THE BRITISH ISLES

REPUBLIC OF IRELAND (EIRE)

Human and political aspect   Ireland (or Èire in Irish) is a parliamentary republic. It’s part of the European Union and has adopted the Euro.   It’s one of the least populated countries in Europe ( many Irish people emigrated to USA in the 19 th century).   The first official language is Irish, but English is the most spoken language.   Main religion: Catholicism (St. Patrick).

Main cities DUBLIN CORK GALWAY Capital: Dublin

Population Eire population: 4,6 million people Population density: 65,3 people per sq/km

History  St. Patrick (V century) brought Christianity to the Celtic people of Ireland.  British occupation. They imposed the Anglicanism.  1922: after a bloody revolt, Ireland became independent.  6 counties in Northern Ireland, inhabited mostly by Protestants, remained united with the U.K.  IRA, an illegal organisation, wants the reunification of Ireland.

Economy  After the economic boom in the 1980s, Ireland has been struck by the recent financial crisis.   Primary sector: very important, especially cattle and ovine breeding (pasture lands).   Traditional industries: food, drinks and textiles. Modern industries: electronics and pharmaceutical.   Tertiary sector: trade and tourism.

 According to legend, the shamrock was used by St. Patrick, Ireland’s patron saint, to explain the Christian concept of the Holy Trinity to the ancient Celts.  Green is the symbolic color of Ireland: thanks to the humid Oceanic climate combined with the warming effect of the Gulf Stream, Ireland in spring and summer is covered with bright green grass. Irish symbols

 In the Celtic cross, the first Christian people of Ireland combined a traditional pagan symbol, the solar cross, with the symbol of the new Christian religion. The crosses, often used as burial signs, are often decorated with simple little figures.

 Music has been very important in Irish culture since the time of the Celts. Among the traditional instruments are the bodhrán (a kind of drum), the fiddle (a violin) and the Celtic harp. One of the most ancient surviving harps is in the Trinity College of Dublin.  Traditional Irish dances are very popular still nowadays. The Trinity College Harp The bodhrán

Postcards from Ireland

Dublin on the Liffey estuary

The Book of Kells, The Book of Kells, also known as the Book of St. Columba, is an ornately illustrated manuscript Gospel that was produced around 800 by Celtic monks. Trinity College

Clonmacnoise Ancient monastery and graveyard near the Shannon

Irish cottage on Galway Bay

Aran Islands in the Galway Bay

“Rock walls” on the Aran Islands

Symbols