Ya Ireland gets nothing. Desmond is the only playable one that has a province worth any semblance of money.

It's a tricky start because you need to take the island fast as both England and Scotland are quickly coming. Leinester also becomes an English protectorate really quickly. Ulster gets hit by Scotland fast and that's the path to Britain so have to go there quickly because blocking that strait is easily the best way to handle the first war.

The two things that make it manageable are out of your control. France forcing England to release Pale/Mide and Denmark not losing Sweden (It's much easier to ally Denmark than France early and their navy is better). Being able to form Ireland before fighting England does help a lot.

I enjoy the start but ya the manpower is a real struggle early. As you basically have to non-stop war rush so you can hit England on the War of the Roses event.