Modern Irish flag.
Ireland is the third largest island in Europe. Politically, the Republic of Ireland covers five-sixths of the island, with Northern Ireland, part of the United Kingdom, covering the remainder in the north-east.
Historically, Ireland was ruled by the British (and the English before them) for many centuries, a situation the Irish constantly resisted.
Ireland in 1632[]
Ireland was considered by contemporary 17th century Europeans as being in a state of internal struggle which was no different from the divided Italian and German states in continental Europe. At the time of the Ring of Fire, Ireland was already conquered by the English. The Anglican Church of Ireland was established there, though most of the people remained Roman Catholic.
Bartolomé de los Rios y Alarcon downplayed the notion of Ireland as a nation as he considered it as "an island, full of half-savages who quarrel even worse than Italians. Even worse than Catalans, if that's possible."
Many Irish Mercenaries under the Spanish Army have defected to the Netherlands once Don Fernando became King
In August of 1635, after the survival of Pope Urban VIII became public knowledge, the Catholic bishops of Ireland not only delivered a strong endorsement of Urban, but denounced Cardinal Borja as a usurper and called on him to leave the Vatican.
Due to the butterfly effect and the interference of the USE, it is highly unlikely that Ireland would be subjugated by the British/English as they did in OTL