History of Ireland

Geography
Ireland is situated in the Atlantic Ocean and separated from Great Britain by the Irish Sea. Half the size of Arkansas, it occupies the entire island except for the six counties that make up Northern Ireland. Ireland resembles a basin—a central plain rimmed with mountains, except in the Dublin region. The mountains are low, with the highest peak, Carrantuohill in County Kerry, rising to 3,415 ft (1,041 m). The principal river is the Shannon, which begins in the north-central area, flows south and southwest for about 240 mi (386 km), and empties into the Atlantic.
Government: Republic.

History

In the Stone and Bronze Ages, Ireland was inhabited by Picts in the north and a people called the Erainn in the south, the same stock, apparently, as in all the isles before the Anglo-Saxon invasion of Britain. Around the 4th century B.C. , tall, red-haired Celts arrived from Gaul or Galicia. They subdued and assimilated the inhabitants and established a Gaelic civilization. By the beginning of the Christian Era, Ireland was divided into five kingdoms—Ulster, Connacht, Leinster, Meath, and Munster. Saint Patrick introduced Christianity in 432, and the country developed into a center of Gaelic and Latin learning. Irish monasteries, the equivalent of universities, attracted intellectuals as well as the pious and sent out missionaries to many parts of Europe and, some believe, to North America.

Norse incursions along the coasts, starting in 795, ended in 1014 with Norse defeat at the Battle of Clontarf by forces under Brian Boru. In the 12th century, the pope gave all of Ireland to the English Crown as a papal fief. In 1171, Henry II of England was acknowledged “Lord of Ireland,” but local sectional rule continued for centuries, and English control over the whole island was not reasonably secure until the 17th century. In the Battle of the Boyne (1690), the Catholic King James II and his French supporters were defeated by the Protestant King William III (of Orange). An era of Protestant political and economic supremacy began.
By the Act of Union (1801), Great Britain and Ireland became the “United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland.” A steady decline in the Irish economy followed in the next decades. The population had reached 8.25 million when the great potato famine of 1846–1848 took many lives and drove more than 2 million people to immigrate to North America.

CULTURE Religion Religious Practitioners. The Catholic Church has four ecclesiastical provinces, which encompass the whole island, thus crossing the boundary with Northern Ireland. The Archbishop of Armagh in Northern Ireland is the Primate of All Ireland. The diocesan structure, in which thirteen hundred parishes are served by four thousand priests, dates to the twelfth century and does not coincide with political boundaries. There are approximately twenty thousand people serving in various Catholic religious orders, out of a combined Ireland and Northern Ireland Catholic population of 3.9 million. The Church of Ireland, which has twelve dioceses, is an autonomous church within the worldwide Anglican Communion. Its Primate of All Ireland is the Archbishop of Armagh, and its total membership is 380,000, 75 percent of whom are in Northern Ireland. There are 312,000 Presbyterians on the island (95 percent of whom are in Northern Ireland), grouped into 562 congregations and twenty-one presbyteries. Literature The literary renaissance of the late nineteenth century integrated the hundreds-year-old traditions of writing in Irish with those of English, in what has come to be known as Anglo-Irish literature. Some of the greatest writers in English over the last century were Irish: W. B. Yeats, George Bernard Shaw, James Joyce, Samuel Beckett, Frank O'Connor, Seán O'Faoláin, Seán O'Casey, Flann O'Brien, and Seamus Heaney. They and many others have constituted an unsurpassable record of a national experience that has universal appeal. Music Singing is a favourite pastime in Ireland and traditional Celtic music is an important part of the Irish culture. Some of the traditional musical instruments consist of the button accordion, harp, tin whistle, fiddle, bedhran (drum), and Uilleann pipes. For additional information on the instruments of Irish music. Contemporary music is also very popular in Ireland and Ireland boasts many famous musicians and bands such as; Enya, and U2. There is plenty of opportunity in Ireland to enjoy classical, pop, rock and jazz concerts. Dancing The Irish word “céili” is used to describe an informal evening of traditional Irish music and dancing. Irish step-dancing is performed mostly with the legs and feet while the arms hang stiffly at the side. The traditional Irish dress for Irish female dancers are copies of the traditional Irish peasant dress and feature elaborate Gaelic designs. The shoes are similar to ballet shoes which are laced over the feet and the ankles. The male's costume is less elaborate; men wear plain kilts or pants and jackets and folded cloaks hanging from the shoulders, called brats. RiverDance and Lord of the Dance have brought international acclaim to Irish music and dance. RiverDance is an exciting performance of music, dancing and singing. The performance depicts the evolution of Irish culture and its influence on other cultures through immigration during the potato famine. The Lord of the Dance is an outstanding dance performance and a celebration of the Celtic heritage. St Patricks Day Traditions March 17th marks the day of St Patrick, celebrated by millions of people around the world. In Ireland, St Patrick’s Day was always held as an important religious day to celebrate the teachings of Christianity by St Patrick. Halloween Traditions in Ireland To-day Halloween is celebrated all around the globe but the Halloween Holiday has its history firmly planted in Ireland. Halloween is also known as Samhain, All Hallows Eve, Hallowmas and Hallowtide. It is celebrated on 31st October but the holiday of Halloween is not just celebrated on the one day any more as the Christian holidays of All Saints Day, November 1st and All Souls Day, November 2nd are celebrated as well. Celebrating Christmas in Ireland Most, if not all, Irish families decorate their homes with lights, tinsel and baubles. A Christmas tree is usually erected in the family home on the first day of the holy advent calendar. The tree will be beautifully decorated with an angel on top, presents will lay underneath as seen with many family homes around the world.

CULTURE

Religion

Religious Practitioners.  The Catholic Church has four ecclesiastical provinces, which encompass the whole island, thus crossing the boundary with Northern Ireland. The Archbishop of Armagh in Northern Ireland is the Primate of All Ireland. The diocesan structure, in which thirteen hundred parishes are served by four thousand priests, dates to the twelfth century and does not coincide with political boundaries. There are approximately twenty thousand people serving in various Catholic religious orders, out of a combined Ireland and Northern Ireland Catholic population of 3.9 million. The Church of Ireland, which has twelve dioceses, is an autonomous church within the worldwide Anglican Communion. Its Primate of All Ireland is the Archbishop of Armagh, and its total membership is 380,000, 75 percent of whom are in Northern Ireland. There are 312,000 Presbyterians on the island (95 percent of whom are in Northern Ireland), grouped into 562 congregations and twenty-one presbyteries. 

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Literature

The literary renaissance of the late nineteenth century integrated the hundreds-year-old traditions of writing in Irish with those of English, in what has come to be known as Anglo-Irish literature. Some of the greatest writers in English over the last century were Irish: W. B. Yeats, George Bernard Shaw, James Joyce, Samuel Beckett, Frank O'Connor, Seán O'Faoláin, Seán O'Casey, Flann O'Brien, and Seamus Heaney. They and many others have constituted an unsurpassable record of a national experience that has universal appeal.

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Music

Singing is a favourite pastime in Ireland and traditional Celtic music is an important part of the Irish culture. Some of the traditional musical instruments consist of the button accordion, harp, tin whistle, fiddle, bedhran (drum), and Uilleann pipes. For additional information on the instruments of Irish music.

Contemporary music is also very popular in Ireland and Ireland boasts many famous musicians and bands such as; Enya,  and U2. There is plenty of opportunity in Ireland to enjoy classical, pop, rock and jazz concerts. 

Dancing

The Irish word “céili” is used to describe an informal evening of traditional Irish music and dancing. Irish step-dancing is performed mostly with the legs and feet while the arms hang stiffly at the side. The traditional Irish dress for Irish female dancers are copies of the traditional Irish peasant dress and feature elaborate Gaelic designs. The shoes are similar to ballet shoes which are laced over the feet and the ankles. The male's costume is less elaborate; men wear plain kilts or pants and jackets and folded cloaks hanging from the shoulders, called brats.
RiverDance and Lord of the Dance have brought international acclaim to Irish music and dance. RiverDance is an exciting performance of music, dancing and singing. The performance depicts the evolution of Irish culture and its influence on other cultures through immigration during the potato famine. The Lord of the Dance is an outstanding dance performance and a celebration of the Celtic heritage. 

St Patricks Day Traditions

March 17th marks the day of St Patrick, celebrated by millions of people around the world. In Ireland, St Patrick’s Day was always held as an important religious day to celebrate the teachings of Christianity by St Patrick.

Halloween Traditions in Ireland

To-day Halloween is celebrated all around the globe but the Halloween Holiday has its history firmly planted in Ireland. Halloween is also known as Samhain, All Hallows Eve, Hallowmas and Hallowtide. It is celebrated on 31st October but the holiday of Halloween is not just celebrated on the one day any more as the Christian holidays of All Saints Day, November 1st and All Souls Day, November 2nd are celebrated as well. 

Celebrating Christmas in Ireland

Most, if not all, Irish families decorate their homes with lights, tinsel and baubles. A Christmas tree is usually erected in the family home on the first day of the holy advent calendar. The tree will be beautifully decorated with an angel on top, presents will lay underneath as seen with many family homes around the world.

IRELAND CULTURE

CULTURE

Religion

Religious Practitioners.  The Catholic Church has four ecclesiastical provinces, which encompass the whole island, thus crossing the boundary with Northern Ireland. The Archbishop of Armagh in Northern Ireland is the Primate of All Ireland. The diocesan structure, in which thirteen hundred parishes are served by four thousand priests, dates to the twelfth century and does not coincide with political boundaries. There are approximately twenty thousand people serving in various Catholic religious orders, out of a combined Ireland and Northern Ireland Catholic population of 3.9 million. The Church of Ireland, which has twelve dioceses, is an autonomous church within the worldwide Anglican Communion. Its Primate of All Ireland is the Archbishop of Armagh, and its total membership is 380,000, 75 percent of whom are in Northern Ireland. There are 312,000 Presbyterians on the island (95 percent of whom are in Northern Ireland), grouped into 562 congregations and twenty-one presbyteries.

Literature

The literary renaissance of the late nineteenth century integrated the hundreds-year-old traditions of writing in Irish with those of English, in what has come to be known as Anglo-Irish literature. Some of the greatest writers in English over the last century were Irish: W. B. Yeats, George Bernard Shaw, James Joyce, Samuel Beckett, Frank O'Connor, Seán O'Faoláin, Seán O'Casey, Flann O'Brien, and Seamus Heaney. They and many others have constituted an unsurpassable record of a national experience that has universal appeal.

Music

Singing is a favourite pastime in Ireland and traditional Celtic music is an important part of the Irish culture. Some of the traditional musical instruments consist of the button accordion, harp, tin whistle, fiddle, bedhran (drum), and Uilleann pipes. For additional information on the instruments of Irish music.

Contemporary music is also very popular in Ireland and Ireland boasts many famous musicians and bands such as; Enya,  and U2. There is plenty of opportunity in Ireland to enjoy classical, pop, rock and jazz concerts.

Dancing

The Irish word “céili” is used to describe an informal evening of traditional Irish music and dancing. Irish step-dancing is performed mostly with the legs and feet while the arms hang stiffly at the side. The traditional Irish dress for Irish female dancers are copies of the traditional Irish peasant dress and feature elaborate Gaelic designs. The shoes are similar to ballet shoes which are laced over the feet and the ankles. The male's costume is less elaborate; men wear plain kilts or pants and jackets and folded cloaks hanging from the shoulders, called brats.
RiverDance and Lord of the Dance have brought international acclaim to Irish music and dance. RiverDance is an exciting performance of music, dancing and singing. The performance depicts the evolution of Irish culture and its influence on other cultures through immigration during the potato famine. The Lord of the Dance is an outstanding dance performance and a celebration of the Celtic heritage.

St Patricks Day Traditions

March 17th marks the day of St Patrick, celebrated by millions of people around the world. In Ireland, St Patrick’s Day was always held as an important religious day to celebrate the teachings of Christianity by St Patrick.

Halloween Traditions in Ireland

To-day Halloween is celebrated all around the globe but the Halloween Holiday has its history firmly planted in Ireland. Halloween is also known as Samhain, All Hallows Eve, Hallowmas and Hallowtide. It is celebrated on 31st October but the holiday of Halloween is not just celebrated on the one day any more as the Christian holidays of All Saints Day, November 1st and All Souls Day, November 2nd are celebrated as well.

Celebrating Christmas in Ireland

Most, if not all, Irish families decorate their homes with lights, tinsel and baubles. A Christmas tree is usually erected in the family home on the first day of the holy advent calendar. The tree will be beautifully decorated with an angel on top, presents will lay underneath as seen with many family homes around the world.

Tourism in Ireland

Tourism in Ireland

If you go to Ireland there are some places that you cannot miss. Some of these places are:

Blarney Castle

Blarney Castle was built nearly six hundred years ago by one of Ireland's greatest chieftains, Cormac MacCarthy, and has been attracting attention beyond Munster ever since. Over the last few hundred years, millions have flocked to Blarney, making it a world landmark and one of Ireland's greatest treasures.

Now that might have something to do with the Blarney Stone, the legendary Stone of Eloquence, found at the top of our Tower. Kiss it and you'll never again be lost for words.

Altamont, County Carlow

Some of the most beautiful gardens are those which manage a successful transition between formal areas around the house and informal and wild parts beyond. At Altamont the plush lawns, box hedging and clipped yews merge almost imperceptibly with the lake below, where skilled and artistic planting has created delightful all-season effects. Paths beyond lead to lovely wood lands, an arboretum, a bog garden and, down a magic Ice Age ravine, to the majestic wooded banks of the River Slaney.

Dublin Castle, County Dublin

Fragments are all that remain of the great medieval fortress that once served as a symbol of Royal authority in Ireland and the centre of administration. From 1684 to 1761 it was extensively rebuilt, though the shape of the Anglo-Norman castle roughly coincides with the rebuilding. Its construction began in 1204 when King John directed Meiler FitzHenry, the Justiciar, to make a castle in Dublin "with good ditches and strong walls". Meiler chose a site on a ridge at the south-east corner of the city walls that was previously occupied by Henry. "royal palace roofed with wattles" and possibly by a Hiberno-Norse forerunner. It was completed around 1228 and remained more-or-less intact until the seventeenth century.

The National Museum, Dublin

The facade of the National Museum exactly mirrors that of the National Library; the two buildings are separated by the entrance to Leinster House, home of the Dáil and Seanad. On the ground floor of the museum, prehistoric artefacts include the Lurgan bog boat, dug out of a bog in County Galway early this century and the oldest surviving Irish boat, made about 2500BC. Medieval treasures include the Ardagh hoard from County Limerick, a collection of highly-decorated crosiers, including one from Lismore, County Waterford, made about 1100 and 12th century book shrines. On the first floor, treasures include Irish silver from the 18th century and glassware from the 19th century. Among the silver pieces are a mace from Bandon, County Cork (1700) and two maces and the seal of Navan, made in Dublin in 1680. The Merrion Row entrance is to an exhibition area, while the approach to the Natural History museum is from

Ulster Bank Dublin Theatre Festival

If you go to Dublin (Ireland's largest city) between 29 September – 16 October, you will definitely have to assist to the Ulster Bank Dublin Theatre Festival; here is a brief description about this festival:

Dublin is setting the scene for some juicy drama. Trotting into town with thespian pep in its step is the Ulster Bank Dublin Theatre Festival. As Europe’s oldest specialist theatre festival, they’ve been at this game since 1957.

As always, the stage will be set for powerful, amazing, and thought-provoking works from around the world. From Broadway hits to home-grown talent, from acrobatic Russian clowns to tragedies in Dublin tenements – just not all in the same show.

Merrion Square West

. Although the museum has been well refurbished in recent years, most of its collection is being moved to the former Collins Barracks site, near Heuston Station, which should prove an imaginative new venue.

Ireland Introduction

Ireland Introduction

Ireland contains many castles, stone towers and stone walls, some in ruins and some which have been restored. The fortified castles of Ireland were used for defense against intruders. There are many famous castles in Ireland, but the most famous is perhaps The Blarney Castle, which is famed for its stone, which is believed to have the power to bestow the gift of eloquence on all those who kiss it.

Irish culture has had a significant influence on other cultures, particularly in the fields of literature and, to a lesser degree, science and education.

The public architecture of Ireland reflects the country's past role in the British Empire, as most Irish cities and towns were either designed or remodeled as Ireland evolved with Britain. Since independence, much of the architectural iconography and symbolism, in terms of statues, monuments, museums, and landscaping, has reflected the sacrifices of those who fought for Irish freedom. Residential and business architecture is similar to that found elsewhere in the British Isles and Northern Europe.

The main industries are food products, brewing, textiles, clothing, and pharmaceuticals, and Ireland is fast becoming known for its roles in the development and design of information technologies and financial support services.

We’ll try to describe briefly some of the most important aspects about history, cultural heritage, local traditions, traditional sports (Gaelic sports), food and places to visit nowadays and the most important for this course: English as a second language. Maybe some people don’t know that English is the second official language of Ireland, in fact Irish Gaelic is recognized as the first official language, but in the last years English has had a vital importance in the social relations even more than the native Irish language, and we think this is happening all around the world. English is becoming very important because of the globalization, economy and new technologies that make us learn this language.

Ireland is a country with plenty of costumes and traditions known internationally. The ancient history of this country is very mystical and interesting, full of cultural heritage and important historical events. Is very common to know or have heard stories about Vikings or about Saint Patrick’s Day and immediately comes to your mind Ireland, green color or shamrocks.

My team is going to talk about Ireland, my topic is about sport and food in this country.
When it comes to sports in Ireland, we must to talk about soccer. This sport is the most played in this aerea but the sporting activities with the hicghest level of playing participation are gaelic football, swimming, golf, aerobics and even soccer.
but in recently years ice hockey has seen an increase in popularity. even many others sports are increasing and they are also played like basketball, cricket, horse racing and fishing as though other s more.
Gaelic games are also popular in nothern ireland, it contemplates three differents sports, and they are gaelic football, it´s a soft of football but you use sour hands instead your foots and the number of the players is different, in gaelic football plays 15 players and no 11 as the football does, recently this game is one of the most popular spectator sport besides the hurling and handball which are others galic sports the first, Hurling, is the national game of Ireland. The game has prehistoric origins, has been played for at least 3,000 years. it´s played with a stick called hurleys and a ball, sliota, and it´s played as the hockey does, but in a field. and the last of the three gaelic sports is the handle ball wich is played like squash, The game may be played with two (singles) or four players (doubles) and the players hit the ball with a hand or fist against a wall in such a way as to make a shot the opposition cannot return. All this gaelic games are organised by Gaelic athletic association (GGA) which headquarter is located at the 82,500 capacity Croke park in north Dublin.