Ireland

Zhejiang University of Finance & EconomicsDong Fang CollegeToriano Cook

The Republic of Ireland

Irish Tricolour• Green for Gaelic tradition of Ireland•White for peace• Orange for William of Orange

Geography of Ireland

Geography of Ireland•Most common features are low central plains, with coastal mountains surrounding.•Many rivers, lakes and bogs (swamps) throughout the country.• Longest river, Shannon (360 kilometers)• Corrib Lake is the largest lake in the country.• The tallest mountain is Carrantuohill (1,041 meters high)

Climate and Weather

• Ireland has a very uniform, maritime climate.•Winter 4°- 7°C, Summer 14°-16°C •Generally, very rainy year round.•East Coast – 760 millimeters of rain each year•West Coast – 2,533 millimeters of rain each year

Cities of Ireland

Dublin• The capital city of the Republic of Ireland.• Population of around 1,800,000 people• Very famous for its literary history, libraries

and museums. • In Irish called Dubhlinn, meaning "black pool“.• Known as the “Greenest capital city in Europe.

The Samuel Beckett Bridge

Trinity College, Dublin

The Custom House

Dublin Castle

O’Connell Bridge

Convention Centre Dublin

Scenic Dublin at Night

Cork

Galway

Limerick

History of Ireland• The early history of Ireland dates back to almost 6,000

years BC when people from Britain settled the island.• In the 6th century BC, Ireland was invaded by Celtic

tribes from Europe, creating a first unified culture and language of Ireland.

• In the 4th century, the island was invaded by the Gaels, bringing Gaelic culture and language.

• Christianity came to Ireland in 432 AD with the arrival of St. Patrick.

• Vikings settled in Ireland in the 8th century.• The arrival of the Normans in the 12th century marked

the start of English involvement in Ireland, resulting in full English control of the island in the 17th century.

British Rule over Ireland• In 1801, the Act of Union was passed, uniting Ireland and

Great Britain to create the United Kingdom.• The union was very beneficial for Britain, while Ireland

suffered heavily.• Due to the severe production demands of Britain, Ireland

experienced economic depression for years.• From 1845 to 1849 the Irish endured the Great Potato Famine.• The Great Potato Famine was a period when the main food crop

of the Irish, potatoes, faced disease and food production fell heavily.• The Irish had to rely on potatoes because the British took most

other food production back to Britain.• As a result, millions of Irish died during the Famine, with just as

many leaving to countries like Canada and the United States to find food and jobs.

Irish Fight For Independence• Due to the unfair conditions imposed by the

British on the Irish, many began to fight to become independent from Britain.

• The political party Sinn Féin was founded at the start of the 20th century by Authur Griffith.

• Sinn Féin members won 73 of 105 seats in British Parliament in 1918, but refused to participate.

• Instead, they set up an Irish Parliament and issued a Unilateral Declaration of Independence (unilateral meaning a decision made by one person or side, without agreement from another).

• This act started the Irish War of Independence.

The Anglo-Irish Treaty of 1921

• Treaty set up an independent Ireland, made up of 26 southern counties, while the other 6 northern counties would remain a part of the United Kingdom. • The 6 counties in the north sided with the UK and wanted to

remain a part of the kingdom.

• One stipulation of the treaty was that although Ireland would be a free nation, they would have to become a part of the British Commonwealth of Nations (like Canada, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa)• As a Commonwealth nation, Ireland would have to show

allegiance to the British monarch, accept a Governor General to represent the UK in national politics and Britain would continue to control some ports in Ireland.

Irish Civil War• The treaty and its points of continued support of the

UK created a split within Sinn Féin, with some for the treaty, others against.

• Those that supported the treaty said it was a temporary issue and Ireland would one day become a totally independent country and to complain might upset Britain and stop independence.

• Those against the treaty did not trust the British and argued for becoming a fully independent nation (like the United States).

• The result was the Irish Civil War, that split the country for years.

The Constitution of Ireland• In 1932, Fianna Fáil, an anti-treaty force, gained

control of the government.• On December 29, 1937, created the Constitution

of Ireland.• The Constitution:• Officially named the country Ireland.• Established an elected President (and got rid of the

British Governor General) as head of government.• Declared the entire island as the nation of Ireland

(including the 6 counties of Northern Ireland that remained a part of the United Kingdom)• Still remained a part of the Commonwealth, with the

British monarch still called the King/Queen of Ireland, but with no real power.

The Republic of Ireland

• During World War II, Ireland announced it would be neutral.

• Although Germany bombed Dublin in 1941, Ireland remained neutral, refusing to participate in the war on the side of the British.

• On April 18, 1949, Ireland declared itself fully independent of Britain and no longer a part of the Commonwealth of Nations.

• Britain recognized the declaration, but refused to give up Northern Ireland.

• This action by the British resulted in the creation of the Irish Republican Army (IRA), which fought, often using terrorist tactics, against the United Kingdom for the return of Northern Ireland to the Republic of Ireland.

Ireland Today• Today, Ireland has developed a very strong,

positive relationship with the United Kingdom.• In 1993, the British and Irish Prime Ministers

signed the Downing Street Declaration, creating an agreement to enforce a ceasefire in Northern Ireland.

• In 1998, the Belfast Agreement (or Good Friday Agreement) was created, issuing less British government in Northern Ireland.

• In 2005, the IRA formally declared an end to its violence against British rule in Northern Ireland.

Irish Government• The government of Ireland is dictated by the

Constitution (1937) as a parliamentary government. • It is a government of three branches:• Legislature: The Oireachtas (or Irish Parliament) made of a

the Dáil Éireann (the House of Representatives, with166 members) and the Seanad Éireann (the Senate, with 60 members). They create laws.• Executive: the President is Head of State (responsible for

domestic issues), the Prime Minister is Head of Government and the Cabinet or Prime Minister’s organizational leaders (appointed by the President)• Judiciary: the court system, with the Supreme Court,

High/Central Criminal Court, Court of Criminal Appeal and many local and regional courts.

Leinster House (Teach Laighean)

The Irish Economy• Traditionally an agricultural country.• Cattle, sheep and pigs• Main crops are wheat, barley and potatoes

• Leading Europe in high-tech industries, such as software and biological engineering. Many foreign corporations in the field of computers and electronics.• Dell assembly plants• Microsoft’s European Development Center in Dublin)

• Highest areas of growth in the export of computer and electrical machinery, chemical and pharmaceutical industries.

• Tourism is a very important market in Ireland.

The People of Ireland• Population of Ireland about 4.2 million (4,200,000)• Mostly of Celtic background, with many minorities:• French, English, Chinese and Indian

• Because of the Great Potato Famine, there is a large international Irish diaspora.• In the United States, almost 13% of the population claims Irish

ancestry• 30% of the Australians are estimated to be Irish

• 90% of Ireland is Roman Catholic; Catholicism is very important in Irish culture, with more people attending church in Ireland than in any other country!

• Irish are very open about religion and it affects many public social issues.

• Irish Constitution guarantees religious freedom, so there are communities of Islam, Judaism and Protestantism.

Languages of Ireland• Ireland has two official languages, English and

Irish.• Irish is the first, English is the second

• Irish is more commonly known as Irish Gaelic.• Gaelic is a part of the Celtic language group

(languages spoken by people in the British Isles, with roots in Northern European languages).

• Although English is the dominant language in the country today, public signs are usually written in both languages and both are taught in public schools throughout the country.

• ‘Gaelic’ in Gaelic type

Let’s speak Irish Gaelic!• Tá leabhar agam.

• "I have a book." • Tá leabhar agat.

• "You have a book."• Tá leabhar aige.

• "He has a book."• Tá leabhar aici.

• "She has a book."• Tá leabhar againn.

• "We have a book."• Tá leabhar acu.

• "They have a book."

Irish Drinking Culture• First written record of whiskey was found in

Ireland from 1405 AD.• The oldest pub in Ireland dates back to 1198.• ‘Pub culture’ is very important in Irish society.

Often the pub is the center of social life in many small towns and villages, where residents meet and discuss community matters.

• The 18th and 21st birthdays are the biggest celebrations in a young person’s early life.

• For the 21st celebration many people have a huge party, with family and friends. They may drink as much alcohol as possible before the night is finished.

Irish Drinking Culture• St. Patrick’s Day is a celebration of one of Ireland's

patron saints St. Patrick. For nearly a week the celebrations prevail with firework displays and parades not only in Ireland but all around the world.

• It is a day where many people have an excuse to drink all day long and not feel bad about it. Guinness and green beer are very popular drinks on the holiday.

• At wakes (generally held the night before a funeral, where family and friends accompany the dead throughout the night, to ensure the safety of the body before being buried), a tradition common in Ireland, the Irish celebrate the life of the dead and often drink whiskey as they reflect on the life and good times spent with them.

Guinness Beer• Started by Arthur Guinness in

1759 at the St. Jame’s Gate Brewery in Dublin.

• Called a “stout beer“, referring to its strength, flavor and color.

• In the past, claimed to be very healthy for the heart.

• One of the most successful beer brands worldwide. Today it is available in over 120 countries, with breweries in 60 countries.

Irish Dance• Commonly called “Irish Step Dancing”• One of the styles of dance that contributed to the evolution of

modern tap dance.

• Style is said to have started when the British banned dancing in Ireland.

• Many Irish used Dutch doors and would shut the bottom of their doors and continue to dance only using their feet--with their arms rigid by their sides.

• Danced to traditional Irish music, either in groups with choreographed movements, in a line or alone, as a solo dance.

• Today very popular art form in the Irish diaspora, with competitions held internationally and many groups performing around the world, like the famous “Riverdance” show.

Dutch doors

Irish Popular Music• Although there are many varieties of Irish traditional

music, Rock music has become the dominant form of popular music in Ireland.

• Famous musicians from Ireland: The Cranberries, Ash, The Clancy Brothers, The Dubliners, Enya, Thin Lizzy, Van Morrison, One Direction, Sinéad O’Connor, Snow Patrol, The Undertones, U2 and Westlife

• Many rock Irish rock musicians have been very political about Northern Ireland and other world issues.• U2’s lead singer, Bono, has been an avid participant with the

United Nations.• Sinéad O’Connor was gained fame in the 1980s and 1990s with

her open views about the British and their control of Northern Ireland and criticism of the Catholic church.

“Sunday Bloody Sunday”

• One of the more notable political Irish songs, “Sunday Bloody Sunday” by U2 in 1983, recounts one of many Bloody Sunday incidents, where British soldiers killed 13 unarmed Irish at a civil rights protest in Derry, Northern Ireland in 1972.

• The song is also significant for the Irish as there was another first Bloody Sunday incident in 1920, where British soldiers fired into a crowd and killed many spectators at a football match in Dublin.

• Today, it is common to hear football spectators chanting the song at Ireland national team football matches, especially when they play the English national team.

Did you get everything???• The Republic of Ireland occupies the entire island of

Ireland. T / F• The earliest people in Ireland were Celtic tribes from

Europe. T / F• In the 1800s, Ireland gained prosperity becoming a part of

Britain. T / F• In the 1930s, Ireland was not truly independent as a part

of the British Commonwealth of Nations. T / F• In 1949, Britain recognized the independence of Ireland

and returned the six northern counties. T / F• English is the only official language of Ireland because so

many people speak it. T / F• Catholicism in Ireland is a matter of public identity. T / F