I have always viewed Ireland as being in a kind of "stasis" before its conquest by ninth and tenth century Vikings. Obviously, this is not the case. I know that the Romans were very aware of Ireland, and that there was significant contact between modern-day Wales and Ireland in the Roman period. But I know very little of what actually happened in Ireland.

How was Christianity spread to Ireland? What was the impact of Christianization on greater Irish culture? Was the traditional Celtic belief system incorporated into Irish Catholicism? Were there economic implications of the conversion? Was Ireland more connected to continental trade and politics during the Christian era? Did the Roman withdrawal from Britain affect Ireland in any way?

Across early medieval Ireland, was there such thing as an Irish identity, or did the Irish only identify as members of various tribes and clans? Did the clan system even exist this early?

Did the Irish have knowledge of the Norse people before they were conquered by them?