Long ago all the people of Ireland were known as Celts. They had their own language, way of life and music. There were many different kings in Ireland and they often fought each other.

In the 13th century an Irish king invited the English to go to Ireland and help him in a war. The English went to Ireland and stayed there. Over the next few hundred years, the English gradually conquered the whole of Ireland.

Settlers and Landlords

Many Irish did not like the English and often rebelled. In the 17th century the British government encouraged Scots and English settlers in Ireland to live on land taken off the Irish. Most of the settlers were Protestants, whilst most Irish people were Catholics. From 1801, Ireland was ruled from London.

Liverpool and Ireland

The connection between Liverpool and Ireland is very old. The port of Liverpool was built in the 13 th century because it was close to Ireland and a good place to send ships filled with soldiers to Ireland.

In 1845 a terrible famine started in Ireland . The famine lasted for several years and during this time over a million Irish refugees escaped from Ireland and went to live in other countries and many came to Liverpool.

The arrival of so many Irish people in Liverpool, in the space of just a few years, changed Liverpool forever.

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