The history of Ireland has traditionally focused on the localized struggles of religious conflict, territorialityand the fight for Home Rule. But from the early Catholic missions into Europe to the embrace of the euro, the real story of Ireland has played out on the larger international stage.

Story of Irelandpresents this new take on Irish history, challenging the narrative that has been told for generations and drawing fresh conclusions about the way the Irish have lived. Revisiting the major turning points in Irish history, Neil Hegarty re-examines the accepted stories, challenging long-held myths and looking not only at the dynamics of what happened in Ireland, but also at the role of events abroad. How did Europe's 16th century religious wars inform the incredible violence inflicted on the Irish by the Elizabethans? What was the impact of the French and American revolutions on the Irish nationalist movement? What were the consequences of Ireland's policy of neutrality during the Second World War? Story of Ireland sets out to answer these questions and more, rejecting the introspection that has often characterized Irish history.

Accompanying a landmark series coproduced by the BBC and RTE, and with an introduction by series presenter, Fergal Keane,Story of Irelandis an epic account of Ireland's history for an entire new generation.

Neil Hegarty was born in Derry in 1970. He is the author ofDublin: A View from the Ground, a cultural history of the Irish capital from its foundations to the present day. His short fiction and essays have been published widely and his journalism has appeared in theIrish TimesandDaily Telegraph. His radio play,The Story of Peggy Mountain, was shortlisted for RTE's P J O'Connor Award; and he has written radio documentaries on the Irish diaspora in Newfoundland and Argentina. He holds a PhD in English literature from Trinity College Dublin.

Fergal Keane OBE was born in London and educated in Ireland. He is one of the BBC's most distinguished correspondents, having worked for the corporation in Northern Ireland, South Africa, Asia and the Balkans. He has been awarded a BAFTA and has been named reporter of the year on television and radio. His books includeAll of the These People: A Memoir,Season of Blood: A Rwandan Journey, andLetters to Daniel.