About Ireland

Government: Republic, parliamentary democracy

Area: 84,421 km² 

Population: 4,892,286 (2019)

Capital: Dublin

Dialling code: +353

Time Zone: GMT (UTC+0)

Languages: English, Irish (Gaelige)

Currency: Euro (EUR)

Per capita income: $78,661 (2019)

Life expectancy: Male: 78.28, Female: 82.97

 

Geography

Ireland is an island nation on the westernmost edge of Europe. It is the continent’s second largest island (after Great Britain). The island of Ireland is made up of four provinces Connacht, Leinster, Munster and Ulster –  32 counties, and they all have their own unique charms and traditions.

Counties of Connacht: Galway, Leitrim, Mayo, Roscommon and Sligo

Counties of Leinster: Carlow, Dublin, Kildare, Kilkenny, Laois, Longford, Louth, Meath, Offaly, Westmeath, Wexford and Wicklow.

Counties of Munster: Clare, Cork, Kerry, Limerick, Tipperary and Waterford.

Counties of Ulster: Antrim, Armagh, Cavan, Donegal, Down, Fermanagh, Derry, Monaghan and Tyrone

Ireland is known for its wide expanses of lush, green fields – so much so, that its nickname is the Emerald Isle. But there are also large areas of rugged, rocky landscape, too. About 15,000 years ago, Ireland was completely covered by thick glaciers. The movement of these giant sheets of ice stripped the soil, leaving huge tracts of flat, limestone ground.

The midlands and west coast of Ireland are dotted with damp peat bogs, the soggy remains of dried-up ancient lakes left by the glaciers. Ireland’s highlands rise mainly in the southwest, often ending at sheer cliffs that plunge thousands of feet into the Atlantic Ocean.

 

History

Archaeologists think the first people to settle in Ireland arrived around 6000 B.C. By 3500 B.C., settlers were using stone tools to clear farmlands. Around 700 B.C., a diverse and technologically advanced culture from central Europe, called the Celts, began to settle on the island. They would thrive there for nearly 2,000 years.

In the ninth century A.D., Viking invaders began raids into Ireland. They eventually established settlements that later became some of the country’s main cities, including the capital, Dublin. These aggressive arrivals fought with the Celts often for 200 years until a battle in 1014, known as the Battle of Clontarf, united the country. Peace broke down quickly though and Ireland was divided into many kingdoms.

In 1170, Norman Vikings who had taken control of England invaded Ireland and made it an English territory. In the early 1600s, England’s official religion became Protestant, while most Irish remained Roman Catholic. This would create tensions that would eventually lead to revolution and Ireland’s independence.?

By the 1820s, British laws unfair to Catholics had sparked a mass movement for Irish sovereignty. In 1829, many of those laws were overturned, but Ireland still wanted freedom. In 1922, after violent uprisings, the Irish Free State was created within the British Empire.

In 1948, most of Ireland became an independent country, while six mainly Protestant counties in the northeast remained a British territory.

 

Climate

Due to its island status and location in the north-east of the 2nd largest ocean in the world, the climate of Ireland can best be described as mild temperate maritime.

Extreme winters are rare, and you’re more likely to encounter a warm glow than a frosty reception, with average winter temperatures of between 40°F/5°C and 46°F/8°C.

Summer temperatures are generally between 60°F/15°C to 70°F/20°C. One thing that is more than probable is rain – that’s what makes our grass so green, so don’t forget to pack your rain gear and a woolly jumper!

Saint Patrick the Patron Saint of Ireland
Saint Patrick is the patron saint of Ireland and is celebrated on March 17th around the world. St Patrick is traditionally associated with the Shamrock plant, which he used to explain the concept of the Trinity. Facts about St Patrick in brief:

• St Patrick really existed
• Taken to Ireland as a slave at age 16
• Escaped after 6 years
• Became a Christian priest, and later a Bishop
• Returned to Ireland as a missionary
• Played a major part in converting the Irish to Christianity
• Some of his writings survive, the Confessio and the Letter to Coroticus

Ireland was the Titanic’s last port of call
The Titanic was built by 15,000 Irishmen in Belfast, Northern Ireland. While the ship officially left for America from Northampton in England, its last port of call was in Cobh, County Cork.

The Last King of Ireland
Ruaidhrí Ó Conchobhair (Rory O’Connor), who was the King of Connacht, became High King of Ireland in 1166 after the death of King Muircheartach Mac Lochlainn. Not only was Ruaidhrí inaugurated as King of Ireland in Dublin he was the first and only Gaelic King. His ruling though, would be interrupted by the invasion of the Anglo-Normans, bringing an end to the Irish high-kingship in 1198.

The Late Late Show
The Late Late Show is not just the longest running television programme in Ireland but in the world. The show has been running since 1961 and has seen a number of different presenters in its years. The year 1961 also brought in the same year as when the television was introduced to Ireland.

There are 2 Places that Drink More Guinness than Ireland
Guinness is pretty synonymous with Ireland, but you may be surprised to know that Britain and Nigeria actually buy more Guinness than Ireland itself.

Ireland has the fourth largest stadium in Europe
Croke Park in Ireland’s capital city Dublin, home of the Gaelic Athletic Association, has a capacity of 82,300! It has a rank of fourth in Europe just behind Camp Nou in Barcelona, Wembley in England and Olimpiysky in the Ukraine.

Irish natural redheads
Only 9% of the Irish population are natural redheads.

The National Symbol of Ireland it’s a Harp
While shamrocks are often associated with Ireland, they are not the national symbol. The harp became the national symbol of Ireland in 1922 when Ireland separated from the UK. You can find the Harp on many Irish brands and items including coins, Irish passports, and Guinness glasses.

The White House was designed by an Irishman
The White House was designed by Irishman James Hoban who won a competition in 1792 which lead him to creating the building.

St. Valentine’s ashes are buried in Ireland
The ashes of St. Valentine, believe it or not, have found their final resting place in a shrine inside Whitefriar Street Church, in Dublin city centre.

The Legend of Dracula has Irish Roots
The story of Dracula takes place in Transylvania, however, the irish author, Bram Stoker is believed to have gotten the inspiration for his famous story from the Irish legend of Abhartach. The Abhartach was an evil creature who, despite being killed multiple times, kept rising from his grave and drinking the blood of his victims.

Irish traditional sports – Hurling and Gaelic Football have developed over 3000 years
Hurling goes back 3000 years, initially played by warriors to hone their sword wielding skills and believed to be the fastest game played on grass. The very first game of Gaelic Football under GAA rules (developed by Maurice Davin) was played near Callan, Co Kilkenny in February 1885.

Halloween originated in Ireland
Halloween as we know it today actually originates from the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, when the people would light bonfires and wear scary costumes to ward off unwelcome spirits. Samhain is an old Gaelic word which translates to ‘darker half’, thus marking the beginning of winter.

Ireland Has Its Own Version of the Olympic Games
Ireland’s Tailteann Games can be traced back as far as 1600 BCE, though have been historically proven to be held from the 6th-12th century. They Tailteann games were a variety of athletic contests that were held in honour of the deceased goddess Tailtiu. Tailtiu was said to have died of exhaustion after cleaning Ireland’s fields for agricultural purposes. The Tailteann games still exist in Ireland today.

The longest place name in Ireland is Muckanaghederdauhaulia
Muckanaghederdauhaulia is a small town land in county Galway which translates to “ridge, shaped like a pig’s back, between two expanses of briny water”.

Wild Atlantic Way is the longest coastal driving route in the world
The Wild Atlantic Way, a stunning drive that stretches all the way from the cliffs around County Donegal, in the far north of Ireland, all the way down to the beaches of County Cork, is the ‘longest defined coastal driving route in the world’. The 2,500 km route passes through nine counties and three provinces.

Ireland is home to the oldest Yacht Club in the world
The Royal Cork Yacht Club, founded in 1720, is widely recognised as the world’s oldest yacht club. The club plays host to Cork Week, Ireland’s largest and most prestigious sailing event. It is held every two years and attracts boats and sailors from around the world.

Ireland Might Have the World’s Oldest Lighthouse
Hook lighthouse in County Wexford is considered to be the oldest working lighthouse in Europe. Although, it could possibly the oldest working lighthouse in the world. The structure as seen today was built either in 1172 or 1245, however, there has been a lighthouse on that same spot since the 5th century.

Newgrange is Older than the Pyramids and Stonehenge
When it comes to ancient wonders, the Pyramids of Egypt and England’s Stonehenge tend to get all of the attention. However, Ireland has its own mysterious archaeological site called Newgrange which is older than both. Newgrange is 5000 years old passage tomb best known for the Winter Solstice Illumination.

Ireland had a Pirate Queen
Grace O’Malley (Gráinne Ni Mhaille in Irish) was a 16th century pirate queen of Ireland. Despite having a half-brother, it was Grace who took over as lord of the O Maille dynasty after her father’s death. She was known as a fighter and noted for her abilities and the fame she had among the Irish.

Ireland has over 30,000 castles
Well, that’s the estimate at least with the excuse that there are too many to count. Some of them are quite large and famous while others are ruins. There are plenty of smaller castles though that have been turned into hotels.

The Irish Wolfhound
The Irish Wolfhound is the tallest of all dog breeds in the world, with males standing up to a minimum of 32 inches at the shoulder. If an Irish Wolfhound stands on his hind legs, he may be 7-feet tall

Ireland is Home to Europe’s Biggest Matchmaking Festival
Every year in September, the town of Lisdoonvarna in County Clare holds a matchmaking festival, and it’s the largest one of its kind in all of Europe. The festival runs every weekend for the month and dates back over 160 years.

Cú Chulainn hero
Born Sétanta, he gained his better-known name as a child, after killing Culann’s fierce guard-dog in self-defence and offered to take its place until a replacement could be reared. The king gave him the name Cú Chulainn which means ‘the Hound of Culann’. At the age of seventeen he defended Ulster against the armies of queen Medb of Connacht in the famous Táin Bó Cúailnge (“Cattle Raid of Cooley”). Cú Chulainn had numerous adventures after that. He became the best Red Branch Knight and did King Conchobhar proud.

 

Ireland is a mystical and wonderful place to live and to visit. The country has been plagued by numerous fights for power, but today it is thriving as an independent nation. Many people flock to Ireland each year to learn about their magical culture and history, and never go home upset. The Irish people are relaxed and full of fun and celebrations. They have made a name for themselves in the economic world.