PERSONAL FLAG
My personal flag represents different
facets of myself. First, the constellation in
the corner represents the members of my
family. Second, the book represents my
deepest passion, reading. Third, the ring
represents my marriage, and last, the sun
represents my commitment to tending the
land where I live, be it gardening or
recycling.
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Who am I? I’m a teacher, a husband, a
reader, a gardener, and a gamer, but who
else am I? I’m a Tennessean who moved to
Texas. I’m a college graduate. But when I
consider those aspects of myself that
really define me, I see that family makes
me who I am. I’m a son, a brother, a
cousin, a nephew, an uncle, and a
grandson.
Where my family comes from is a long
story, spanning generations and several
countries. Some of my ancestors come
from England and others from Scotland.
Some come from Spain and others from
Ireland. This last country, Ireland, is of
particular interest as my closest family
members trace their heritage to there.
This is the story of my Irish heritage.
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LOCATION AND GEOGRAPHY
The Republic of Ireland is a small
country, only slightly bigger than West
Virginia in the United States, about 70,000
square kilometers in size. Bounded to the
West and North by the Atlantic Ocean,
Ireland is an island directly west of the
United Kingdom. To its east is the Irish
Sea, and to the southeast is St. George’s
Channel.
http://www.fofweb.com/
MAP OF IRELAND
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Concerning its geography, Ireland has
been likened to a saucer. The interior of
the island is made largely of lowlands,
with plateaus, mountains, and highlands
along the coasts. To the east are the grand
Wicklow Mountains, and to the southwest
are Macgillicuddy's Reeks. The country
features many rivers and streams, as well
as bogs and marshes. Ireland’s coasts are
famous for their strikingly beautiful
cliffs.
http://www.fofweb.com/
IRELAND’S FLAG
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CLIMATE
Ireland’s climate is wet but mild.
Depending on where in the country one
lives, average rainfall measures from 175
to 250 days per year, with about 60
percent of the country experiencing 30 to
50 inches of rain per year. Showers are
frequent, but so are sunny days. In
winter, the temperature averages a mild
40 degrees Fahrenheit and reaches on
average 60 degrees Fahrenheit in the
summer, rarely too cold, rarely too hot.
http://.wikimedia.org/
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GOVERNMENT
The government of Ireland is a
parliamentary republic with an elected
president and parliament that consists of
a senate and a house of representatives.
The president appoints a prime minister
to oversee the parliament. Ireland also has
a Supreme Court that is the highest
judicial body in the land. Government is
convened in the capital city of Ireland,
Dublin, and oversees a population of 4.1
million people.
http://www.fofweb.com/
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CULTURE
Ireland has a rich and varied culture.
Most of the inhabitants of Ireland are of
Celtic descent, though some are also
Norse, French, Norman, and English in
ancestry. Ireland has two official
languages, Gaelic and English. Concerning
religion, most people are Roman Catholic,
though some follow the Church of Ireland
or other religions. Ireland has a rich
musical history with many traditional
instruments, like the fiddle. Rugby and
boxing, and of course soccer, are major
sports in Ireland. Children must attend
school from age 6 to age 15. About half of
public secondary schools are run by the
Catholic Church. Traditional foods are
pork, lamb, and beef.
http://communication.ucsd.edu/bjones/Books/Book.scans/
cube-interlacing.GIF
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APPLE BARLEY PUDDING
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Makes 4 servings
4 tablespoons of Pearl barley
1.5 pounds of apples, peeled, cored and sliced
3 tablespoons of Sugar
Good cup of heavy cream
1 tablespoon of lemon juice
Boil the Barley in water and add the apples.
Cook until both begin to soften. Drain and blend
the mixture in a blender or sieve. Cook the
mixture after adding the sugar and lemon and
boil again. Allow to cool and then chill, adding
the cream on top.
http://photos.sparkpeople.co
m/9/5/955427175.jpg
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CONNECTION TO COUNTRY
My connection to Ireland comes from
my mother’s side. My great-great
grandparents emigrated from Ireland to
New York City during the great potato
famine. Their names were Isolde and
Tristan Baker. From New York City, they
would travel west where land was cheap
and available. On the way to Oklahoma,
Isolde gave birth to my great-grandfather,
who I would call Poppy. Poppy would
father my mother’s mother, the woman
who is my grandmother and still lives to
this day.
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CONCLUSION
I’ve yet to visit Ireland, but one day I
shall. Its glens and bogs, castles and kilts
remain foreign to me, but I have my
family providing that thin thread back
through time. And family, we know, is
what matters most.
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