Description
Ireland is separated between the Republic of Ireland (Eire) and Northern Ireland which are part of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. The country is split into 4 provinces: Leinster, Munster, Connaught and Ulster, and 32 counties.
Surface
Area
Population
Capital
Language
Republic of Ireland (Eire)
70 273 km² (= 84 % of the Island)
About 4,58 million (2011)
Dublin (with 1,2 million inhabitants)
English and Gaelic
Northern Ireland
13 843 km²
About 1,81 million
Belfast (with 281 000 inhabitants)
English
Religion
Chief of
State
Political
Regime
86,8 % of Catholics and 5,1 % of
Protestants
Michael D. Higgins (since
November 2011)
Parliamentary democracy
Currency The Euro
Designated UNESCO World Heritage Sites:
48,4 % of protestants and about 45,8
% of Catholics
Queen Elizabeth II of England (since
February 1952)
Parliamentary monarchy
The Pound
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Brú na Bóinne - the Archeological Ensemble of the Blend of the Boyne (1993)
Sceilg Mhichíl: The rocky island of Skellig Michael (1996)
Giant’s Causeway (Northern Ireland)
Livestock is an essential resource for the country (oats, barley (for beer), and potatoes). With European aid and substantial foreign investment, the industry

(mechanical and electronic constructions, printing, pharmaceuticals, electronics,
IT) has developed, as well as services (insurance, tourism).
The country experienced from the years 1990 a strong growth, weakened by global financial and economic crisis which emerged in 2007. Ireland was the first
European country to enter a recession. In 2010, the explosion of the consecutive deficit in efforts to save the banking sector forced Ireland to seek assistance in its partners: the European Union and the International Monetary Fund and to adopt a drastic austerity program.
Before the financial crisis, Ireland owns the second positon in the European Union for the GDP per inhabitant.
Irish people are often deeply in debt and do not consume much: the consumer demand fell with 25%! The downtowns do not find buyers to take over the businesses. The rate of unemployment is high too with 11,7% in the Republic of
Ireland and 7,2% in Northern Ireland.
The young graduates predominantly remain without an employment and do not see another choice than emigrating. The government estimates that 100 000 Irish have been leaving the country since the crisis started.
Now in 2015, the Irish economy is getting better thanks to a lot of exportations and dynamic investments! Ireland benefited from commercial bounds with the United
States and United Kingdom.

In the past, we did not talk about Irish gastronomy. It was limited to
“fundamentals” like the Irish stew (sheep stew, national meal), to offered simple meals in the pubs (pub grub) and to the traditional fish & chips.
Then, some “châteaux-hôtels”, country manors started to suggest a high-quality cuisine (but very expensive). A few chefs, who had training with the best European brigades (especially French) little by little, reinvented the Irish cuisine by merging tradition and creativity. This evolution was favored by the variety of re markable productions of the country. Ireland is one of the largest producers of cheese, fish and seafood (oysters from the Bay of Galway, eels from the Lough Neagh, wild salmon) and meats (lamb of Connemara, beef).
Today, some pubs run on a high level and offer very well-made meals with cheap prices. With the crisis, some addresses suggest interesting menus such as “early bird”. For those who wish to picnic, farmers markets are a good bargain to taste local cheese, marmalades, seasonal products, natural fruit juices, and local cakes.
Follow, you will find meals and ingredients that are the most popular in Ireland:
Irish Stew
It is a traditional and very popular dish nowadays, and used in most restaurants and pubs of Ireland (It is also unlikely to encounter an Irish Pub that does not offer it!). Beyond being a inexpensive course, it is mainly a meal of top flavor and taste. Lamb marries perfectly with potatoes and onions, and sauce made with Guinness (stout or other) is delicious when eaten with Brown Bread... If you add a good pint of Irish beer (the same used for the dish preferably), and you'll be in heaven!
Steak with Irish whiskey
When it is flavored with Irish whiskey, the beef is among the most common gourmet meals in Ireland! Very popular, it provides fine and tasty steaks that require very little preparation time. To select a whiskey, you have carte blanche, it is better to avoid whiskeys of over 10 years of age: using them to cook is a pity... In accompaniment, use steaks with fries, potatoes, or peas for a little freshness.

Colcannon
It is a very nutritious meal. This is a thick mash cooked potato base, cabbage, butter, milk, and onions. This is especially served for
Halloween and during cold winter days. The tradition is also that we hide a clean coin in the puree: whosoever will find it in his plate will be affected by the chance for the next days! An equivalent of the King cake somehow!
Corned beef with cabbage
This dish is mostly made by Irish living in the United States to celebrate
St Patrick’s Day. It is not recognized as a national dish in Ireland. The Irish immigrants started using corned beef and cabbage instead of their traditional bacon and cabbage in the late 19 th century. The unpopularity of corned beef in Ireland comes from its relationship with beef in general. In the past, cattle in Ireland were not used for their meat but for their strength in the fields, for their milk and for the dairy products produced.
In Gaelic Ireland, cows were a symbol of wealth and a sacred animal. The corned beef is served with cabbage, potatoes, carrots and onions.
Irish Potato Candy
Irish people love this pastry. It is made of butter, cinnamon, coconut, vanilla, sugar and fresh cheese. However, this candy is apparently from the United States near
Philadelphia and not Ireland. It would have been created by Irish immigrants to be served for St Patrick’s Day. It is called potato because of its resemblance with the vegetable.

Bailey’s Cheesecake
The recipe of Bailey's is so successful that the Bailey's Cheesecake has become a kind of national dessert, acclaimed by many
Irish! Fine and delicious, it is a mix of fresh cheese (mascarpone), butter and
Bayley's Irish Cream, served on a delicious shortbread. The result is rather rich and caloric, but it gives the cake a softer and fluffier look. You will easily find in most restaurants and local Irish pubs.
Generally, this cheesecake is served on special family occasions (birthdays, family meals) or during St. Patrick. When it is accompanied by a good coffee or an Irish breakfast tea, this cake is amazing!
Cream Scones
They are equally tasty as traditional scones, and usually eaten with butter and jam (or marmalade). They are easy to make and are found in most Irish pastries at ridiculously cheap prices. Their taste is more airy than a normal scone, and it is often more digestible.
The Irish love it and do not hesitate to eat at breakfast but also during snack time.
Boxty
It is a traditional Irish dish that takes the form of a large crepe stuffed with potatoes, and other ingredients that are added according to envy.
Irish people like to eat regularly, all accompanied by a white sauce and a good pint. The dish is delicious, easy to make and just as easy to eat! They are found everywhere in Ireland, either in Irish gourmet restaurants, or in the good old Irish Pubs of the island.

Beef and Guinness Stew
Serves 4
Ingredients:
200 ml of Guinness Foreign
Extra Stout
400g stewing diced beef
1 medium onion
1 large carrot
1 large celery
1 large parsnip
1 liter of thick beef stock
Sprigs of fresh thyme and rosemary
Champ potato (creamed mash potato and spring onion)
Directions:
Stir fry the beef, add the vegetables and cook till tender, then pour the Guinness and reduce by half.
Add the beef stock and herbs and simmer very slowly for between an hour and an hour and a half.
Serve with the champ potato and honey roast carrot and parsnip.
 In the August ESL e-newsletter, we will talk about Russia!