Celtic
tribes arrived on the island between 600-150 B.C. Invasions by Norsemen
that began in the late 8th century were finally ended when King Brian
Boru defeated the Danes in 1014. English invasions began in the 12th
century and set off more than seven centuries of Anglo-Irish struggle
marked by fierce rebellions and harsh repressions. A failed 1916 Easter
Monday Rebellion touched off several years of guerrilla warfare that in
1921 resulted in independence from the UK for 26 southern counties; six
northern (Ulster) counties remained part of the UK. In 1948 Ireland
withdrew from the British Commonwealth; it joined the European
Community in 1973. Irish governments have sought the peaceful
unification of Ireland and have cooperated with Britain against
terrorist groups. A peace settlement for Northern Ireland is being
implemented with some difficulties. In 2006, the Irish and British
governments developed and began working to implement the St. Andrews
Agreement, building on the Good Friday Agreement approved in 1998. The
official languages of Ireland are
English
and
Gaelic (Irish).