The linguistic situation in Ireland over the last few centuries is examined from the rise of Irish dialects of English to the present. Four aspects of this history are examined: factors affecting the emergence of Hiberno-English dialects beginning in the seventeenth century, including opportunity for learning English, patterns in literacy and bilingualism, and the evolution of patterns of English usage in Ireland; general characteristics of Hiberno-English and the relative influences of the two origin languages (Irish and English) on phonology, syntax, and lexicon; Hiberno-English in comparison with creoles and other contact vernaculars; and the relevance of one language contact model to Hiberno-English. It is concluded that language contact and shift in Ireland have both universal and unique aspects, generally following the pattern predicted by the Thomason & Kaufman (1988) model but characterized by the amount of superstratal input to Hiberno-English and by persistence of certain features that have disappeared from other dialects. Language maps of Ireland in 1800 and 1851 are appended. Contains 27 references. (MSE)