifestyle/wedding/marriages-in-ireland-jumped-81-25-in-2021-as-covid-restrictions-eased/ar-AAWJhzX</ref>

Heterosexual marriage in Ireland has declined, while same-sex marriages (which often result in divorce) have increased.  The average age of marriage has become quite old in Ireland: "the average age for brides was 35.4 years and 37.4 years for grooms in opposite-sex marriages," while about 40 years old for same-sex marriages in both genders.<ref>https://www.msn.com/en-ie/lifestyle/wedding/marriages-in-ireland-jumped-81-25-in-2021-as-covid-restrictions-eased/ar-AAWJhzX</ref>

===Political Parties===

===Political Parties===

'''Fianna Fail''': (Pronounced Fee-Na Fall which is Irish for 'Wariers of Destiny'). Ireland's 3rd largest political party, they do not class themselves as either left or right wing but are generally considered centrist and traditionally the choice for republicans (in the Irish sense, meaning supporters of a United Ireland) due to its foundation by Eamon de Valera; considered by his supporters to be the greatest of all Irish nationalists. Fianna Fail is traditionally a Populist party, spearheading the disease and slum eradication programme's of the 1950s and 1960s. Nowadays however, it is considered to be on the pragmatic centre as well as supportive of the construction sector and its representatives. Led by Micháel Mairtin. <ref>[http://www.fiannafail.ie/]</ref>

'''Fianna Fáil''': (Pronounced Fee-Na Fall which is Irish for 'Wariers of Destiny'). Ireland's 3rd largest political party, they do not class themselves as either left or right wing but are generally considered centrist and traditionally the choice for republicans (in the Irish sense, meaning supporters of a United Ireland) due to its foundation by Eamon de Valera; considered by his supporters to be the greatest of all Irish nationalists. Fianna Fáil is traditionally a Populist party, spearheading the disease and slum eradication programme's of the 1950s and 1960s. Nowadays however, it is considered to be on the pragmatic centre as well as supportive of the construction sector and its representatives. Led by Micháel Mairtin.<ref>[http://www.fiannafail.ie/]</ref>

'''Fine Gael''': (Pronounced Finna Gale, Irish for 'Family of the Irish'). Ireland's largest party. Fine Gael is traditionally socially and fiscally conservative. Traditionally the party of Big Business and the farming community, although generally liberal on social issues (though probably not by American standards) Under the leadership of [[Garret FitzGerald]] in the 1980s, the party embraced [[social democracy]]. Today the party likes to characterize itself as a party of the "progressive centre". Led by [[Enda Kenny]].<ref>[http://www.finegael.com/index.cfm]</ref>

'''Fine Gael''': (Pronounced Finna Gale, Irish for 'Family of the Irish'). Ireland's largest party. Fine Gael is traditionally socially and fiscally conservative. Traditionally the party of Big Business and the farming community, although generally liberal on social issues (though probably not by American standards) Under the leadership of [[Garret FitzGerald]] in the 1980s, the party embraced [[social democracy]]. Today the party likes to characterize itself as a party of the "progressive centre". Led by [[Enda Kenny]].<ref>[http://www.finegael.com/index.cfm]</ref>

Two hundred years of Viking invasion and settlement was later followed by a Norman conquest in the 12th century. The Norman conquest resulted in the assimilation of the Norman settlers into Irish society. The early 17th century saw the arrival of Scottish and English Protestants, sent as colonists to the north of Ireland and the Pale around Dublin.  

Two hundred years of Viking invasion and settlement was later followed by a Norman conquest in the 12th century. The Norman conquest resulted in the assimilation of the Norman settlers into Irish society. The early 17th century saw the arrival of Scottish and English Protestants, sent as colonists to the north of Ireland and the Pale around Dublin.  

In 1800 the Irish Parliament passed the Act of Union with Great Britain, and Ireland was an official part of the United Kingdom until 1921. Religious freedom, outlawed in the 18th century, was restored in 1829, but this victory for the Irish Catholic majority was overshadowed by a severe economic depression and the great famine from 1846-48 when the potato crop failed. Millions died, and the millions that emigrated spawned the first mass wave of Irish emigration to the United States. A decade later, in 1858, the Irish Republican Brotherhood (IRB—also known as the Fenians) was founded as a secret society dedicated to armed rebellion against the British. An aboveground political counterpart, the Home Rule Movement, was created in 1874, advocating constitutional change for independence.  

In 1800 the Irish Parliament passed the Act of Union with Great Britain, and Ireland was an official part of the United Kingdom until 1921. Religious freedom, outlawed in the 18th century, was restored in 1829, but this victory for the Irish Catholic majority was overshadowed by a severe economic depression and the great famine from 1846 to 1848 when the potato crop failed. Millions died, and the millions that emigrated spawned the first mass wave of Irish emigration to the United States. A decade later, in 1858, the Irish Republican Brotherhood (IRB—also known as the Fenians) was founded as a secret society dedicated to armed rebellion against the British. An aboveground political counterpart, the Home Rule Movement, was created in 1874, advocating constitutional change for independence.  

Galvanized by the leadership of Charles Stewart Parnell, the party was able to force British governments after 1885 to introduce several home rule bills. The turn of the century witnessed a surge of interest in Irish nationalism, including the founding of Sinn Féin ("Ourselves Alone") as an open political movement.  

Galvanized by the leadership of Charles Stewart Parnell, the party was able to force British governments after 1885 to introduce several home rule bills. The turn of the century witnessed a surge of interest in Irish nationalism, including the founding of Sinn Féin ("Ourselves Alone") as an open political movement.  

*  Bartlett, Thomas and Keith Jeffrey, eds. ''A Military History of Ireland'' (1996)  

*  Bartlett, Thomas and Keith Jeffrey, eds. ''A Military History of Ireland'' (1996)  

*  Boyce, D. George and Alan O’day. ''The Making of Modern Irish History: Revisionism and the Revisionist Controversy'' 1996 [http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=103075467 online edition]

*  Boyce, D. George and Alan O’day. ''The Making of Modern Irish History: Revisionism and the Revisionist Controversy'' 1996 [http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=103075467 online edition]

*  Cosgrove, Art. "The Writing of Irish Medieval History", I.H.S., xxvii (1990), 97-111

*  Cosgrove, Art. "The Writing of Irish Medieval History", I.H.S., xxvii (1990), 97–111

*  Cullen, L. M. ''The Emergence of Modern Ireland, 1600-1900'' (Dublin, 1981)  

*  Cullen, L. M. ''The Emergence of Modern Ireland, 1600-1900'' (Dublin, 1981)  

* Cunliffe, Barry et al., ed.  ''The Penguin Atlas of British and Irish History.'' 320 pp.   

* Cunliffe, Barry et al., ed.  ''The Penguin Atlas of British and Irish History.'' 320 pp.