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HIS21100

Academic Year 2025/2026

A History of Ireland: Politics, Culture, and Society (HIS21100)

Subject:
History
College:
Arts & Humanities
School:
History
Level:
2 (Intermediate)
Credits:
5
Module Coordinator:
Assoc Professor Fionnuala Walsh
Trimester:
Autumn
Mode of Delivery:
On Campus
Internship Module:
No
How will I be graded?
Letter grades

Curricular information is subject to change.

This module examines the history of Ireland, taking a wide view of the island’s history, from the introduction of Christianity to Ireland until the present day. The module aims to provide students with a broad outline of Irish history, introducing them to important aspects of Irish history and culture.

About this Module

Learning Outcomes:

By the end of the module, students will be able to:

1. Demonstrate an in-depth knowledge and critical understanding of the history of Ireland, including key themes such as conquest, religion, land transfer, political change and rebellion, between c.450 and 2000.

2. Evaluate the political, cultural, social, and religious developments in the history of Ireland, and their legacy for modern Ireland.

3. Demonstrate the ability to formulate and achieve a piece of critical and reflective historical writing, using independent research and critical analysis.

4. Examine and critically analyse/evaluate primary sources in their historical contexts, understanding their strengths, limitations, and value.

5. Engage in independent and group work in seminars, developing confidence and skills through debating issues, communicating and discussing complex concepts.

6. Analyse and evaluate the contributions made by scholars to historiographical debates.

7. Engage in critical reflection on their own learning and performance, taking increased ownership of this process.

Indicative Module Content:

Week 1 Early Christian Ireland: History and culture

Week 2 Medieval Ireland: The arrival of the Vikings

Week 3 Late Medieval Ireland: The arrival of the Anglo-Normans

Week 4 ‘The Incomplete conquest’: Ireland in the sixteenth century

Week 5 The devastation of war: Ireland in the seventeenth century

Week 6 Peace and the Protestant Ascendancy: Eighteenth-century Ireland

Week 7 Catholic emancipation and the Great Famine

Week 8 READING WEEK

Week 9 Emigration and land: Social and demographic change in nineteenth-century Ireland

Week 10 The Great War and the Irish War of Independence

Week 11 Ireland during the independence years and the Second World War

Week 12 Contemporary Ireland: The 1950s to the present day

Student Effort Hours:
Student Effort Type Hours
Specified Learning Activities

45

Autonomous Student Learning

45

Lectures

11

Seminar (or Webinar)

11

Total

112


Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
This module focuses on a weekly lecture to provide overviews of topics, with focus upon key historical trends, debates and events. The lectures use both secondary and primary sources. Autonomous learning is nurtured through required preparatory reading each week, along with regular learning journals through the term and a final written assignment. Key research, writing and historiographical skills are explicitly incorporated into the module.

Generative AI may not be used for assessments in this module. If you have any concerns about what is included in the remit of generative AI, please consult with your Module Coordinator.

Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations

Not applicable to this module.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Not applicable to this module.
 

Assessment Strategy
Description Timing Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade In Module Component Repeat Offered
Assignment(Including Essay): 2,000-word essay Week 14 Graded No
60
No
Participation in Learning Activities: Class participation Week 1, Week 2, Week 3, Week 4, Week 5, Week 6, Week 7, Week 8, Week 9, Week 10, Week 11, Week 12 Graded No
10
No
Assignment(Including Essay): 1000 word analysis of an assigned primary source document Week 8 Graded No
30
No

Carry forward of passed components
No
 

Resit In Terminal Exam
Spring No
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 

Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Feedback on the document analysis is given through Brightspace. Feedback on the end-of-semester Essay Assignment will also be given through Brightspace.

Name Role
David Nicoll Lecturer / Co-Lecturer