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Dublin Timeline
8000 BC Neolithic farmers populate Ireland and erect monuments of early spiritual architecture
from 500BC The arrival of the Celts
from 300AD Advent and the golden age of Christianity in Ireland
from 800AD The Vikings arrive
1014 The Battle of Clontarf led by the King of Munster; Brian Ború puts an end to the Viking era
1169 The first Anglo-Normans arrive under the leadership of Strongbow and take over Dublin
1171 King Henry II creates an area of English power, known as 'the Pale'
1536-1540 Henry VIII initiates the Reformation, dissolves all monasteries and abbeys
1541 Henry VIII declares himself the first English King of Ireland
1607 The 'flight of the Earls' results in Protestant settlements in the northern provinces of Ireland
1690 William of Orange wins the Battle of the Boyne and Penal Laws are introduced. Catholic Irish, now deprived of the right to own land, migrate to Dublin, outnumbering the Protestant population.
1782 Grattan succeeds in securing Irish parliamentary independence. Anglo-Irish relations enter a turbulent state and rebellions lay the foundation for Irish republicanism
1801 The Act of Union (1 January) joins Ireland to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
1823 Founding the Catholic Association, Daniel O'Connell starts a campaign for Catholic emancipation
1845-1849 The potato famine sees millions die
1858 Foundation of the Fenian movement
1870 Charles Stewart Parnell, the head of the Irish Land League, fights for the right of tenant farmers to obtain land
1880s Celtic Revival sees the foundation of the GAA, the Gaelic League and the Irish Literary Theatre
1900s Housing conditions in Dublin are appalling, with many residing in slums
1914 Irish Home Rule finally reaches the statute-books in the Government of Ireland Act, but is suspended indefinitely with the arrival of the first world war
1916 The Easter Rising: Irish nationalists proclaim the Irish Republic, paving the way for the War for Independence (1919-1921)
1922 The Ango-Irish Treaty provides 'dominion status' to the Irish Free State, although six counties in the north remain under English rule. Civil war breaks out between pro- and anti-treaty sides
1931 The Public Safety Act restores some peace on the streets of Dublin
1932 Eamon de Valera gains power
1937 A new constitution is penned for the Irish Free State
1949 The Republic of Ireland is officially inaugurated on Easter Monday
1972 Bloody Sunday
1973 Ireland joins the European Economic Community
1985 The Anglo-Irish Agreement is signed and followed by IRA bombings
1990s The Celtic Tiger transforms Ireland
1992 The 'X-case' wins the right to perform the first abortion in Ireland if there is risk to the mother’s life
1993 Homosexuality is decriminalised
1995 Divorce is legalised
1996 Organised and drug related crime is on the up in Dublin, culminating in the murder of journalist Veronica Guerin. Legislation is passed which ensures that formerly untouchable criminals are brought to justice
1998 Good Friday Agreement is signed and followed by Omagh bombing by the Real IRA
2002 Ireland introduces the euro
2004 Ireland assumes presidency of the EU. The smoking ban is introduced.
from 500BC The arrival of the Celts
from 300AD Advent and the golden age of Christianity in Ireland
from 800AD The Vikings arrive
1014 The Battle of Clontarf led by the King of Munster; Brian Ború puts an end to the Viking era
1169 The first Anglo-Normans arrive under the leadership of Strongbow and take over Dublin
1171 King Henry II creates an area of English power, known as 'the Pale'
1536-1540 Henry VIII initiates the Reformation, dissolves all monasteries and abbeys
1541 Henry VIII declares himself the first English King of Ireland
1607 The 'flight of the Earls' results in Protestant settlements in the northern provinces of Ireland
1690 William of Orange wins the Battle of the Boyne and Penal Laws are introduced. Catholic Irish, now deprived of the right to own land, migrate to Dublin, outnumbering the Protestant population.
1782 Grattan succeeds in securing Irish parliamentary independence. Anglo-Irish relations enter a turbulent state and rebellions lay the foundation for Irish republicanism
1801 The Act of Union (1 January) joins Ireland to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
1823 Founding the Catholic Association, Daniel O'Connell starts a campaign for Catholic emancipation
1845-1849 The potato famine sees millions die
1858 Foundation of the Fenian movement
1870 Charles Stewart Parnell, the head of the Irish Land League, fights for the right of tenant farmers to obtain land
1880s Celtic Revival sees the foundation of the GAA, the Gaelic League and the Irish Literary Theatre
1900s Housing conditions in Dublin are appalling, with many residing in slums
1914 Irish Home Rule finally reaches the statute-books in the Government of Ireland Act, but is suspended indefinitely with the arrival of the first world war
1916 The Easter Rising: Irish nationalists proclaim the Irish Republic, paving the way for the War for Independence (1919-1921)
1922 The Ango-Irish Treaty provides 'dominion status' to the Irish Free State, although six counties in the north remain under English rule. Civil war breaks out between pro- and anti-treaty sides
1931 The Public Safety Act restores some peace on the streets of Dublin
1932 Eamon de Valera gains power
1937 A new constitution is penned for the Irish Free State
1949 The Republic of Ireland is officially inaugurated on Easter Monday
1972 Bloody Sunday
1973 Ireland joins the European Economic Community
1985 The Anglo-Irish Agreement is signed and followed by IRA bombings
1990s The Celtic Tiger transforms Ireland
1992 The 'X-case' wins the right to perform the first abortion in Ireland if there is risk to the mother’s life
1993 Homosexuality is decriminalised
1995 Divorce is legalised
1996 Organised and drug related crime is on the up in Dublin, culminating in the murder of journalist Veronica Guerin. Legislation is passed which ensures that formerly untouchable criminals are brought to justice
1998 Good Friday Agreement is signed and followed by Omagh bombing by the Real IRA
2002 Ireland introduces the euro
2004 Ireland assumes presidency of the EU. The smoking ban is introduced.
