The Easter Rising of 1916 was an armed insurrection in Dublin aimed at ending British rule in Ireland.

Although the rising was quickly suppressed, the British execution of its leaders turned them into martyrs and galvanized support for independence.

This led to the Irish War of Independence (1919-1921) between Irish republicans and British forces.

The Anglo-Irish Treaty of 1921 ended the war and created the Irish Free State, a self-governing dominion within the British Empire.

The treaty was controversial because it partitioned the island, leaving Northern Ireland as part of the UK, which led to the Irish Civil War.

For much of the 20th century, independent Ireland was a largely poor, agrarian, and socially conservative society.

Ireland joined the European Economic Community (now the EU) in 1973, which helped to modernize its economy.

In the 1990s, Ireland experienced a period of rapid economic growth known as the 'Celtic Tiger,' fueled by foreign investment and a high-tech economy.

This economic boom was accompanied by significant social changes, including a decline in the influence of the Catholic Church.

Ireland's journey in the 20th century was one of transformation from a post-colonial state to a modern, prosperous European nation.