An overview Marina Rodríguez Pérez

Irish facts and figures

Irish Name: ÉireCapital: Dublin (Báile Átha Cliath)Official languages: English and IrishCurrency: EuroGoverment: Unitary parlamentary constitutional republic

Geographically divided: The Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland (part of United Kingdom)Area: 70,273 Km2 Population: about 5 mill.Drive: on the leftInternet TLD: .ieTime zone: UTC +0

History Timeline8000 BC- Celtic times mesolithic hunter migratefrom Britain and the

continent Neolithic sites as New Grange

5th C- 600 AD: Saint Patrick brings Chrisitanity1169- The English come to Ireland 1840 The great hungerFighting to be free: 1914- Britain gives Ireland an Irish Parliament 1916- Patrick Pearse 1919-Sinn Fein and IRA 1972- Bloody Sunday 2008- a new agreement

Celtic IrelandSports : hurling and gaelic footballMusicFolk: Patrick denehiModern Folk: Enya, CoorsPop: U2, Sinead O’ConnorCeltic LanguageCeltic Mythology

Irish Language

Proto-indoeuropean

Celtic Germanic

insular continental

celtiberianGoidelic

Scots Irish gaelic

west

German

English

Celtic MythologyThe Fir Bholg

The Formorians

Tuatha De Danann

The Ulster CycleThe Bull from Cooley

CuchulainnMedb & Conchobar

Lugh

Irish Society

0-14 age15-29 age30-64 age+ 65age

Irish Climate

0

50

100

150

200

250

1er trim. 2do trim. 3er trim. 4to trim.

rain (mm)sun snow(mm)

Irish Agriculture

Arable

Sheep, Cattle and Grazing

Dairying

Geographycal Division

CONNAUGHTGalwayMayo

LEINSTERDublinKilkennyWexford

MUNSTERCorkLimerickKerry

ULSTER DonegalCavalMonahan

Irish Highlights

East and MidlandsSouthWest

East and Midlands: Meath

· Newgrange: the megalithic tomb is a UNESCO World Heritage · Trim castle and visitors centre: the largest Anglo - Norman castle in Ireland. · Hill of Tara: Stone Age tomb visual show and guided tours. · Athboy city: VI C. city.· Boyne valley: a walking tour to see the site of The Battle of the Boyne (1690).

East and Midlands: Kildare

· Castletown house: 1722 Palladian style country house.· Ballindoolin house and gardens: Georgian house in a magnificent forest park.· Coolcarrigan house, Gardens and Church· Russborough house: often described as the most beautiful house in Ireland (1750) · Kildare Town, a Humanity’s heritage town. · The Newbridge Silverware Visitor Centre -Silverware product from celebrities

East and Midlands: Wicklow

· Black castle ruins· Killruddery House and garden: Elizabethan Revival mansion. · Brittas Bay: Blue Flag beach· Glendalough: glaciated valley and 6th Christian monastic remains (audiovisual centre) · Caravan tours: to Mottee Stone, The Wicklow Mountains National Park, the Blessington lakes… · Killruddery gardens and House: 17th C. French design gardens · Wicklow’s historic Gaol· Ardmore cinema studios with cinema routes: Excalibur, Braveheart or Michael Collins.

East and Midlands: Louth

· Monasterboice: 5th C. monastic remains · Old Mellifont Abbey: 1142 Cistercian Monastery ruins · Carlinford medieval town and King John's, Castle, · Cúchulainn’s stone: stone monument · Knockabbey Castle and 11th C. water gardens · The Cooley Peninsula : Carlingford Lough boat rides and sailing. · Carrickmacross lace: traditional lace gallery

East and Midlands: Longford· Harp festival

· Corlea tracking way: 148 BC Iron Age bog road · Strokestown House and garden: 18th-century mansion · Belvedere House and gardens

East and Midlands: Westmeath

· Athlone Castle · Tullynally House and gardens: 1800’s gothic castle · Mullaghmeen 1,000 acre forest · Locke’s Distillery Museum.· The River Shannon natural unspoiled beauty and wild life tours.

East and MidlandsOffaly: Birr Demense

castle and garden

·Clonmacnoise: 6th C. monastic site

The Tullamore Dew Whiskey Heritage Centre

Laois: Donaghmore

Famine Museum ·Emo Court and

gardens: neo - classical style.

Ballyfin House: neoclassical house.

South: Carlow· Dunleckney Manor (bagnelstown): Tudor Gothic country house · Leighlinbridge: 14th c. castle, Carmelite priory, bridge across the river Barrow (1320). · Brownshill dolmen ( 2500 B.C ). · Huntington House and gardens (17th C)·Oak Park Forest Park ·Altamont gardens: romantic garden.· Carlow beer Brewing Company· Ballykeenan Pet Farm

South: Kilkenny· Kilkenny City Tour: medieval friendly streets, 13th c. Black Abbey, Saint Canice's Cathedral and Round Tower ,Killkenny 12th c. Castle · Jerpoint Abbey: 12th c. Cistercian abbey · Saint Mary’s Church (13th c) ·Kilkenny Craft Trail· Try the famous Kilkenny beer in any of its more than 500 pubs!

South: Wexford· Duncannon Fort: museum and fortress.·Dunbrody ship: replica of a 1845 ship · John F Kennedy Arboretum: woodland walks, playground, tree house, lake with ducks and fish.· Kilmokea gardens·Hook Head Peninsula: lighthouse, picnicking, wreck diving, and wild landscape.· Opera Festival (autumn)

South: Tipperary· Glengara woods (Cahir): 776 hectares of forest· Glen of Aherlow: 16-mile glen · Mitchelson caves tour· Rosacrea Castle (1280)· Rock of Cashel: group of medieval buildings including the 12th c. tower, High Cross and Romanesque Chapel, 13th c. Gothic cathedral, 15th c. castle and the Hall of the Vicars. · Cahir Castle (XII.c ). · Brú Ború cultural: native Irish music, song, dance, theatre and Celtic studies. · Lar na Pairce: museum of gaelic games.

South: Waterford· Dungarvan Castle: 1185 Anglo-Norman King John's Castle · Ballysaggartmore gothic style buildings in woodland walking and picnic areas. · Cooligan Woodland trail · Scenic drives: Comeragh Mountains, Nire Valley Drives, Vallingscallon forest.· Waterford’s blue-flag: Dunmore East, Ardmore, Bunmahon, Clonea and Counsellor’s Strand.· Crystal factory

South: Cork· Rock close: ancient druidic settlement. ·Bantry House and gardens· Charles Fort (Kinsale): 17th c. fortress. · Blarney Castle’s stone: has the traditional power of conferring eloquence on all who kiss it.· Cobh heritage Centre- Titanic story ·The Jameson experience in Midleton Distillery· The lighthouse at Mizen Head· Garnish Island

South: Kerry· Ross Castle (kilarney): 15th c. towerhouse · Muckross House and Lake in Killarney National Park.· The Skellings islands: ecclesiastical ruins of the Dark Ages.The Ring of Kerry: beaches , ancient monuments and outdoor activities and routes.· Killarney national Park: Gap of Dunloe glaciated valley, The Beara Way (five days route) ·Dingle Peninsula and the Blasket islands: Eco boat tours · Coolwood Park: wildlife park ·Crag Cave: · Famine cottage: is a relic of famine times in Ireland. · Ballybunion: Superb beach, seaweed baths

West: Clare· Craggaunowen- prehistoric park. · The Burren: monuments characteristic of every period from the Neolithic onwards· The village of Killaloe : the palace of Brian Ború, famed 11th century king of Ireland. ·Cliffs of Moher: 214-metre cliffs · The Aillwee Caves · Bunratty Castle and Folk Park

West: Limerick· Adare town: village with l thatched cottages, Tudor-style houses and gardens. · Celtic Park at Kilcornan: Ireland’s ancient history museum· Lough Gur: pre-celtic archaeological site.· The Ballyhoura Mountains walking trails.· Boyce gardens· Buttercap Farm·The Irish Harp Centre

West: Galway· Dun Aonghasa Fort: fort in Inishmore · Kylemore Abbey: Victorian-era castle.· Saint Brendan’s Cathedral (Conflert)· Aran Islands: traditional language, culture and music, unique in their geology and archaeology· Connemara National Park.· Killary Fjord· Atlantaquaria: Ireland’s largest aquarium·Medieval Banquets at Kinvara· Galway’s busy nightlife. · Glengowla mines

West: Mayo· Wesport House: 18th-century stately home set in parkland with a lake, terraces and gardens.·Achill island· Croagh Patrick: holy mountain · National Museum of Ireland’s country life· Féile Chois Chuain in Louisburg: Irish music festival

West: Roscommon· Boyle Abbey: 12th c. Cistercian monastery · King House: 1730 Georgian mansion · Roscommon Castle ruins· Strokestown Park and Famine Museum· Lough Key Forest Park and lake, Lough Key, Lough Gara and Lough Boderg.· Glender open Farm (Athlone) · Derryglad Folk Museum (Athlone): rural artifacts

West: Leitrim· Drumkeeran Heritage centre: Irish traditional farmhouse and cottage · Parkes castle: Lough Gill and manor house · Glencar waterfall· Glenfarne forest· Kinlough folk museum: · Swan Island Open Farm· Leitrim Crystal Market Yard: crystal gifts and tableware.

West: Sligo· Carrowmore Megalithic cementry· Sligo Abbey· Drumcliff church and visitor centre · Lakeview Gardens· Lough Gill : fishing· Gillighan’s World: botanical gardens with “enchanted” areas, miniature villages, and fairy folk.· Sligo Folk Park: 19th century village, houses and attractions

Famous IrishWritersJames Joyce ,Samuel Becket, Oscar

WildeBoyne: the boy with stripped pijamas

ActorsKenneth BranaghDaniel Day LewisPierce Brosnan