Ireland

Ireland

History Facts • History Fact 1 - The Battle of The Boyne was an iconic event in Irish history

which took place on the 1st of July 1690. The Battle of The Boyne is commemorated every year on the 12th of July by Protestants who march to celebrate the victory of Protestant King Billy over the Catholics and is known simply as 'The Twelfth'

• History Fact 2 - The famous Irish saying 'To Hell or to Connaught' is a result of Oliver Cromwell's plans for the Irish according to the Act of Settlement 1653 where the Irish people were forced from their lands which were then given to the English. The people had the choice to die or move to Connaught!

• History Fact 3 - Irish legend credits St Patrick with the Celtic Cross. It is believed he combined the pagan sun god (the circle) with a traditional Christian cross to create a Celtic cross

Longitude & Latitude

• 53.3442 N,• 6.2675 W

Physical Features

1. Island2. Ireland is flat ranged surface3. Ireland is filled with Bogland

Bordering Country

•U•K• SCOTLAND

Description of Irelands Flag

• When Brother Walfrid came to GlasgowAnd settled in the old east end,He would build a team for the dioceseThat sheltered Irish immigrants,The players of Maley, McCallum and KellyProudly wore the Celtic Cross,The Glasgow Celtic name would flourishAs the sons of Erin would rejoice.Cups and trophies and League titlesWould make their way to Paradise,As Willie Maley nurtured the talentsWho played on the pitch beneath Parkhead’s sky,Alec McNair and big Dan DoyleAnd a Bhoy from Croy called Jimmy Quinn,Would play on the pitch in a Celtic stripAnd hear the sons of Erin celebrate a win.From the Garngad, came James McGroryWho gave to the Bhoys, his heart and soul,And granddad, he would dance on the terracingAt the sight of every McGrory goal,And Patsy Gallagher and Charlie TullyWould terrorize defenders down the wing,Their skills and courage in the green & whiteWould make the sons of Erin sing.And big Jock Stein, as player and managerLed the Celts to silverware,He saw the growth of Johnstone and MurdochAs victory songs rang in the air,Football was his pride and passionThat he taught to all his players,And the Celtic shirt, the players would treasureThat each should be so proud to wear.The faithful who embrace the CelticTake their place at Celtic Park,They have watched McNeill, McStay and LarssonPlay for Celtic from their hearts,Devoted to the name of CelticThey proudly wear their emerald green,They will travel far from every cornerTo sing the songs of Brother Walfrid‘s team.Celtic scarves and Ireland’s flagAre on display at Celtic Park,As every fan, will stand behind,The men who play for Celtic.

This poem is written by Daniel McDonough 2005

Dublin

Dublin is the capital and largest city of Ireland. Dublin is in the province of Leinster on Ireland's east coast, at the mouth of the River Liffey

Two other LARGE Cities

Cork Limerick

Facts of Ireland Nature• The Irish have a great affection for nature and rural life. The country's

first coins even featured pictures of animals. Low levels of development and pollution in Ireland have left most of the nation's open spaces relatively undisturbed.

• Did you know that there are no wild snakes in Ireland? The sea has

stopped many animals common on mainland Europe from reaching the island. There are also only two wild mouse species, one type of lizard, and just three kinds of amphibians.

• Irish wildlife is protected by government conservation programs. To

preserve natural habitat, the government has established six national parks and hundreds of national heritage areas throughout the country.

Facts of Ireland 2

• Did you know that there are no wild snakes in Ireland? The sea has stopped many animals common on mainland Europe from reaching the island. There are also only two wild mouse species, one type of lizard, and just three kinds of amphibians.

Ireland Geography

• Ireland is an island nation on the westernmost edge of Europe. It is the continent's second largest island (after Great Britain). The Republic of Ireland occupies 80 percent of this landmass, while a large chunk of land in the north is part of the United Kingdom.

• Ireland is known for its wide expanses of lush, green fields. In fact, its nickname is the Emerald Isle. But there are also large areas of rugged, rocky landscape. 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 pavement.

Ireland geography 2

• 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.

Ireland Culture & People

• Ireland is a nation of storytellers. The tradition dates back to Celtic bards, who would record and recite the country's history. Many famed writers come from Ireland, including four winners of the Nobel Prize for literature. The Irish also excel in music and sports.

Government & Economy

• The government of Ireland consists of an elected parliament, which makes the laws, and a president, who is head of state. The head of the government is the Taoiseach (pronounced tee-shuck), which means "chief." The Taoiseach is the leader of the political party with the most parliament members.

• For most of its history, Ireland's economy has been based on

farming and agriculture. But since the late 1950s, government efforts to attract business have turned the country from one of Europe's poorest nations to its second wealthiest. The amazing turnaround earned Ireland the nickname "Celtic Tiger."

History of Ireland• Archaeologists thought 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 the island. They would thrive there for nearly 2,000 years.

• In the ninth century A.D., Viking invaders began raids into Ireland. They established settlements that later

became some of the country's main cities, including the capital, Dublin. The Vikings and Celts fought often for 200 years until a battle in 1014 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.

History of Ireland 2• In the ninth century A.D., Viking invaders began raids into Ireland.

They established settlements that later became some of the country's main cities, including the capital, Dublin. The Vikings and Celts fought often for 200 years until a battle in 1014 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.

Quick Facts of Ireland

• OFFICIAL NAME: Éire, Republic of IrelandFORM OF GOVERNMENT: Constitutional DemocracyCAPITAL: DublinPOPULATION: 4,832,765MONEY: EuroOFFICIAL LANGUAGES: Irish/EnglishAREA: 26,592 square miles (68,890 square kilometers)MAJOR MOUNTAIN RANGES: Macgillycuddy's Reeks, Wicklow MountainsMAJOR RIVERS: Shannon, Liffey, Boyne, Moy, Barrow

History of the Four leaf clover

• Today, four-leaf clovers are associated with St. Patrick's Day, but they appear in centuries-old legends as symbols of good luck. The Druids (Celtic priests), in the early days of Ireland, believed that when they carried a three-leaf clover or shamrock, they could see evil spirits coming and have a chance to escape in time. Four-leaf clovers were Celtic charms, presumed to offer magical protection and ward off bad luck. Children in the Middle Ages believed if they carried a four-leaf clover, they would be able to see fairies, and the first literary reference to suggest their good fortune was made in 1620 by Sir John Melton

Blarney Stone

• Blarney Castle, as viewed by the visitor today, is the third to have been erected on this site. The first building in the tenth century was a wooden structure. Around 1210 A.D. this was replaced by a stone structure which had the entrance some twenty feet above the ground on the north face. This building was demolished for foundations. In 1446 the third castle was built by Dermot McCarthy, King of Munster of which the keep still remains standing.