to the northwest of continental Europe
. It is the third-largest island in Europe
and the twentieth-largest island on Earth. To its east is the larger island of Great Britain
, from which it is separated by the Irish Sea
.
Politically, the island is divided
between the Republic of Ireland
, which covers just under five-sixths of the island, and Northern Ireland
, a part of the United Kingdom
, which covers the remainder and is located in the northeast of the island.
456 St. Patrick returns to Ireland as a missionary bishop.
1264 The Parliament of Ireland meets at Castledermot in County Kildare, the first definitively known meeting of this Irish legislature.
1487 The ten-year-old Lambert Simnel is crowned in Christ Church Cathedral in Dublin, Ireland with the name of Edward VI in a bid to threaten King Henry VII's reign.
1580 After a three-day siege, the English Army beheads over 600 Irish and Papal soldiers and civilians at Dún an Óir, Ireland.
1625 Charles I becomes King of England, Scotland and Ireland as well as claiming the title King of France.
1631 The sack of Baltimore: the Irish village of Baltimore is attacked by Algerian pirates.
1649 New Ross town, Co. Wexford, Ireland, surrenders to Oliver Cromwell.
1661 King Charles II of England, Scotland and Ireland is crowned in Westminster Abbey.
1691 Battle of Aughrim (Julian calendar) – The decisive victory of William III of England's forces in Ireland.
1742 George Frideric Handel's oratorio ''Messiah'' makes its world-premiere in Dublin, Ireland.