Scholars of Irish history chart the pivotal events in the history of modern Ireland while providing fresh perspectives on topics ranging from colonialism and nationalism to political violence, famine, emigration, and feminism.

Part I. Narrative and events -- Conquest, civilization, colonization: Ireland, 1540-1660 / Jane Ohlmeyer -- Ascendancy Ireland, 1660-1800 / Ultán Gillen -- Ireland under the Union, 1801-1922 / John Bew -- Independent Ireland / Fearghal McGarry -- Northern Ireland since 1920 / Niall Ó Dochartaigh -- Twenty-first-century Ireland / Diarmaid Ferriter -- Part II. Topics, themes and developments -- Intellectual history: William King to Edmund Burke / Daniel Carey -- Cultural developments: Young Ireland to Yeats / David Dwan -- Irish modernism and its legacies / Lauren Arrington -- Media and culture in Ireland, 1960-2008 / Maurice Walsh -- Historiography / Richard Bourke -- Religion / Ian McBride -- The Irish language / Vincent Morley -- Ireland and empire / Jill C. Bender -- Women and gender in modern Ireland / Catriona Kennedy -- Political violence / Marc Mulholland -- Famine / Ciara Boylan -- Economy in independent Ireland / Andy Bielenberg -- Nationalisms / Matthew Kelly -- Feminism / Maria Luddy -- Diaspora / Enda Delaney.