Ireland

November 2, 2011

• Island• Capital: Dublin

– 1 million

• Total Population: 4 million• Other cities: Galway, Cork• President: Mary McAleese• Prime Minister: Brian Cowen• Language

– Most speak English, BUT…– Irish taught in schools

• 88% Roman Catholic (Ireland)– Northern Ireland (Protestant)– Reason for Civil War and Northern

Ireland creating own country

• Euro• Life expectancy: 77• 99% literacy rate• No death penalty• Guinness Brewery

– 9000 year lease– Most popular beer in

Ireland

• #1 beer consumption• St. Patrick’s Day

– National Holiday– Whole world celebrates

• Great Potato Famine– 1845 - 1852– Potato most popular food

• Cheap to buy• Easy to grow in soil in

Ireland

• 1845: too much rain– Potatoes rotted

• People have no food– Starve– Leave Ireland

• Population split in half