I recently borrowed “In Search of Ancient Ireland” a three-part special that aired on PBS. Like any history, I am sure some will want to dispute some the account. I found it interesting in parts, plodding in others, but enjoyable overall. (Good thing this isn’t a review of a CD from a board member 
or those comments would be the start of a feud.)
The peat from the bogs gives a good history of climate over the past few thousand years. There were two periods of cataclysmic climate change. The scientist speculates that there was one period of 18 years around 1150 BCE when the sun literally did not shine on Ireland! As one might imagine, that was not a good time.
Other interesting tidbits are how much the economy has always been cattle based, how Christianity found a fertile home in Ireland. Unlike other countries where armed force and matyrs were needed for Christianity to take root, many Irish became Christians willingly. Christianity took root in Ireland and worked its way back over to England. The Vikings changed everything. The Vikings were so powerful that there were Viking kings in Dublin. I had no idea.
Most people think history is boring, but I have always been interested in the subject. Much of the history presented is more like prehistory because there were no written records before the Christian monks started writing things down.