WI: Ireland united since Brian Boru

Had Brian Boru managed to create a sustained united Ireland in the early 11th century, how would Ireland have developed compared to other countries such as France and England through the rest of the Middle Ages to the present day?
 

Vexacus

Banned
Had Brian Boru managed to create a sustained united Ireland in the early 11th century, how would Ireland have developed compared to other countries such as France and England through the rest of the Middle Ages to the present day?

It's possible that the General would not have been shot in the back by a coward. Ireland might not be under UK rule but a sovereign nation
 
At the very least, the Normans wouldn't have invaded Ireland when they did OTL (1169). If Leinster is part of a united Ireland, Diarmait Mac Murchada wouldn't have been King of Leinster in the first place and wouldn't be ousted, so he wouldn't invite the Normans.

Assuming Ireland remains united under a sole monarch through the Middle Ages, I doubt you would wind up with Hiberno-Normans. Without a history of English presence in Ireland, the island may or may not be somehow absorbed by the British later in history. Perhaps their relation would be more like Portugal and Spain, with a dominant native language in modern Ireland and some minor colonial success.
 
I've thought of this myself. I think England would have been hard-pressed to take on a united Ireland. Especially since Ireland would no doubt have established close alliances with France and Scotland. Barring a dynastic union (like what happened with Scotland), Ireland would almost certainly remain independent today. There would probably be some Irish colonies in the New World, although they might have been swallowed up later on.

There's a pretty good chance that Ireland might today be a constitutional monarchy. Gaelic would almost certainly be the predominant language. And there's a good chance of at least some Gaelic speakers in the New World. They might be citizens of a former Irish colony gone independent. They might be akin to Aruba or Guadeloupe, one of the last colonies. Or they might be like Quebec, a Gaelic-speaking region within a larger nation.
 
Urgh. Irish please, not Gaelic. Gaelic ain't a language unless you're referring to the derivative tongue Scots Gaelic.


Would something akin to Scotland be a marker? I know Wales was a lot more fragmented at this time but you do have Cambro-Normans and Scot-Normans from encroaching north and west.

Maybe it becomes more of a seafaring nation since Boru was alot less xenophobic against the Norse. The Islesmen were a good microcosm of Norse-Gael culture, it could see raiding begin to get popular again along the British or French coast.
 
Top