Outside Influence in Irish History
From the Celts to the Tudors, the course of Irish History has always been wrought by outsiders. Geography and in-fighting has continuously prevented a strong Irish kingdom; and so a hybrid culture of several ancient and modern ways of life, the Irish people and state is a cultural cornucopia. In actuality there are is no Irish race, the small island has swallowed various peoples and assimilated most who have conquered or laid claim to her. Even today Ireland is struggling to cope with an outside presence in their land, as the conflict with the British in Northern Ireland continues. Although it is unclear who first inhabited Ireland, the Celts had the earliest profound impact upon the Irish. Folklore based around Celtic myths survive, as the basis for what we would now call Irish customs is centered around Celtic culture and practices. ... The Celts displayed superior weaponry and military tactics and the native Irish had little chance to defend themselves. ... Poets called fili’s were important figures in Celtic-Irish society, Ollamh’s were more powerful poets who could glorify heroes or in some cases depose kings (Irish Experience, p. ... The Celts irrefutably can be credited for creating a basis for which Irish culture would build on, and can still be recognized in modern Irish culture. The next outside entity that altered the cultural and political Irish landscape was not nearly as large as the Celts, but arguably just as influential. ... The influence of these Roman traders inspired arguably the most famous Christian Saint. ... He escaped to Europe and became a bishop, and upon returning to Ireland, he set out to convert the pagan Irish. ... Irish monks accomplished great feats in converting large areas of Europe, known for their scholarly ways, the term Irish (Scotus) and scholar became virtually synonymous. (Irish Experience, p. ... The Vikings also had a large part in molding Irish history.