Ireland
General information
Population: about 5.2 million people live in the Republic of Ireland (2023)
Capital: Dublin with 1.2 million inhabitants
Name: Ireland (or Éire in Gaelic)
Nickname: Emerald Isle Languages: English, Irish Gaelic
Religion: mainly Christians, 78% are Roman Catholics Currency: 1 Euro = 100 cents National Holiday: 17 March - Saint Patrick's Day
National Symbol: harp, shamrock (young clover leaf)
History
Celtic tribes settled on the island of Ireland from 600 BC. Later Normans invaded the island in the 12th century. The big famine (hunger) in Ireland led many people to emigrate. Ireland was neutral in World War II. Independence from the UK was gained in 1921, then the republic became part of the Irish Free State. Since 1949 Republic of Ireland. The Republic of Ireland is part of the EU (European Union).
Geography
The Republic of Ireland is a country in Western Europe and located on the island of Ireland.
The Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland that belongs to the UK share the island of Ireland which is situated in the North Atlantic Ocean. The Republic of Ireland shares a border with Northern Ireland, that belongs to the UK.
The border between the two countries is about 490 km/ 304 miles long. Take note that Northern Ireland’s land area is about five times smaller than that of the Republic of Ireland.
Emerald Isle
Ireland is well known for its green pastures, the many medieval monuments and castles such as Kilkenny Castle. The shamrock, a young clover leaf, which is one of the national symbols. Ireland's nickname is 'Emerald Isle' due to the lush vegetation, green pastures and soft rolling hills.Ireland's name 'Éire' comes from the Gaelic language. 'Eriu' is the name of the goddess of the country.
Dublin
Ireland's capital city has many fine attractions. Among them are the famous Liffey Bridge, also called 'Ha'Penny Bridge' by the locals. This bridge that was built in 1826 and replaced the old ferry. Then when crossing the bridge one had to pay toll - with exactly the same amount as a ferry crossing would have cost!Today one of the most famous bridges of the city is the Samuel Beckett Bridge, which is also referred to as 'Harp Bridge' due to its shape. The harp is one of Ireland's national symbols.
Trinity College
Ireland's oldest university near Dublin was founded by Queen Elizabeth I and established in 1528. Trinity College is one of the most prestigious university colleges in Europe. The Campanile (or clocktower) in Parliament Square is one of the landmarks of Ireland.
Cliffs of Moher
/ˈmʌhər/
The Cliffs of Moher in the west of the country are among the most visited sites in Ireland. The cliffs are about 14 km/ 9miles long. More than 1.5 million people visit this famous landmark of Ireland every year!
Economy
Natural resources in Ireland include natural gas, copper, zinc, peat (also called turf) and limestone.
Most of the land is used for agriculture (66%), mainly for growing potatoes, wheat and barley. About 10% of the country are covered by forests.
The main trade partners of Ireland are the UK and the USA, Belgium and Germany.
Ireland is located on the major air and sea routes between Europe and North America. The main sea ports in the Republic of Ireland are Dublin and Cork.
St. Patrick and snakes
One of the most famous stories about St. Patrick says that he chased all the snakes out of Ireland and into the sea. People say he stood on a hill and told the snakes to leave. That is why, according to the legend, there are no snakes in Ireland today. But this story is probably not true. Many people think it is a symbol. St. Patrick’s real mission was to bring Christianity to Ireland. The snake is often a Christian symbol of evil, so the story was remembered. Scientists say there are no signs that snakes ever lived in Ireland. Since the last ice age, the island has been too cold and covered with ice, so snakes could not live there.
St. Patrick's Day
St. Patrick’s Day is on March 17. It is the feast of St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland. St. Patrick was born in Roman Britain in the 4th century. When he was 16, he was kidnapped and taken to Ireland as a slave. Later he escaped, but around the year 432 he came back to Ireland to bring Christianity. He built churches, schools, and monasteries. He died on March 17, 461. Many legends are told about him. One says he drove all the snakes out of Ireland. Another says he used the shamrock, a small green plant, to explain the idea of the Trinity. In Ireland, people first celebrated his day with church services and family meals. Later, Irish emigrants, especially in the United States, made the day bigger. They turned it into a holiday with parades, parties, and music. Boston had the first parade in 1737, and New York followed in 1762. In Chicago, the river has been dyed green every year since 1962. Today, people all over the world celebrate by wearing green clothes or have a shamrock on their clothes. Corned beef and cabbage are traditional foods, and sometimes even beer is made green. Both Irish and non-Irish people join the fun.
Leprechauns
Leprechauns are small fairies from Irish folklore. They often appear on cereal boxes, in movies, and in many Irish legends. The King of Leprechauns is King Brian, said to be 5,000 years old.They love to drink, dance the Irish Jig, and wear out their shoes.They usually wear green, but old stories say red clothes with hats and buckles.No one can prove they are real, but many people still believe in their magic. What jobs did they have? Leprechauns were shoemakers. They made shoes from fine Irish leather that were very comfortable.. Are they fairies? Yes, they are part of the Irish fairy family. They love gold, shoes, and sometimes play tricks. Do they grant wishes? Yes. If you catch one, he must give you three wishes. But be careful—he will take your words literally! Do they have a pot of gold? Yes, legends say they keep gold at the end of a rainbow. Each leprechaun has one coin for every year of his life. Can you catch one? It is very hard. They are clever. But they love alcohol, so whiskey can make them weak.
Irish cuisuine
Traditional Irish food is simple but hearty. It often uses potatoes, meat, bread, and dairy. Potatoes are very important. They are eaten boiled, mashed, or fried. Dishes like colcannon (mashed potatoes with cabbage) and boxty (potato pancakes) are popular. Meat dishes are common. Irish stew is made with lamb or beef, potatoes, onions, and carrots. Seafood is also important, especially in coastal areas. Salmon and oysters are often served. Bread plays a big role. Soda bread, made with baking soda instead of yeast, is a traditional favorite. Breakfast in Ireland is usually big and filling. A “full Irish breakfast” often includes eggs, bacon, sausages, black pudding, white pudding, and toast. On St. Patrick’s Day, people often eat corned beef and cabbage, especially in the United States. Irish food is usually simple, warm, and filling—perfect for the cool Irish climate.
Ireland
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Transcript
Ireland
General information
Population: about 5.2 million people live in the Republic of Ireland (2023) Capital: Dublin with 1.2 million inhabitants Name: Ireland (or Éire in Gaelic) Nickname: Emerald Isle Languages: English, Irish Gaelic Religion: mainly Christians, 78% are Roman Catholics Currency: 1 Euro = 100 cents National Holiday: 17 March - Saint Patrick's Day National Symbol: harp, shamrock (young clover leaf)
History
Celtic tribes settled on the island of Ireland from 600 BC. Later Normans invaded the island in the 12th century. The big famine (hunger) in Ireland led many people to emigrate. Ireland was neutral in World War II. Independence from the UK was gained in 1921, then the republic became part of the Irish Free State. Since 1949 Republic of Ireland. The Republic of Ireland is part of the EU (European Union).
Geography
The Republic of Ireland is a country in Western Europe and located on the island of Ireland. The Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland that belongs to the UK share the island of Ireland which is situated in the North Atlantic Ocean. The Republic of Ireland shares a border with Northern Ireland, that belongs to the UK. The border between the two countries is about 490 km/ 304 miles long. Take note that Northern Ireland’s land area is about five times smaller than that of the Republic of Ireland.
Emerald Isle
Ireland is well known for its green pastures, the many medieval monuments and castles such as Kilkenny Castle. The shamrock, a young clover leaf, which is one of the national symbols. Ireland's nickname is 'Emerald Isle' due to the lush vegetation, green pastures and soft rolling hills.Ireland's name 'Éire' comes from the Gaelic language. 'Eriu' is the name of the goddess of the country.
Dublin
Ireland's capital city has many fine attractions. Among them are the famous Liffey Bridge, also called 'Ha'Penny Bridge' by the locals. This bridge that was built in 1826 and replaced the old ferry. Then when crossing the bridge one had to pay toll - with exactly the same amount as a ferry crossing would have cost!Today one of the most famous bridges of the city is the Samuel Beckett Bridge, which is also referred to as 'Harp Bridge' due to its shape. The harp is one of Ireland's national symbols.
Trinity College
Ireland's oldest university near Dublin was founded by Queen Elizabeth I and established in 1528. Trinity College is one of the most prestigious university colleges in Europe. The Campanile (or clocktower) in Parliament Square is one of the landmarks of Ireland.
Cliffs of Moher
/ˈmʌhər/
The Cliffs of Moher in the west of the country are among the most visited sites in Ireland. The cliffs are about 14 km/ 9miles long. More than 1.5 million people visit this famous landmark of Ireland every year!
Economy
Natural resources in Ireland include natural gas, copper, zinc, peat (also called turf) and limestone. Most of the land is used for agriculture (66%), mainly for growing potatoes, wheat and barley. About 10% of the country are covered by forests. The main trade partners of Ireland are the UK and the USA, Belgium and Germany. Ireland is located on the major air and sea routes between Europe and North America. The main sea ports in the Republic of Ireland are Dublin and Cork.
St. Patrick and snakes
One of the most famous stories about St. Patrick says that he chased all the snakes out of Ireland and into the sea. People say he stood on a hill and told the snakes to leave. That is why, according to the legend, there are no snakes in Ireland today. But this story is probably not true. Many people think it is a symbol. St. Patrick’s real mission was to bring Christianity to Ireland. The snake is often a Christian symbol of evil, so the story was remembered. Scientists say there are no signs that snakes ever lived in Ireland. Since the last ice age, the island has been too cold and covered with ice, so snakes could not live there.
St. Patrick's Day
St. Patrick’s Day is on March 17. It is the feast of St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland. St. Patrick was born in Roman Britain in the 4th century. When he was 16, he was kidnapped and taken to Ireland as a slave. Later he escaped, but around the year 432 he came back to Ireland to bring Christianity. He built churches, schools, and monasteries. He died on March 17, 461. Many legends are told about him. One says he drove all the snakes out of Ireland. Another says he used the shamrock, a small green plant, to explain the idea of the Trinity. In Ireland, people first celebrated his day with church services and family meals. Later, Irish emigrants, especially in the United States, made the day bigger. They turned it into a holiday with parades, parties, and music. Boston had the first parade in 1737, and New York followed in 1762. In Chicago, the river has been dyed green every year since 1962. Today, people all over the world celebrate by wearing green clothes or have a shamrock on their clothes. Corned beef and cabbage are traditional foods, and sometimes even beer is made green. Both Irish and non-Irish people join the fun.
Leprechauns
Leprechauns are small fairies from Irish folklore. They often appear on cereal boxes, in movies, and in many Irish legends. The King of Leprechauns is King Brian, said to be 5,000 years old.They love to drink, dance the Irish Jig, and wear out their shoes.They usually wear green, but old stories say red clothes with hats and buckles.No one can prove they are real, but many people still believe in their magic. What jobs did they have? Leprechauns were shoemakers. They made shoes from fine Irish leather that were very comfortable.. Are they fairies? Yes, they are part of the Irish fairy family. They love gold, shoes, and sometimes play tricks. Do they grant wishes? Yes. If you catch one, he must give you three wishes. But be careful—he will take your words literally! Do they have a pot of gold? Yes, legends say they keep gold at the end of a rainbow. Each leprechaun has one coin for every year of his life. Can you catch one? It is very hard. They are clever. But they love alcohol, so whiskey can make them weak.
Irish cuisuine
Traditional Irish food is simple but hearty. It often uses potatoes, meat, bread, and dairy. Potatoes are very important. They are eaten boiled, mashed, or fried. Dishes like colcannon (mashed potatoes with cabbage) and boxty (potato pancakes) are popular. Meat dishes are common. Irish stew is made with lamb or beef, potatoes, onions, and carrots. Seafood is also important, especially in coastal areas. Salmon and oysters are often served. Bread plays a big role. Soda bread, made with baking soda instead of yeast, is a traditional favorite. Breakfast in Ireland is usually big and filling. A “full Irish breakfast” often includes eggs, bacon, sausages, black pudding, white pudding, and toast. On St. Patrick’s Day, people often eat corned beef and cabbage, especially in the United States. Irish food is usually simple, warm, and filling—perfect for the cool Irish climate.