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 evidence of the earliest human habitation in Ireland.

The history of the peoples of Ireland will focus on parts of the 12th century work titled Lebor Gabála Érenn meaning "The Book of the Taking of Ireland" or "The Book of Invasions". It is a collection of poems and prose narratives in the Irish language intended to be a history of Ireland and the Irish from the creation of the world to the Middle Ages. It was the work of monks whose understanding of world history was based on the Old Testament. Their work superimposed the history of Ireland onto the Christian timeline from the bible. They would have used information on Irish history from ancient texts and the oral history of Ireland.