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To be more precise the Irish Celtic church was separate from the roman catholic church. In 1100s pope Adrian IV asked Henry II to go to Ireland to bring it under the control of the Roman Catholic Church.
The Irish actually have invited the English into Ireland several times to help solve internal conflicts.
Leinster under control of the ruthless Irish King, Dermot MacMurrough, was brutally attacked by an Irish rival Tiernan O'Rourke. Dermot lost Leinster and fled into exile. He later appeared in England and asked King Henry II of England for an army to help take back his land. Henry provided Dermot with troops which were later backed up by Strongbow (Earl of Pembroke). Strongbow would later marry Dermot?s daughter and following Dermots death, Strongbow was declared King of Leinster. From this point England had established a presence and large influence in Ireland.
JM1970s comment about the slaughter continues is utter nonsense. I am from Northern Ireland and I tell you the country has changed dramatically in the last 10 years. The vast majority of people support peace.
Today Ireland is predominately catholic (classified) however very few are practising catholics.
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