1. English speaking countries
Which English speaking country are we talking
about if you hear this music?
● The United Kingdom
● Ireland
● Australia
● The U.S.A
● Canada
● South Africa
● New Zealand
Next

2. Yes! Ireland
Back Next

3. How much do you know about …
(Click on the index words for a shortcut to the sections)
● geography?
● Irish history?
● the Irish language?
● Irish literature?
● Irish traditions?
Back Next

4. Geography
Ireland is an island in northwest Europe in the north
Atlantic Ocean whose main geographical features include low
central plains surrounded by a ring of coastal mountains. The
highest peak is Carrauntoohil which is 1,041 metres high. The
western coastline has many islands and peninsulas.
River Shannon (386 km)is the longest river in Ireland and
meets the Atlantic just south of Limerick.
Further nformation: Geography
Ireland is divided into four provinces, Connacht, Leinster,
Munster and Ulster, and 32 counties. Six of the nine Ulster
counties form Northern Ireland and the other 26 form the state,
Ireland. The map shows the county boundaries for all 32
counties.
Further information: Counties of Ireland
Back Index Next

5. History
In the Stone and Bronze Ages, Ireland was inhabited by Picts in the north and a
people called the Erainn in the south. Around the 4th century B.C. , tall, red-
haired Celts arrived from Gaul or Galicia. They 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 and sent out
missionaries to many parts of Europe and, some believe, to North America.
By the Act of Union (1801), Great Britain and Ireland became the “United
Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland.” Anti-British agitation, along with
demands for Irish home rule, led to the Easter Rebellion in Dublin (April 24–
29, 1916), in which Irish nationalists attempted to throw off British rule.
Ireland joined the European Economic Community (now the EU) in 1973.
In the 1990 presidential election, Mary Robinson was elected the republic's first
woman president.
In 2005, the IRA renounced armed struggle, and peace again seemed possible.
Michael D. Higgins, a leftist politician and poet, was elected president in
October 2011.
Read more: History
Back Index Next

6. The Irish language: Gaelic
Gaelic is an English word for any of three languages which form one
half of the Celtic language family group. These three Gaelic languages
are:
Irish Gaelic Manx Gaelic Scottish Gaelic
These three languages are spoken in Ireland, Man and Scotland. The
Gaels are the peoples who speak these languages or did so in the
past. Gaelic was in danger of being exterminated in many of the
traditional gaelic speaking areas, but now there is a Gaelic renaissance.
To your right you can see the Lord's Prayer in Gaelic.
In the 2006 census for the Republic, 85,000 people said they used Irish
as a daily language outside of the education system, and 1.2 million
said they used it occasionally in or out of school.There are also
thousands of Irish speakers in Northern Ireland.
Are you interested in hearing and learning some words in Gaelic? Just
click on the following link
I want to learn some Irish words and expressions.
Back Index Next

7. Irish literature
Ireland has produced some of the Western world’s most
acclaimed writers: James Joyce, Oscar Wilde, George
Bernard Shaw, and William Butler Yeats, to name a few.
Ireland’s literature is the third oldest in all of Europe,
second only to Greek and Latin. Irish literature includes the
love of nature and the love of the homeland, particularly in
its poetry. Ireland’s literature also includes a rich and
imaginative folklore, with epic heroes, druids, and
leprechauns. But perhaps the most distinguishing quality of
Irish literature is its mastery of the satirical. Jonathan Swift
was especially skilled at satire, evident in essays like “A
Modest Proposal” and novels such as Gulliver’s Travels.
(In the pictures, top to bottom; Swift, Joyce and MacCourt)
Click on for further information about Irish writers:
Irish writers
Back Index Next

8. Irish traditions and myths
Easter Sunday
St Patrick's Day
Many families prepare their homes for Easter
March 17th marks the day of St Sunday by doing a “spring cleaning” to
Patrick, celebrated by millions of prepare the house for blessing by the local
people around the world. In priest which is a religious ceremony that
Ireland, St Patrick’s Day was dates back hundreds of years. They also have
always held as an important a tradition of decorating eggs with different
religious day to celebrate the colors and designs. Nowadays, chocolate
teachings of Christianity by St Easter eggs are given to the children, and
Patrick. over five million are sold each year in Ireland.
Irish Leprechauns stories Irish step dancing
A Leprechaun is a smart, little Today there are many opportunities to watch and enjoy Irish
thing who will do anything to dancing. It is still a regular part of social functions. During
escape capture even if it means the summer months, céilis are held in many Irish towns.
turning you into a frog. They Visitors are always welcome to join in and with on the spot,
are the exception in the Faerie informal instruction, anyone can quickly master the first steps
realm as they are the only and soon share the Irish enthusiasm for Irish dance.
Faerie that has a trade: they
Click on the link and enjoy! Irish step dancing
are shoe-makers.
Back Index Next

9. Slán go fóill!
Good bye for now!
Back Index Start