This rich and readable history of modern Ireland covers the political, social, economic, intellectual, and cultural dimensions of the country's development from the origins of the Irish Question to the present day.

In this edition, a new introductory chapter covers the period prior to Union and a new concluding chapter takes Ireland into the twenty-first century. All material has as been substantially revised and updated to reflect more recent scholarship as well as developments during the eventful years since the previous edition. The text is richly supplemented with maps, photographs, and an extensive bibliography. There is no comparable brief, multidimensional history of modern Ireland.

“A perfect introduction to Irish history for North American students. Hachey and McCaffrey are distinguished historians who bring a wealth of knowledge and nuanced understanding to the most complicated subjects, and they have combined a readable narrative with insightful analysis. The focus of this book is the rise of modern Irish nationalism and the creation of the Irish state, but Hachey and McCaffrey never lose sight of Ireland's social and cultural heritage and the impact of Ireland's great out-migration and the Irish Diaspora. The Irish Experience successfully leads the reader through both the tangled history of Northern Ireland and the fortunes of the Celtic Tiger, right up to the present, providing a brilliant history of the shaping of modern Ireland." — Francis M. Carroll, St. John's College (*)

"The Irish Experience, by two fine historians and teachers, describes in a balanced and very readable way the remarkable political, social, and economic evolution of Ireland from the Union with Britain in 1800 to the Celtic Tiger and the Northern Ireland peace process in our own time. This is an excellent basic text for courses on modern Ireland; broad in coverage but brief enough to permit supplementary readings." — Alan Ward, The College of William and Mary

“Like its predecessors, the third edition is a masterful interweaving of seemingly disparate threads in the fabric of modern Ireland. Objective, inclusive, and concise, this latest update sensitively reveals the various political, economic, social, and religious influences on Irish life from 1800 to the eve of 2010. A genuine pleasure for the historian, and for American students in particular a refreshingly accessible trove. The Recommended Reading list alone would warrant the purchase.” — Gene C. Haley, Harvard University

"Hachey and McCaffrey provide a lucid, balanced narrative of the history of Ireland that traces major themes: the land, the Church, the national movement, the economy and politics, the arts and Irish identity, and how those issues informed Ireland's relationship with Britain, Irish America, Commonwealth partners, Europe and developing countries. Maps and photographs enhance the volume's value as a classroom text." — Maureen Murphy, Hofstra University