This course will examine the geological origin of the island of Ireland over 430 million years ago and a history of events since then including a history of the first peoples to arrive in Ireland after the last ice age that ended about 12,500 years ago.

The geological origin of Ireland is based on studies that provide evidence on the formation of the earth's surface over the last four and a half billion years.  The studies document the movements on the earth's surface that have provided us with the particular arrangement of land and water on the planet that we experience today.

During the ice age Ireland was completely covered by ice that was up to two miles thick. This would have pulverized rock and bone and eradicated all evidence of human settlements from the preceding 2.5 million-year period of human existence. The course will include the currently available scientific…