The Irish people are a Celtic ethnic group native to the island of Ireland. They are descended from the pre-Christian peoples of Ireland, and their culture has been shaped by the influences of Christianity, English colonization, and the Gaelic language. The term 'CELTS' is used to refer to the pre-Christian peoples of Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Cornwall, and Brittany. These peoples shared a common language, religion, and culture, and were united by a common ancestry.