When did the British come to ireland and why?

Question

When did the British come to ireland and why?

Answer 1

In 1169, the Normans (who then ruled England) invaded the island; Henry I of England came in 1171.  They probably came for good farmland.

Answer 2

Initially the Normans came to Ireland to answer a request for help from an Irish chieftain called Dermot MacMurrough, in the 12th century.  MacMurrough had outraged rivals by stealing another prince's wife.  But having gained a toehold in Ireland, the Norman lords began enriching themselves by building apower base, complete with fortified stone castles.  This alarmed england's King, henry II.  He prompotly paid a visit to Ireland, inaugurating an involvement between the two countries that was to last, with immeasurable bloodshed, for eight centuries, and ensure that Henry would be remembered as Ireland's first of many absentee landlords.

Answer 3

It was the English prior to the Union of Crowns  between Scotland and England in 1603 who first " colonised " parts of Ireland specifically Munster and Ulster . After the Union it was James Vl / l and Charles who continued the Plantations . Cromwell was perhaps  the most infamous of those who followed this policy . The " Planters " were given lands taken from the indiginous population thus establish the Ptotestant ascendancy in Ulster . Many " planters " came from south west Scotland particularly Ayrshire and Galloway hence the preponderance of Scottish names in Antrim  and Down .