About the People

The native Irish people are a mixture of several ethnic backgrounds. From north of the Alps, the Celts invaded early on, only to be dominated by the Vikings from Scandinavia, then the Normans from what is now France and, finally, the Anglo Saxons from what is now Great Britain. Even a Spanish line runs through the Irish from the Sailors of the Spanish Armada that came to ruin off the Irish coast. Each of these invading waves brought its own cultural and genetic characteristics, and in turn, each became Irish as the years went by.

The Irish have always been a passionate people who pride themselves in their history of local wars. The early religious practices came from the spiritualistic Druid religion, and the Irish ballads still reflect their lusty outlook on life. In the 5th and 6th centuries, Christianity spread widely through Ireland and Scotland. The Celtic Christians were Sabbath-keepers deriving their doctrine from the Bible. The famous Patrick and Columba were Sabbath-keepers. By the 7th century, the Roman church had almost completely taken over the Celtic centers of learning and a long night of darkness descended on the Irish people.

Enduring spiritual domination of the Roman church and centuries of economic and political turmoil, the Irish have suffered deeply for centuries. While outgoing and friendly, the Irish express a deep spiritual pain that keeps the pubs much fuller than the churches.

People-Group Stats

• Population: 5.4 million
• Language: English
• Religion: 95% Roman Catholic