Phases of Irish History

"Phases of Irish History" by Eoin MacNeill is a historical exploration of Ireland that examines the story of its people, with a special concentration on Celtic heritage and the growth of Irish culture and language. Written in the early 1900s, the narrative carefully uses old writings and items found from digs to define the ancestry and cultural development of the Irish. In the beginning, the readers gain insight into MacNeill’s view of the old Irish as Celtic, fixing false ideas about who they were. He argues being Celtic has more to do with language than race and points out that ancient Irish and British people didn't know they shared a Celtic background. The author questions common family tree records and asks to be aware of a connection to Celtic past, which guides the path for a wider look at Ireland’s history and how it relates to both old and new customs.