INTRODUCTION
LOCATION: Europe (it's the little island to the left of England!)
POPULATION: 4015000
LANGUAGE: English and Gaelic
CURRENCY: Euro
Ireland went into the UE in 1973.
Ireland is known as the Emerald Island because the rains falling throughout the year mean that the landscape is a bright green.
The country's central plains are very fertile and are cultivated wheat, barley and potatoes.
Rivers and lakes inside the Irish are famous for salmon fishing and trout, and are also important for its wildlife.
In winter, the ducks migrate from Ireland to Greenland and Canada.
They are famous for their writers. Music is a very important part of the vibrant Irish culture.
FAMOUS FOR
Stout
Almost black beer made from barley malt. The most famous is the Guinness.
Sant Patric’s Day
Each year on 17th of March, the Irish around the world celebrate their patron saint's day.
Patatoes
The patatoes grow very well in the humid climate of Ireland. It is the the most important product of this country.
Cliffs of the Giant
Strange formations of volcanic rocks on the north coast of Ireland.
IRELAND ICONS
- The shamrock is another symbol of Ireland. It is always worn on St. Patrick’s Day.
- The harp is a symbol of Ireland. We can be seen on the presidential flag and on the back of the Irish euro coin.
- It has been used to represent the four directions, four elements, earth, the four winds, etc.. This is where the cross roads of life and death.
It is a symbol often found in Irish religion.
IMPORTANT PLACES
Johnstown castle in Wexford.
Hapenny bridge in center of Dublin ( that through Liffey river)
SPORTS: RUGBY
Dublin University, founded in 1854, was the first organized Rugby Football Club in Ireland. And since that, the rugby has been practiced until now. It is important sport for Ireland and it’s common that women practiced it.
There are four important rugby clubs:
Connacht
Leinster
Munster
Ulster
SPORTS: SURF
The Irish coastline is one of the most prolific and beautiful surfing backdrops in the northern hemisphere.
The best time to surf Ireland is during the period from September to May each year when the swells are plentiful. The only real drawback to the Ireland surfing experience is the cold water, but the surfers are prepared for that.
HORSES AND GREYHOUNDS RACING
From Easter until December Ireland is the scene of many horse racing festivals.
Horse races are popular with greyhound racing. When you go to a race you can bet an amount of money (at least 7 euros) and then you can earn much more money.
To make these animals suffer long run, especially to the Greyhounds.
WHALES AND DOLPHINS ON IRISH COASTS
A total of 24 whale and dolphin species have been sighted off their coast which makes it one of the best places in Europe to get close to these wonderful creatures.
And if you go to de cliffs or sometimes in the coasts you going to see a lot of dolphins and whales.
CURIOSITIES
· The Irish alphabet there are only 18 letters in it missing J, K, V, Q, W, Z, X , Y.
· The university has over 100,000 Irish tales, legends and myths, is the best collection of this genus worldwide.
· The harp can be seen on passports and stamps of the Irish republic is based on a fourteenth-century harp that now preserved at Trinity College of Dublin and is known as the Brian Boru harp.
· In 1969 he represented the shortest play in the world written by an Irishman, Samuel Backett .
· The first divorce granted in Ireland was held in 1997
· In the capital of Northern Ireland, Belfast, was where the Titanic was built.
