How did Ireland develop as a national state?

Answer 1

It started with a national memory--of when they were their own people with their own tribal leaders and their own king before the English subjugated them.

Answer 2

The Irish are overwhelmingly catholic, but Britain is a protestant state. In addition, until the early twentieth century, most landowners in Ireland were Protestants and their catholic peasants felt exploited. This way two opposites fell together. History showed, that Britain had conquered Ireland. And the fact that there are two distinct islands also helped forming a feeling of being a different country. The Gaelic language was not so important because it had become almost extinct when Irish nationalism became important during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.

Answer 3

They started as an empire and then let it crumble naturally.