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Ireland: A Short History (Short Histories) 4th edition by Coohill, Joseph (2014) Paperback
This third edition of Joseph Coohill’s bestselling book has been fully updated to include all the latest political developments in Ireland. Starting with the first prehistoric inhabitants of the island, the book takes us right up to the present day through the Great Famine, Home Rule, the Good Friday Agreement, and beyond, covering all the major events that have shaped the country.Clear and lucid, Coohill’s writing paints an engaging picture of a people for whom history is a key part of present-day reality. Reviewing differing historical interpretations, Coohill allows the reader to come to his/her own conclusions. Highly accessible, yet demonstrating a sophisticated level of analysis, this book will continue to provide a valuable resource to tourists, students and all those wishing to acquaint themselves further with the complex identity of the Irish people.
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First published October 25, 2005
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
April 22, 2025
you ever just get the itch to do a deep dive on Ireland ??
July 21, 2025
rlly solid overview of irish history was rlly fun to read it while i was there id read a chapter and then immediately encounter a reference to that specific topic which was dope as hell. didn’t bring me to tears the way the proclamation of the irish republic did but that’s a big ask for a history book to be fair
July 8, 2018
This is indeed a short history, and it gave me what I was looking for while browsing at Hodges Figgis my last full day in Dublin: a brief overview of Irish history that wouldn't add too many pages to my backlog of books to read. The most interesting thing about this history was that Coohill takes great pains to show you alternative takes on major events. Each chapter ends with an "Interpretations" section telling you how different schools of historical thought, over the years, have portrayed, for example, the English response to the Irish famine. That part's especially useful if you've just been traveling in Ireland, because the Irish tour guides (understandably) paint England in the harshest light in regards to the famine. Coohill gives some balance.
The book's brevity (again, what I was looking for) means that a lot of the spice of history -- the individual personalities, the scenes in battle or in political debate -- get cut in favor of broad strokes. That can make things a little dry, but I don't know how you avoid that trade-off in something so intentionally short. It delivers what it promises.
The book's brevity (again, what I was looking for) means that a lot of the spice of history -- the individual personalities, the scenes in battle or in political debate -- get cut in favor of broad strokes. That can make things a little dry, but I don't know how you avoid that trade-off in something so intentionally short. It delivers what it promises.
June 28, 2025
3.5 stars
Lack of narrative kind of made me lost a couple of times. Great Irish narrator though.
My departing thought:
Damn this place is complicated.
Lack of narrative kind of made me lost a couple of times. Great Irish narrator though.
My departing thought:
Damn this place is complicated.
August 1, 2025
I don’t know if my review counts because I listened to the audio book. Nonetheless, it was an excellent overview of Irish history and provided a great wrap up review and analysis of the themes. It has provided a great deal of context for other, more in-depth Irish history books. Definitely had some spoilers tho. I won’t hold it against this book.
October 17, 2014
I read this book in preparation to a short trip to Ireland this fall. I would much have preferred a more detailed history but had to acquiescence to a more concentrated version for the sake of time. However, this book was successful in providing me with an important backdrop for my visit and edifying me in an understanding of the Irish and how they have influenced the United States.
I was quite shocked to read of the many social disturbances and acts of violence that have characterized Ireland. Beginning in 841, the Vikings spread about Ireland, which some may point to as the genetic basis for the flaring Irish temper. However, in 1066 William of Normandy conquered and began the control over Ireland of the crown of England. This began the distinction between Anglo-Irish (the old English) and Gaelic-Irish (the original natives). Today, Irish society works to revive and sustain the old Gaelic language and customs, much of which has been lost or suppressed by British dominance.
Social disturbances and violence have resulted in the present division of Ireland into The Republic of Ireland, an independent country, and Northern Ireland, which is governed by London. The partition of Ireland occurred in 1921, after the IRA (Irish Republican Army) began a guerrilla war against the British government. From reading the history, it is clear to me that these disturbances are the on-going result of seeds of injustice sown in the 16th century by English settlers, who dispossessed the locals from their land and established plantations, with the support of the British monarchy. In many ways, these plantations are not that different from those established in the United States, which benefited from exploitation of forced labor, and which similarly kindled social unrest that festered over time. As the British so supported the Confederacy in the U.S. Civil war, so they supported the Plantations in Ireland.
Without attempting to recount the entire history in this short review, suffice it to say that much violence and social unrest has occurred in Ireland since the 16th century as a result of continued dispossession of locals from their land and the conflicts between English Protestants and the local Catholic population. It is interesting to explore the “Grace” versus “Works” differences between these two theologies in light of the exploitations performed by the Protestants upon the local Catholic peasantry. The Protestant emphasis upon “Grace” provides release from the sin/guilt of social exploitation and the Catholic emphasis upon “Works” calls for social justice to relieve their plight.
In the late 17th century and early 18th century, the Protestants passed legislation to prevent Catholics from voting, becoming lawyers, being officers in the armed forces, or owning land. They also required governmental employees to openly deny ‘transubstantiation’ and ‘adoration’ of the Virgin Mary. The entire Irish population, regardless of religious affiliation, had to pay tithes to the Anglican Church until 1833. The result of being a colony of Britain was that Ireland was kept poor and the poorest were those who were the least able to interact with the ruling Protestant class: the Catholics. It occurs to me that so much of the history of all nations is a struggle against domination and exploitation by others. Invariably, freedom is often lost because of the few that impose themselves upon the many.
Irish poverty was exacerbated to the point of starvation during the potato famines of the mid-late 19th century, during which a million or more people perished. Other millions emigrated in order to survive (about 3 million to the U.S. and about 1 million to Britain). Conservative governments, especially in Britain, were suddenly confronted with whether or not to provide social welfare to relive the suffering. At the cost of many lives due to starvation, the conservative laissez-faire policies were ultimately unveiled to be barbaric. And even in the face of this, some of the soup kitchens that were eventually established demanded people convert to Protestantism before giving them food.
The famines placed the possibility of emigration permanently in the Irish mind and emigration continues to this day. Because of its poor response, the resentment of the British in Ireland was exacerbated by the famines. Catholics felt they had suffered in the famine because of British-Protestant indifference and Protestants felt that Providence had spared them from hunger precisely because they were not Catholic. Regardless, the fact is that millions died of hunger in the midst of abundance in a neighboring country; and it was abundance the peasantry had helped to create by their serf-like labors over the years! Much more could have been done to relieve suffering if only the political will to do had existed. The reality is that the liberal ideology to respond to these conditions simply wasn’t yet in place.
The Irish Republican Army arose again in 1956, in Northern Ireland, where segregation and discrimination against Catholics continued. Protestants demonstrated against the lowering of the flag over Belfast City Hall to half-mast on the death of Pope John XXIII in 1963. Much violence occurred in Northern Ireland in the 1960’s and there was a continuation of IRA terrorism. The IRA again declared war on the British in 1969.
In 1972 thirteen civilians were shot dead by British Army paratroopers during a banned civil rights demonstration. This has become known as “Bloody Sunday”. Massive protests against these killings were held across Ireland and the British Embassy in Dublin was burned down. The internationally popular Irish rock band U2 released a song entitled “Sunday Bloody Sunday” on its 1983 album “War”, which describes the horror of the troubles in Northern Ireland. The song has since become widely recognized around the world as a social protest tune and the band has ascended to international prominence. The Irish have been leaders in the development of cutting-edge music and the streets and pubs are densely littered with aspiring musicians.
The Irish Republic joined the European Union in 1978-79, with the idea that it would free the country from dependence upon British economic influence and open markets in other countries. The population grew rapidly to nearly 3,500,000. Contraception, which had been long banned, was first permitted in 1979 and censorship of indecent books was relaxed. Condoms were made legal in 1985. However, divorce and abortion were still banned. The ban against divorce was affirmed in a 1986 referendum and upheld by 63.5% to 36.5%. In the 1980's there were several cases of reported visitations by the Virgin Mary in the form of statues that moved, smiled and even spoke. In 2002 Ireland began using the Euro for currency.
In 1985 Margaret Thatcher signed the Anglo-Irish Agreement, which was approved by both London and Dublin and recognized the right of the majority of the people in Northern Ireland to determine their own governance. It is interesting that British domination of India similarly resulted in the division of that country, just as Ireland is now so divided.
Frankly, Ireland is a microcosm in which social grievance has been consolidated into a boiling caldron of conflict. Conflicts between the British and the Irish, Southern Ireland and Northern Ireland, those seeking a sovereign Ireland and those wanting unity with Britain, Protestants and Catholics, capitalists and workers, peasants and masters, etc. Many have wondered if violence is so much a part of the lives and consciousness of Irish people that it could never be eliminated. Ireland is certainly a microcosm within which we have been able to test peaceful solutions.
What works to mend the extreme diversities in Ireland may very well work to mend social disturbances in the rest of the world. To succeed, such a solution must reach to the heart of religion, politics, and social status. It has to be a solution so powerful that none can deny its correctness. It has to be a heart of righteousness, central to basic human decency that fully transcends any desire to harm others because they have violated some religious ritual, political boundary, or social grievance. At its center is the power of forgiveness. Without this heart, the people are like the zombies of war and terrorism referred to by the popular Irish band: ‘The Cranberries’, from Limerick, Ireland. As I stood in the town square of Limerick, I struck up a conversation with three bitter Irishmen that I found just sitting on a wall, drinking beer and smoking cigarettes. It was like talking to someone through a veil or smokescreen, but it clarified for me the radical nature of ‘The Cranberries” protest song: "Zombie". The song doesn’t protest the “events” of violence as much as it protests the ridiculous “state of mind” of a populace who indeed, like zombies, march to the beat of some narrow-minded political or theological agenda, imagining the movement of statues, at the expense of being less attuned to Righteousness.
Local Kilkenny Irishmen
I was quite shocked to read of the many social disturbances and acts of violence that have characterized Ireland. Beginning in 841, the Vikings spread about Ireland, which some may point to as the genetic basis for the flaring Irish temper. However, in 1066 William of Normandy conquered and began the control over Ireland of the crown of England. This began the distinction between Anglo-Irish (the old English) and Gaelic-Irish (the original natives). Today, Irish society works to revive and sustain the old Gaelic language and customs, much of which has been lost or suppressed by British dominance.
Social disturbances and violence have resulted in the present division of Ireland into The Republic of Ireland, an independent country, and Northern Ireland, which is governed by London. The partition of Ireland occurred in 1921, after the IRA (Irish Republican Army) began a guerrilla war against the British government. From reading the history, it is clear to me that these disturbances are the on-going result of seeds of injustice sown in the 16th century by English settlers, who dispossessed the locals from their land and established plantations, with the support of the British monarchy. In many ways, these plantations are not that different from those established in the United States, which benefited from exploitation of forced labor, and which similarly kindled social unrest that festered over time. As the British so supported the Confederacy in the U.S. Civil war, so they supported the Plantations in Ireland.
Without attempting to recount the entire history in this short review, suffice it to say that much violence and social unrest has occurred in Ireland since the 16th century as a result of continued dispossession of locals from their land and the conflicts between English Protestants and the local Catholic population. It is interesting to explore the “Grace” versus “Works” differences between these two theologies in light of the exploitations performed by the Protestants upon the local Catholic peasantry. The Protestant emphasis upon “Grace” provides release from the sin/guilt of social exploitation and the Catholic emphasis upon “Works” calls for social justice to relieve their plight.
In the late 17th century and early 18th century, the Protestants passed legislation to prevent Catholics from voting, becoming lawyers, being officers in the armed forces, or owning land. They also required governmental employees to openly deny ‘transubstantiation’ and ‘adoration’ of the Virgin Mary. The entire Irish population, regardless of religious affiliation, had to pay tithes to the Anglican Church until 1833. The result of being a colony of Britain was that Ireland was kept poor and the poorest were those who were the least able to interact with the ruling Protestant class: the Catholics. It occurs to me that so much of the history of all nations is a struggle against domination and exploitation by others. Invariably, freedom is often lost because of the few that impose themselves upon the many.
Irish poverty was exacerbated to the point of starvation during the potato famines of the mid-late 19th century, during which a million or more people perished. Other millions emigrated in order to survive (about 3 million to the U.S. and about 1 million to Britain). Conservative governments, especially in Britain, were suddenly confronted with whether or not to provide social welfare to relive the suffering. At the cost of many lives due to starvation, the conservative laissez-faire policies were ultimately unveiled to be barbaric. And even in the face of this, some of the soup kitchens that were eventually established demanded people convert to Protestantism before giving them food.
The famines placed the possibility of emigration permanently in the Irish mind and emigration continues to this day. Because of its poor response, the resentment of the British in Ireland was exacerbated by the famines. Catholics felt they had suffered in the famine because of British-Protestant indifference and Protestants felt that Providence had spared them from hunger precisely because they were not Catholic. Regardless, the fact is that millions died of hunger in the midst of abundance in a neighboring country; and it was abundance the peasantry had helped to create by their serf-like labors over the years! Much more could have been done to relieve suffering if only the political will to do had existed. The reality is that the liberal ideology to respond to these conditions simply wasn’t yet in place.
The Irish Republican Army arose again in 1956, in Northern Ireland, where segregation and discrimination against Catholics continued. Protestants demonstrated against the lowering of the flag over Belfast City Hall to half-mast on the death of Pope John XXIII in 1963. Much violence occurred in Northern Ireland in the 1960’s and there was a continuation of IRA terrorism. The IRA again declared war on the British in 1969.
In 1972 thirteen civilians were shot dead by British Army paratroopers during a banned civil rights demonstration. This has become known as “Bloody Sunday”. Massive protests against these killings were held across Ireland and the British Embassy in Dublin was burned down. The internationally popular Irish rock band U2 released a song entitled “Sunday Bloody Sunday” on its 1983 album “War”, which describes the horror of the troubles in Northern Ireland. The song has since become widely recognized around the world as a social protest tune and the band has ascended to international prominence. The Irish have been leaders in the development of cutting-edge music and the streets and pubs are densely littered with aspiring musicians.
The Irish Republic joined the European Union in 1978-79, with the idea that it would free the country from dependence upon British economic influence and open markets in other countries. The population grew rapidly to nearly 3,500,000. Contraception, which had been long banned, was first permitted in 1979 and censorship of indecent books was relaxed. Condoms were made legal in 1985. However, divorce and abortion were still banned. The ban against divorce was affirmed in a 1986 referendum and upheld by 63.5% to 36.5%. In the 1980's there were several cases of reported visitations by the Virgin Mary in the form of statues that moved, smiled and even spoke. In 2002 Ireland began using the Euro for currency.
In 1985 Margaret Thatcher signed the Anglo-Irish Agreement, which was approved by both London and Dublin and recognized the right of the majority of the people in Northern Ireland to determine their own governance. It is interesting that British domination of India similarly resulted in the division of that country, just as Ireland is now so divided.
Frankly, Ireland is a microcosm in which social grievance has been consolidated into a boiling caldron of conflict. Conflicts between the British and the Irish, Southern Ireland and Northern Ireland, those seeking a sovereign Ireland and those wanting unity with Britain, Protestants and Catholics, capitalists and workers, peasants and masters, etc. Many have wondered if violence is so much a part of the lives and consciousness of Irish people that it could never be eliminated. Ireland is certainly a microcosm within which we have been able to test peaceful solutions.
What works to mend the extreme diversities in Ireland may very well work to mend social disturbances in the rest of the world. To succeed, such a solution must reach to the heart of religion, politics, and social status. It has to be a solution so powerful that none can deny its correctness. It has to be a heart of righteousness, central to basic human decency that fully transcends any desire to harm others because they have violated some religious ritual, political boundary, or social grievance. At its center is the power of forgiveness. Without this heart, the people are like the zombies of war and terrorism referred to by the popular Irish band: ‘The Cranberries’, from Limerick, Ireland. As I stood in the town square of Limerick, I struck up a conversation with three bitter Irishmen that I found just sitting on a wall, drinking beer and smoking cigarettes. It was like talking to someone through a veil or smokescreen, but it clarified for me the radical nature of ‘The Cranberries” protest song: "Zombie". The song doesn’t protest the “events” of violence as much as it protests the ridiculous “state of mind” of a populace who indeed, like zombies, march to the beat of some narrow-minded political or theological agenda, imagining the movement of statues, at the expense of being less attuned to Righteousness.
Local Kilkenny Irishmen
July 1, 2025
This book did exactly what it was supposed to do. Hit the bullet points in a long history of Ireland. I learned many new things and took good notes. I think it is also easy to read! Early Irish History was a weak point for me and Coohill painted the picture well. I recommend if your looking for something quick and easy. Also can totally be read not in chronological order because of how the book is structured.
December 2, 2025
The books shows how religion played a major part in many problems Ireland dealt with. It was interesting read, but I wish it went into more of how Ireland was formed and more details on the wars and famines. It did not explain a lot of problems outside of religious problems.
April 1, 2025
Якщо точніше, то це "Коротка ПОЛІТИЧНА історі�� Ірландії".
Тут не про звичаї, народ та історію нації.
Тут про політику, маніпуляції та владу, якою перекидалися як гарячою картоплиною.
Тут про те, що, нажаль, без зброї та жертв не обійтися.
І так само, нажаль (для тих, хто зі зброєю), для досягнення мети зброю прийдеться скласти.
Тут про вибір, а точніше про його відсутність. Бо після першої згадки вголос про незалежність, народ приречений на постійну боротьбу.
Тут не про звичаї, народ та історію нації.
Тут про політику, маніпуляції та владу, якою перекидалися як гарячою картоплиною.
Тут про те, що, нажаль, без зброї та жертв не обійтися.
І так само, нажаль (для тих, хто зі зброєю), для досягнення мети зброю прийдеться скласти.
Тут про вибір, а точніше про його відсутність. Бо після першої згадки вголос про незалежність, народ приречений на постійну боротьбу.
November 17, 2024
I found this book knowing nothing about it but wanting a quick summary of Ireland’s history before I travel to Dublin later this month. And it’s pretty much a perfect book for that. Though it’s written by an academic, it reads pretty clearly and accessibly and has enough variance and tension, without diving too much into details like other “short” histories, that it’s an even enjoyable read at times.
Coohill spends most of his time on nineteenth and twentieth centuries, which is a relief for those who wanna breeze through prehistory and medieval times in Ireland — he touches briefly on Viking invasion and eventual settlement, Norman arrival, and the precarious relationship Irish has both with Britain and a potential ally in France, capped off by the Poynings’ Law, which were generally repressive laws that discouraged Irish customs and said that Irish parliament was subordinate to the British one (mind you, after generations of Ireland being an afterthought to the busy British crown).
Thus lays out the central conflict of Ireland, which exists to present day: That of the loyalists (those who wished to remain loyal to the British crown, were generally protestant, and were congregated most in the northern, industrial part of the country) and the nationalists (wanted Irish independence, were generally Catholic, and stretched across the rest of the country, which was mostly agrarian).
Those separate identities led to rising tensions, differences in political and economic beliefs, land and religious disputes, skepticism of the other ideologies, and eventually manifested in the makeup of the country: First, with some British trying to bring Ireland into the UK, to give them representation in the British parliament, but also to water down their vote in such a system; and eventually, to an Irish civil war, the Troubles, Bloody Sunday, a political compromise to split the island, and more.
Throughout, we get important historical markers, such as the Famine of 1945-48, which killed or forced the emigration of millions of people, reshaping the identity of a whole nationality; Home Rule, and the idea that Dbulin would rule its domestic affairs, while the British parliament retained control of material affairs, foreign relations, the military, currency, and major taxation; and the breakout of WW2, which saw Ireland stay independent, but Northern Ireland join the UK in taking up arms.
Tehre;’s a lot more that I won’t cover here, but all that to say is that this is a really great book that covers the major themes in Irish history, gives 20-ish page chapters on everything from land issues in the early days to the Good Friday agreement, and prepares you for a general understanding of the significant shifts and moments in Ireland’s rich history.
Coohill spends most of his time on nineteenth and twentieth centuries, which is a relief for those who wanna breeze through prehistory and medieval times in Ireland — he touches briefly on Viking invasion and eventual settlement, Norman arrival, and the precarious relationship Irish has both with Britain and a potential ally in France, capped off by the Poynings’ Law, which were generally repressive laws that discouraged Irish customs and said that Irish parliament was subordinate to the British one (mind you, after generations of Ireland being an afterthought to the busy British crown).
Thus lays out the central conflict of Ireland, which exists to present day: That of the loyalists (those who wished to remain loyal to the British crown, were generally protestant, and were congregated most in the northern, industrial part of the country) and the nationalists (wanted Irish independence, were generally Catholic, and stretched across the rest of the country, which was mostly agrarian).
Those separate identities led to rising tensions, differences in political and economic beliefs, land and religious disputes, skepticism of the other ideologies, and eventually manifested in the makeup of the country: First, with some British trying to bring Ireland into the UK, to give them representation in the British parliament, but also to water down their vote in such a system; and eventually, to an Irish civil war, the Troubles, Bloody Sunday, a political compromise to split the island, and more.
Throughout, we get important historical markers, such as the Famine of 1945-48, which killed or forced the emigration of millions of people, reshaping the identity of a whole nationality; Home Rule, and the idea that Dbulin would rule its domestic affairs, while the British parliament retained control of material affairs, foreign relations, the military, currency, and major taxation; and the breakout of WW2, which saw Ireland stay independent, but Northern Ireland join the UK in taking up arms.
Tehre;’s a lot more that I won’t cover here, but all that to say is that this is a really great book that covers the major themes in Irish history, gives 20-ish page chapters on everything from land issues in the early days to the Good Friday agreement, and prepares you for a general understanding of the significant shifts and moments in Ireland’s rich history.
October 9, 2022
Just as Ireland lies on the westerly fringes of Europe, so it has been on the fringes of my interests for a very long time. This changed when I spent a couple of days in Dublin in May 2022 and visited among other things the General Post Office, the location that was central to the Easter Rising in 1916. As far as I was concerned Irish influence on the European continent was minimal, if any, and was, in any case, overshadowed by the massive political and cultural influx from Great Britain. The Troubles in Northern Ireland were a constant factor in the news during my younger years. This has greatly contributed to the picture I had of Ireland, well, at least of Northern Ireland: a distant and somewhat mysterious place with a danger lurking in the shadows, stemming from religious differences. Over the years there have been positive adjustments of my view of Ireland. The great Christian writer Clive Staples Lewis was born in Belfast, a fact that made me think that Northern Ireland may not be such a gloomy place after all. And then of course there is the positive vibe that was spread by Irish rock band U2 and their excellent music. Anyway, in order to get some more insights into Irish history, I bought 'Ireland: A Short History' by Joseph Coohill during my visit to Dublin. I can highly recommend this excellent introduction to Irish history. It gives a broad outline of the struggles, hardships, and successes of the Irish people through the ages. It has helped me to further adjust my picture of Ireland in the sense that there is more than religious differences to explain the difficulties this country is facing.
May 13, 2019
I never marked this as currently reading, mostly because I was unsure if I'd read the whole thing. The last two chapters weren't assigned, but I ultimately decided to finish it before completing the final exam for my Irish Lit class. As histories go, this was a nice introduction. It made me interested in learning more about certain periods of Irish history and was helpful in filling in the gaps created by reading lots of Irish literature but never properly being taught Irish history. (I had a similar experience in my Argentinian history class back in 2016. Such a revelation! Basic historical overviews should really be more of a priority in lit classes.) The 2 stars are just because it was okay--it's not like it was great fun to read. I had to pace around my room and read it aloud to myself just to stay focused/awake most of the time. I'm like that with most nonfiction. I also found a bizarre amount of typos, especially in the penultimate chapter. The copyright page says that this is the 2014 edition of a book first published in 2000, so I imagine that chapter was added in a hurry? Either way, this book could use more copyediting, especially since it's a textbook.
January 27, 2019
I picked this up at the library as background reading, knowing that I'm going on holiday in Ireland later this year. Although I think I'll also want something with more detail on the prehistoric/pre-Christian stuff, this was a really useful and well-written introduction which tied together all sorts of things I'd heard of but not understood about Irish history - including British involvement in the 17th century (biggest lesson: it was hardly new, and Henry II was a scheming so-and-so), Quaker involvement in famine relief, and all sorts of technical terms from the Troubles and the peace process. I especially appreciated the 'Interpretations' section at the end of each chapter, which summarise the different approaches historians have taken to each period; an excellent shortcut for someone like me who has no intention of reading further, but would also be a good start for a bigger research project, or just a reminder of the ways in which writing history is never entirely neutral.
September 1, 2022
Irish history is super complex. This book was an attempt to share a brief overview of that history and the various interpretations that people have of it. Coohill did a great job of summarizing each major time period from prehistoric Ireland till the 21st century. He ended each chapter by giving the various interpretations of traditional, revisionist and post-revisionist view points. But even within those, there are varying opinions. All in all it was a straightforward history book, so not the most fun to read, but it did give me a better understanding of Irish history and how it has led to the 21st century of a divided island of two separate countries. Its a lot more complex than just Protestants vs Catholics!
March 15, 2025
Ireland: A Short History does exactly what it says on the tin. It takes the reader from medieval periods to present day, detailing Ireland’s history, something which is pivotal to Irish culture and way of life. Although the book was short, written by an academic, it did feel a little dry at times. However, I think that’s more of a reflection on me and my experience (or lack of) reading history books; I’m more of a historical fiction kinda gal. That said, I found the majority of it incredibly interesting and feel like I know a little more about Ireland’s vast and rich history going into a new job role involving regular travel to Dublin.
Read
December 9, 2024I thought a history book would make a good audio book option since I do enjoy historical podcasts, but I think this was maybe too broad of a view for me to listen to. The sections with historical info I had some familiarity with felt more engaging and easier to follow, but didn’t go as deep as I would have wanted them too (once again probably just because this book is so broad). Not putting stars since I feel like I’m really unsure about how I felt about it.
July 12, 2025
This is a biased, inaccurate telling of Irish History. It’s rooted in the British narrative of a people they Colonised. It simply echoes British Academic Propaganda through re-writing history. If you’d like a more factual, authentic reading of the Irish People’s History then look no further than Authors educated in Ireland at schools that weren’t founded by the British or influenced by English bias and narratives.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 30, 2025
Coohill's work here is precisely what the title states, a short history of Ireland, but backfilled, so to speak. Essentially, he spend a short portion of the book on the more remote periods, and as he gets chronologically closer to the present day, he gives it more attention. Other than the brevity, its chief flaw is a leftward tilt, one that gets more noticeable as he writes of the latter 20th and early 21st centuries. Overall reaction? Meh.
August 4, 2019
So many histories
Ireland is a country where your version of history tells your take on today's politics and current events. This book tells the stories of Ireland and shares the different versions of Ireland's past. Very readable, informative and great background for a trip to the Emerald Isle.
Ireland is a country where your version of history tells your take on today's politics and current events. This book tells the stories of Ireland and shares the different versions of Ireland's past. Very readable, informative and great background for a trip to the Emerald Isle.
May 30, 2024
Northern Ireland got crazy there at the end I was getting whiplash from all the back and forth.
A surprisingly easy and enjoyable read. A lot of political facts and figures that I forgot when I turned the page but the interpretations at the end of each chapter were a nice summary and also gave good perspective.
A surprisingly easy and enjoyable read. A lot of political facts and figures that I forgot when I turned the page but the interpretations at the end of each chapter were a nice summary and also gave good perspective.
November 2, 2025
A perfectly fine summary of Irish history. There are key moments I felt lacked clarity. I think for example we could have emphasised that Bobby Sands was in prison when he won his election. There were a few instances like that where someone from Ireland such as myself felt the lack of detail could lead to misunderstanding of the situations.
Otherwise great and I listened as an audio book
Otherwise great and I listened as an audio book
December 18, 2018
Though its focus is primarily modern Irish history, this is an excellent resource for understanding the intriguing and complex circumstances that made Ireland (the Republic and Northern Ireland) what it is today.
January 1, 2020
Finished Ireland: A Short History by Joseph Coohill, a Penn State Professor of English and Irish History. I found this book a great thought starter in understanding Irish history as I pursue my Irish genealogy.
April 6, 2022
Very informative and never gets boring at all. At the end of each chapter the author writes an interpretations piece showing how each period of time was perceived by differing groups of people. The book focuses primarily on Irish history from 1800-present.
March 10, 2025
For someone that is fairly unfamiliar with Irish history, this seemed like a good introduction. Coohill notes the limitations of such a short text at the beginning of the book, which I appreciate. With some coverage of very early history, the book delves more deeply into the 18th-20th centuries.
June 2, 2025
After spending more than 4 months in Ireland throughout the last 5 years, I regretted leaving the country not knowing enough of its history. This book was informative, well-written, and engaging! So glad I picked this one to help me learn a bit more about the place I love most 💚🤍🧡
October 26, 2025
A “short history” indeed, but in about 200 pages it provides a nice easy-to-follow primer on the major events and players of Irish history. It’s a good starting point but serious students will need to dig in deeper than this slim volume allows.
It does have an excellent Further Reading section with suggestions for those who want to take a deeper dive.
It does have an excellent Further Reading section with suggestions for those who want to take a deeper dive.
January 9, 2025
An excellent general overview of Irish history. A must-read for those just dipping their toes into the history and culture of Ireland
March 23, 2025
*audiobook*
Informative but boring?
Informative but boring?
April 9, 2025
Forever to read. Just wanted to find out more but in a summary version. This is what it was.
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