Tracking through Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland locally /ˈɑrlənd/; Irish: Éire, described as the Republic of Ireland (Irish: Poblacht na
hÉireann), is a state in northwest Europe with a population of almost 4.5 million people. It is
a parliamentary democratic constitutional republic occupying approximately five-sixths of the
island of Ireland. It is bordered to the northeast by Northern Ireland, which is a part of the
United Kingdom, and is otherwise surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean, the Irish Sea to the east,
St George's Channel to the southeast, and the Celtic Sea to the south.
The state, initially the Irish Free State, was established on 6 December 1922 as a dominion
within the British Commonwealth as a result of the Anglo-Irish Treaty, which concluded the
Irish War of Independence. In 1949, Ireland was declared a republic by removing the
remaining duties of the monarch. Consequently, Ireland left the then British Commonwealth.
During British rule and initial independence, Ireland was one of the poorest countries in
Western Europe and experienced high emigration. Despite this, in contrast to many other
states in that period, it stayed financially solvent and remained a democracy. In 1973, Ireland
joined what is now called the European Union.
The rapid growth of the economy during the 1990s saw the beginning of unprecedented
economic growth in the phenomenon known as the "Celtic Tiger", which lasted until the
global financial crisis of 2007–2010.
Ireland is one of the world's most developed countries. Ireland is a member of the OECD
(Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development), the WTO (World Trade
Organisation) and the UN.
The national flag of Ireland (Irish: bratach na hÉireann / suaitheantas na hÉireann) is a
vertical tricolour of green (at the hoist), white, and orange. It is also known as the Irish
tricolour.
The harp, and specifically the Cláirseach (or Gaelic harp), has long been Ireland's heraldic
emblem. It appears on the coat of arms that was officially registered as the arms of the state of
Ireland on 9 November 1945. It is the primary symbol for Ireland, appearing on postage
stamps, government insignia and the Irish euro coins.
The Government of Ireland registered shamrock as a trademark. It is also informally used as
an emblem for sports teams and state organisations within Ireland.
Location of Ireland (dark green)
Dublin
Capital
(and largest city)
53°20.65′N 6°16.05′W /
53.34417°N 6.2675°W
Official language(s)
Ethnic groups
Demonym
Government
President
Taoiseach
Tánaiste
Legislature
Upper House
Lower House
Independence
Declared
Ratified
Recognised
Constitution
Became a
republic
EU accession
Area
Total
Irish, English
87% White Irish 13%
Other[1][2]
Irish (Éireannaigh)
Constitutional
republic
Parliamentary
democracy
Mary McAleese
Brian Cowen TD
Mary Coughlan TD
Oireachtas
Seanad Éireann
Dáil Éireann
from the United
Kingdom
24 April 1916
21 January 1919
6 December 1922
29 December 1937
18 April 1949
1 January 1973
70,273 km2 (119th)
27,133 sq mi
2.00
Water (%)
Population
2010 estimate 4,470,700 [3] (120th)
2006 census 4,239,848
63.4/km2 (139th)
Density
164.2/sq mi
A map of the 32 traditional counties of Ireland, showing the 26 counties of the Republic
of Ireland (dark green) and the 6 counties of Northern Ireland (light green).
Cities Population (2006)
Provinces Population (2006)
Dublin 1,045,769
Leinster 2,295,123
Cork 190,384
Munster 1,173,340
Limerick 90,757
Connacht 504,121
Galway 72,729
Ulster (part) 267,264
Waterford 49,213
Landscape
The island of Ireland extends over 84,421 km2 (32,595 sq mi), of which approximately fivesixths belongs to the Republic of Ireland (70,280 km2/27,135 sq mi) and the remainder
constitutes Northern Ireland. It is bounded to the north and west by the Atlantic Ocean and to
the northeast by the North Channel. To the east coast is the Irish Sea, which reconnects to the
ocean via the southwest with St George's Channel and the Celtic Sea. The west coast of
Ireland mostly consists of cliffs, hills and low mountains. The highest point in the country is
Carrauntoohil at 1,038 m or 3,406 ft, which situated in the Macgillycuddy's Reeks mountain
range.
The interior of the country is relatively flat land, traversed by rivers such as the River
Shannon and several large lakes or loughs. The large central lowlands consist of limestone
covered with glacial deposits of clay and sand. It is part of the River Shannon watershed.
Ireland also has offshore deposits of oil and gas. Main urban areas include Dublin on the east
coast, Cork in the south, Limerick in the mid-west, Galway on the west coast, and Waterford
on the south east coast.
Climate
Ireland has a temperate oceanic climate with temperatures rarely lower than −3 °C
(26.6 °F) in winter or higher than 22 °C (72 °F) in summer. The Atlantic Ocean is the
main force shaping Ireland's weather and there is a warming influence due to the Gulf Stream.
Temperatures differ from region to region, with the middle and east tending to be more
extreme in comparison to other areas. Sunshine duration is highest in the southeast.
Ireland's rainfall patterns are highest in the winter and lowest during the early months of
summer. Determined by the southwesterly Atlantic winds, geographically the northwest, west
and southwest of the country receives the most substantial rainfall, with Dublin being the
driest region. The far-north and west of Ireland are two of the windiest regions in Europe with
substantial potential for wind energy generation. The highest temperature recorded in Ireland
was 33.3 °C (91.9 °F) on 26 June 1887 at Kilkenny Castle in Kilkenny, while the lowest was
−19.1 °C (−2.4 °F) on 16 January 1881 at Markree Castle, Sligo.
Month
Average high
°C (°F)
Average low
°C (°F)
Precipitation
mm (inches)
Climate data for Ireland
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
8.2 8.5 10.5 12.7 15.3 17.9 19.4 19.2 17.2 14.2 10.4 8.9 13.5
(46.8) (47.3) (50.9) (54.9) (59.5) (64.2) (66.9) (66.6) (63) (57.6) (50.7) (48) (56.3)
2.6 2.7 3.6 4.8 7.3 10.1 12 11.7 10.1 8.0 4.5 3.6 6.75
(36.7) (36.9) (38.5) (40.6) (45.1) (50.2) (54) (53.1) (50.2) (46.4) (40.1) (38.5) (44.15)
108 65 104 52
91
76
58 115 114 132 107 124 1,146
(4.25) (2.56) (4.09) (2.05) (3.58) (2.99) (2.28) (4.53) (4.49) (5.2) (4.21) (4.88) (45.12)
Source: Ireland Logue (examples used are Shannon and Galway)[59][60]
Currency
In 1999, Ireland launched the euro currency with 11 other EU member states.
Before the introduction of the euro notes and coins in January 2002, Ireland used the Irish
pound or punt. In January 1999, Ireland was one of eleven European Union member states,
which launched the European Single Currency, the euro. Euro banknotes are issued in €5,
€10, €20, €50, €100, €200 and €500 denominations and share the common design used across
Europe, however like other countries in the eurozone, Ireland has its own unique design on
one face of euro coins. The government decided on a single national design for all Irish coin
denominations, which show a Celtic harp, a traditional symbol of Ireland, decorated with the
year of issue and the word Éire.
Recent developments
Ireland is currently ranked as the world's third most economically free economy in an index
created by the Wall Street Journal and Heritage Foundation, the Index of Economic Freedom.
The global recession has affected Ireland significantly, with economic growth slowing after
the construction boom of the last decade. However, the economy is showing signs of stability,
with a fall in house prices and the cost of living. During the boom, Ireland was one of the
most expensive countries in Europe.
The European Commission is forecasting that the Irish economy will grow by 3% in 2011,
which is one of the fastest rates of economic growth predicted for any EU member state.
Transport
Heuston Station
The state has three main international airports (Dublin, Shannon, and Cork) that serve a wide
variety of European and intercontinental routes with scheduled and chartered flights. The
national airline is Aer Lingus, although low cost airline Ryanair is the largest airline. The
route between London and Dublin is the busiest international air route in Europe, with 4.5
million people flying between the two cities in 2006.
Iarnród Éireann provides railway services. Dublin is the centre of the network, with two main
stations (Heuston and Connolly) linking to the main towns and cities. The Enterprise service,
run jointly with Northern Ireland Railways, connects Dublin with Belfast. Dublin has a
steadily improving public transport network of varying quality including the DART, Luas,
Bus service and an expanding rail network.
Ryanair
The road network is focused on Dublin, and motorways are currently being extended to other
major cities.
Regular ferry services operate between Ireland and Britain, the Isle of Man and France.
Education
University College Cork
Ireland has three levels of education: primary, secondary and higher education. The education
systems are largely under the direction of the government via the Minister for Education and
Science. All children must receive compulsory education between the ages of six and fifteen
years, and all children up to the age of eighteen must complete the first three years of
secondary schools. More than 38 Higher Education Institutions confer third-level education
awards.
Demographics
Genetic research suggests that the first settlers of Ireland came through migrations from Iberia
following the end of the most recent ice age. After the Mesolithic, the Neolithic and Bronze
Age, migrants introduced Celtic culture and languages. These later migrants from the
Neolithic to Bronze Age still represent a majority of the genetic heritage of Irish people.
Culture spread throughout the island, and the Gaelic tradition became the dominant form in
Ireland. Today, Irish people are mainly of Gaelic ancestry, and some of Norse, AngloNorman, English, Scottish, French and Welsh ancestry. Gaelic culture forms an
important part of national identity. In the UK Irish Travellers are a recognised ethnic
minority group, politically linked with Roma and Gypsy groups, but are classified as a "social
group" in Ireland.
Ireland has one of the fastest growing populations in Europe. Ireland has the youngest
population in Europe, with only 11.2% over 65.
Language
There are a number of languages used in Ireland. Irish is the main language to have originated
from within the island. Since the later 19th century, English has become the predominant first
language having been a spoken language in Ireland since the Middle Ages. A large minority
claim some ability to speak Irish today, although it is the first language only of a small
percentage of the population. Under the constitution of the Republic of Ireland, both
languages have official status with Irish being the national and first official language. In
Northern Ireland, English is the dominant state language, whilst Irish and Ulster Scots are
recognised minority languages.
Road signs are usually bilingual, except in Gaeltacht regions. Most public notices and print
media are in English only. Most Government publications are available in both languages, and
citizens have the right to deal with the state in Irish. Media in Irish exist on TV (TG4), radio
(e.g. RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta), and in print (e.g. Foinse).
Religion
Ireland's constitution provides for freedom of religion. Christianity is the country's
predominant religion, with the largest church being the Roman Catholic Church. In
2006, 86.8% of the population identified themselves as Roman Catholic, 4.4% described
themselves as having "no religion.", and 1.7% did not respond to the question.
Christ Church Cathedral is the oldest of Dublin's two mediæval cathedrals, the other being St.
Patrick's Cathedral.
Ireland's patron saints are Saint Patrick, Saint Bridget and Saint Columba. Saint Patrick is
the only one commonly recognised as the patron saint. Saint Patrick's Day is celebrated on 17
March in Ireland and abroad as the Irish national day, with parades and other celebrations.
Saint Patrick’s life
When he was about 16 he was captured from Britain by Irish raiders and was taken as a
slave to Ireland, where he lived for six years before escaping and returning to his family.
After entering the Church, he returned to Ireland as an ordained bishop in the north
and west of the island, but little is known about the places where he worked. He
supposedly lived from 340 to 440, and ministered in what is modern day Northern
Ireland from 428 onwards. The dates of Patrick's life cannot be fixed with certainty, but
on a widespread interpretation, he was active as a missionary in Ireland during the
second half of the 5th century. His mission in Ireland lasted for thirty years. After that
time, Patrick retired to County Down. He died on March 17 in AD 461. That day has
been commemorated as St. Patrick's Day ever since. By the seventh century, he had
come to be revered as the patron saint of Ireland.
A legend credits Patrick with eliminating snakes from the island , though all evidence
suggests that post-glacial Ireland never had snakes; one suggestion is that snakes
referred to the serpent symbolism of the Druids (pagan ‘priests’) of that time and place.
Legend also credits Patrick with teaching the Irish about the concept of the Trinity by
showing people the shamrock, a 3-leaved clover, using it to highlight the Christian belief
of 'three divine persons in the one God'.
Culture
Ardboe High Cross,
County Tyrone
Celtic crosses, such as this, are a major source of our
knowledge of Celtic knot design
Ireland's culture comprises elements of the culture of ancient immigration and influences
(such as Gaelic culture) and more recent Anglicisation and Americanisation as well as
participation in a broader European culture. In broad terms, Ireland is regarded as one of the
Celtic nations of Europe, which also includes Scotland, Wales, Cornwall, Isle of Mann and
Brittany. This combination of cultural influences is visible in the intricate designs termed Irish
interlace or Celtic knotwork. These can be seen in the ornamentation of medieval religious
and secular works. The style is still popular today in jewellery and graphic art, as the
distinctive style of traditional Irish music and dance, and became indicative of modern
"Celtic" culture in general.
Religion has played a significant role in the cultural life of the island since ancient times
and since the 17th century, has been the focus of political identity and divisions on the island.
Ireland's pre-Christian heritage fused with the Celtic Church following the missions of Saint
Patrick in the 5th century. The Hiberno-Scottish missions, begun by the Irish monk Saint
Columba, spread the Irish vision of Christianity to pagan England and the Frankish Empire.
These missions brought written language to an illiterate population of Europe during the Dark
Ages that followed the fall of Rome, earning Ireland the sobriquet, "the island of saints and
scholars". In recent years, the Irish pubs have become outposts of Irish culture worldwide.
Literature and theatre
Ireland has made a large contribution to world literature in all its branches, particularly in the
English language. Poetry in Irish is the oldest vernacular poetry in Europe, with the earliest
examples dating from the 6th century. In English, Jonathan Swift, still often called the
foremost satirist in the English language, was wildly popular in his day for works such as
Gulliver's Travels and A Modest Proposal and Oscar Wilde is known most for his often
quoted witticisms.
In the 20th century, Ireland produced four winners of the Nobel Prize for Literature:
George Bernard Shaw, William Butler Yeats, Samuel Beckett and Seamus Heaney.
Although not a Nobel Prize winner, James Joyce is widely considered one of the most
significant writers of the 20th century. Joyce's 1922 novel Ulysses is considered one of the
most important works of Modernist literature and his life is celebrated annually on 16 June in
Dublin as "Bloomsday". Modern Irish literature is often connected with its rural heritage
through writers such as John McGahern and poets such as Seamus Heaney.
James Joyce is one of the most significant writers of the 20th century.
William Butler Yeats
Poets include W.B. Yeats (Nobel Prize in Literature laureate), Patrick Kavanagh, Seamus
Heaney(who is born in Northern Ireland but lives in Dublin) (Nobel Literature laureate),
Thomas McCarthy and Dermot Bolger. There are prominent writers in the Irish language.
Following in the tradition of Shaw (Nobel Prize in Literature Laureate), Wilde and Samuel
Beckett (Nobel Prize in Literature Laureate), playwrights such as Seán O'Casey, Brian Friel,
Sebastian Barry, Brendan Behan, Conor McPherson and Billy Roche have gained popular
success.
The history of Irish theatre in the familiar sense begins with the rise of the English
administration in Dublin at the start of the 17th century. Over the following 400 years, Ireland
has made a significant contribution to drama in English. In its early history, theatrical
productions in Ireland tended to serve the political purposes of the administration, but as more
theatres opened and the popular audience grew, a more diverse range of entertainments were
staged. Many Dublin-based theatres developed links with their London equivalents and
performers and productions from the British capital frequently found their way to the Irish
stage. However, most Irish playwrights from William Congreve to George Bernard Shaw
found it necessary to go abroad to establish themselves. At the beginning of the 20th century,
theatre companies dedicated to the staging of Irish plays and the development of writers,
directors and performers began to emerge. This allowed many of the most significant Irish
dramatists to learn their trade and establish their reputations in Ireland rather than in the UK
or USA.
The national theatre is the Abbey Theatre founded in 1904 and the national Irishlanguage theatre is An Taibhdhearc, established in 1928 in Galway. Playwrights such as
Seán O'Casey, Brian Friel, Sebastian Barry, Conor McPherson and Billy Roche are
internationally renowned.
Music and dance
Westlife
Ireland is known for its traditional music, which has remained vibrant despite globalising
cultural forces. Irish music has kept many of its traditional aspects and has influenced many
forms of music, such as country and roots music in the USA, which in turn have had some
influence on modern rock music. It has occasionally fused with rock and roll, punk rock and
other genres. Among the best-known modern performers are groups such as The Dubliners,
The Chieftains, Clannad, The Saw Doctors and Altan, singers such as Christy Moore and
Mary Black, ensembles such as Anúna and Celtic Woman and cross-over artists such as
singers Enya and Sinéad O'Connor.
Ireland has produced internationally influential artists in other genres such as rock, pop, jazz
and blues including The Pogues, U2, Boyzone, Westlife, Chris de Burgh, Ronan Keating,
Thin Lizzy, The Corrs, The Cranberries, Damien Rice, Blues guitarist Rory Gallagher and
Academy Award winner Glen Hansard of The Frames. Contemporary artists include The
Script, The Coronas, Republic of Loose, Bell X1, Cathy Davey, Jape, Two Door Cinema
Club, Fight Like Apes, The Blizzards, Mick Flannery, and Lisa Hannigan.
There are a number of classical music ensembles around the country such as the RTÉ
Performing Groups. Opera lovers are catered for by three organisations, Opera Ireland, which
produces large-scale operas in Dublin, Opera Theatre Company, which is also based in
Dublin, and tours its chamber-style operas throughout the country, and the third being the
annual Wexford Opera Festival, which in the autumn promotes lesser-known operas and is
located in Wexford city.
Traditional Irish dancing can broadly divide into social dance and performance dances.
Irish social dance is a living tradition and variations in particular dances are found
across the Irish dance community; in some places, dances are deliberately modified and
new dances are choreographed. Performance dancing is traditionally referred to as
stepdance. Irish stepdance, popularised in 1994 by the world-famous show "Riverdance", is
notable for its rapid leg movements. The solo stepdance is generally characterised by a
controlled but not rigid upper body, straight arms, and quick, precise movements of the feet.
The solo dances can either be in "soft shoe" or hard shoe".
During the 1990s, a sub-genre of folk metal emerged in Ireland that fused heavy metal music
with Irish and Celtic music. The pioneers of this sub-genre were Cruachan, Primordial, and
Waylander. Some contemporary music groups stick closer to a "traditional" sound, including
Altan, Téada, Danú, Dervish, Lúnasa, and Solas. Others incorporate multiple cultures in a
fusion of styles, such as Afro Celt Sound System and Kíla. The theme is can also be seen
among Ireland's entries to the Eurovision Song Contest, where Ireland is also the most
successful country in the competition with seven wins.
The earliest known Irish graphic art and sculpture are Neolithic carvings found at sites such as
Newgrange and is traced through Bronze Age artefacts and the religious carvings and
illuminated manuscripts of the medieval period. During the course of the 19th and 20th
centuries, a strong tradition of painting emerged, including such figures as John Butler Yeats,
William Orpen, Jack Yeats and Louis le Brocquy.
Food and drink
Gubbeen cheese, an example of the resurgence in Irish cheese making
Irish food and cuisine takes its influence from the crops grown and animals farmed in the
island's temperate climate and from the social and political circumstances of Irish history. For
example, whilst from the Middle Ages until the arrival of the potato in the 16th century the
dominant feature of the Irish economy was the herding of cattle, the number of cattle a person
owned was equated to their social standing. Thus, herders would avoid slaughtering a milkproducing cow.
For this reason, pork and white meat were more common than beef and a thick fatty strips of
salted bacon (or rashers) and the eating of salted butter (i.e. a dairy product rather than beef
itself) have been a central feature of the Irish diet since the Middle Ages.
The introduction of the potato in the second half of the 16th century heavily influenced
cuisine thereafter. Great poverty encouraged a subsistence approach to food and by the mid19th century, the vast majority of the population sufficed with a diet of potatoes and milk.
Consequently, dishes that are considered as national dishes represent a fundamental
unsophistication to cooking, such as the Irish stew, bacon and cabbage, boxty, a type of
potato pancake, or colcannon, a dish of mashed potatoes and kale or cabbage.
Irish stew
True Irish stew is always made with lamb.
Onions, carrots, and potatoes round out this
hearty dish. Make this stew the day before. It
is even better reheated.
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 2 hours
Total Time: 2 hours, 15 minutes
Ingredients:
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1/2 pound thickly sliced bacon, diced
6 pounds boneless lamb shoulder, cut into 2-inch pieces
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
2 cloves garlic, peeled and finely chopped
1 large yellow onion, peeled and finely chopped
1/2 cup water
4 cups homemade beef stock or use canned
2 teaspoons sugar
4 cups carrots, cut into 1-inch pieces
2 large yellow onions, peeled and sliced
3 pounds potatoes, peeled, quartered, and cut into 1/2-inch pieces
1 teaspoon dried thyme, whole
1 bay leaf
1/2 cup dry white wine
Chopped parsley
Preparation:
Using a large frying pan, saute the bacon. Reserve the fat and the bacon.
In a large mixing bowl place the lamb, salt, pepper, and flour. Toss to coat the meat evenly.
Reheat the frying pan. In batches, toss the meat in the flour to coat evenly, then brown in the
reserved bacon fat. If you run out of fat, use a little oil. Transfer the browned meat to a 10-
quart stove top casserole, leaving about 1/4 cup of fat in the frying pan.
Add the garlic and yellow onion to the pan and saute until the onion begins to color a bit.
Deglaze the frying pan with 1/2 cup of water and add the garlic-onion mixture to the
casserole, along with the reserved bacon pieces, beef stock, and sugar. Cover and simmer for
1-1/2 hours, or until tender.
Add the carrots, onions, potatoes, thyme, bay leaf, and wine to the pot and simmer, covered,
for about 20 minutes until the vegetables are tender. Check for salt and pepper before serving.
Top with the parsley garnish before serving.
Yield: 12 servings
Irish Bacon and Cabbage
1 Shannon Traditional Slab Bacon (11/4 2lb)
1/2 green cabbage and 1/2 white cabbage
8
potatoes
(peeled)
Salt and pepper
1. Remove slab bacon from plastic bag.
Cover with cold water.
2. Bring to boil and drain.
3 Cover with fresh cold water. Bring to boil and then simmer for 25 minutes per 1lb plus 25
minutes over.
4. Remove outer leaves of cabbage. Cut in half, add to the saucepan and simmer for the last
20 minutes.
5. Remove bacon to chopping board and carve into thin slices. Drain cabbage, season with
salt & pepper, chop and add a knob of butter.
6. Serve the bacon with the cabbage and boiled potatoes as well as your choice of sauce nnon
Traditional
Slab
Bacon
(11/4
2lb)
1/2
green
cabbage
and
1/2
white
cabbage
8
potatoes
(peeled)
Salt and pepper
1. Remove slab bacon from plastic bag. Cover with cold water.
2. Bring to boil and drain.
3. Cover with fresh cold water. Bring to boil and then simmer for 25 minutes per 1lb plus 25
minutes over.
4. Remove outer leaves of cabbage. Cut in half, add to the saucepan and simmer for the last
20 minutes.
5. Remove bacon to chopping board and carve into thin slices. Drain cabbage, season with
salt & pepper, chop and add a knob of butter.
6. Serve the bacon with the cabbage and boiled potatoes as well as your choice of sauce.
Boxty (Irish Potato Pancakes)
1 c. flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1 c. mashed potatoes
1 c. finely grated raw potato
2 eggs
1/3 c. milk
1 tbsp. butter
Sift baking powder and salt into a bowl.
When well mixed, blend in mashed cooked potatoes. Squeeze the finely grated raw potatoes
in a tea towel to remove excess moisture. Add it to the bowl along with 2 eggs, well beaten,
and just enough milk to make a thick batter.
In a skillet, melt butter. Drop batter by tablespoons into pan. Press down to flatten. Cook
pancakes 4 minutes on each side or until golden. Serve hot.
Colcannon
Colcannon is a favorite Irish recipe and a
particular St Patrick's Day favorite. As you
can see from this Colcannon recipe, it is
quick, easy and simple to make.
Colcannon was traditionally used for
predicting marriage on Halloween. Charms
were hidden in the Colcannon, any
unmarried girl who found on would place
socks with spoonfuls of Colcannon, and the
charms on their front door handle. The first
man to enter the house was their intended.
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes
Ingredients:
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1lb 6oz/ 675g potatoes, peeled and quartered
4 oz/100g curly kale, chopped (or Spring cabbage if kale not available))
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1/2 cup scallions/spring onions, roughly chopped
1/4 cup scallions/spring onions, finely chopped
1 stick/100g butter
salt and pepper
Preparation:
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Simmer the potatoes in lightly salted water until cooked - when pierced with a sharp
knife the potato is soft in the middle.
Blanch the curly kale in boiling water for one minute. Drain and reserve.
Chop half of the spring onions roughly and the other half finely. Add the roughly
chopped scallions/ spring onions to the drained kale and pulse in a blender for 10
seconds.
Drain the potatoes and add the butter. When the butter has melted, mash the potatoes
until smooth and creamy. Add the kale mixture and mix.
Finally, add the finely chopped scallions/spring onions and season to taste.
Since the last quarter of the 20th century, with a re-emergence of wealth in Ireland, a "New
Irish Cuisine" based on traditional ingredients incorporating international influences has
emerged. This cuisine is based on fresh vegetables, fish (especially salmon, trout, oysters,
mussels and other shellfish), as well as traditional soda breads and the wide range of handmade cheeses that are now being produced across the country. The potato remains however a
fundamental feature of this cuisine and the Irish remain the highest per capita consumers of
potatoes in Europe. An example of this new cuisine is "Dublin Lawyer": lobster cooked in
whiskey and cream. Traditional regional foods can be found throughout the country, for
example coddle in Dublin or drisheen in Cork, both a type of sausage, or blaa, a doughy white
bread particular to Waterford.
The Old Bushmills Distillery in County Antrim
Ireland once dominated the world's market for whiskey, producing 90% of the world's
whiskey at the start of the 20th century. Irish whiskey remained popular domestically and in
recent decades has grown in popularity again internationally. Typically, Irish whiskey is not
as smoky as a Scotch whisky, but not as sweet as American or Canadian whiskies. Whiskey
forms the basis of traditional cream liqueurs, such as Baileys, and the "Irish coffee" (a
cocktail of coffee and whiskey reputedly invented at Foynes flying-boat station) is probably
the best-known Irish cocktail.
Stout, a kind of porter beer, particularly Guinness, is typically associated with Ireland,
although originally being more closely associated with London. Porter remains very popular,
although it has lost sales since the mid-20th century to lager. Cider, particularly Magners
(marketed in the Republic of Ireland as Bulmers), is also a popular drink. Red lemonade, a
softdrink, is consumed on its own and as a mixer, particularly with whiskey.
Dublin
Dublin is the primate and capital city of Ireland. It is officially known in Irish as Baile Átha
Cliath. The English name derived from the Irish Dubh Linn (meaning "black pool"). The city
has an urban population of over 1 million people and is located near the midpoint of Ireland's
east coast, at the mouth of the River Liffey and at the centre of the Dublin Region. Originally
founded as a Viking settlement, it evolved into the Kingdom of Dublin and became the
island's primary city following the Norman invasion. It is a historical and contemporary
cultural centre for the country, as well as a modern centre of education, the arts,
administration, economy and industry.
Dublin has many landmarks and monuments dating back hundreds of years. One of the oldest
is Dublin Castle. It was first founded as a major defensive work on the orders of King John
of England in 1204, shortly after the Norman invasion of Ireland in 1169, when it was
commanded that a castle be built with strong walls and good ditches for the defence of the
city, the administration of justice, and the protection of the King’s treasure. Largely complete
by 1230, the castle was of typical Norman courtyard design, with a central square without a
keep, bounded on all sides by tall defensive walls and protected at each corner by a circular
tower. Sited to the southeast of Norman Dublin, the castle formed one corner of the outer
perimeter of the city, using the River Poddle as a natural means of defence.
Dublin Castle
Cork
Steeped in history, Cork City is fast gaining a reputation as one of Europe's hippest cities.
Like Venice, the city is built upon water, and the city centre is built on an island in the River
Lee, just upstream of Cork Harbour. Many bridges span the two channels of the River Lee,
which embrace the city centre and this gives the city a distinctive continental air.
Exploring Cork is an enjoyable, multi-day pursuit. Ring the Shandon Bells in the 300 year-old
tower of St. Anne's Church, and marvel at the French Gothic spires of St. Finbarre's
Cathedral. Situated close to the heart of Cork, St. Fin Barre's Cathedral is one of the most
beautiful and interesting buildings to be found in the whole country. The present Cathedral is
the latest in a series of places of worship located on the site where St. Fin Barre himself is
said to have founded his school of learning in the 7th century. It continues to be a place of
worship and scholarship to this day.
Kinsale - Cionn tSáile
The very attractive town of Kinsale is just 29 km directly south of Cork City. Kinsale has
many popular attractions, which include heritage, gourmet restaurants, sailing, deep sea
angling and golf. Kinsale has been designated an Irish Heritage Town.
Its beautiful setting, with the long waterfront, narrow winding streets, and Compass Hill rising
sharply behind the town, will captivate even the casual visitor to Kinsale. The River Bandon
rises in West Cork and flows east through Bandon to Innishannon, and turns south to enter the
sea at Kinsale. The old fortifications of Charles Fort and James Fort guard the narrow
entrance
to
Kinsale
from
the
sea.
The Old Head of Kinsale has attributed as the site for some of the earliest settlers in Ireland.
Later a number of Christian settlements were established in the surrounding countryside.
It was near here in 1601 that the Battle of Kinsale was fought. At this battle, the Irish forces
with their Spanish allies challenged the power of the English troops. In December of that year,
the
English
proved
to
be
victorious.
The great liner “Lusitania” en route from New York to Liverpool was lost 11.5 miles off the
Old Head of Kinsale. On 7 May 1915 a German submarine torpedo hit the vessel. Of 1,959
passengers on board 1,195 perished. For many years, the exact cause of the disaster has been
debated. One theory is that there was a major explosion on board the Lusitania. Three of the
victims of the disaster were buried in the Churchyard of St. Multose Church in Kinsale.
Kinsale owes its unique character to the fact that it was a garrison town and port of
consequence for over 300 years, hence its magnificent Georgian houses and the Dutch
influence of its architecture. It was also in the days of sail, the natural landfall for all ships
from the continent and the Americas.
Cobh
Cobh (Irish: an Cóbh, meaning "cove") is a seaport town on the south coast of County Cork,
Ireland. The locality, which had had several different Irish-language names, was first referred
to as Cove ("The Cove of Cork") in 1750. It was renamed Queenstown in 1849 to
commemorate a visit by Queen Victoria and so remained until the name Cobh (closer to the
Irish spelling) was restored in 1922 with the foundation of the Irish Free State.
Cobh is located on the south shore of the Great Island in Cork Harbour, (reputed to be the
second largest natural harbour in the world), on south-facing slopes overlooking the entrance
to the harbour. Facing the town of Cobh are Spike Island and Haulbowline Island.
One of the major transatlantic Irish ports, Cobh was the departure point for 2.5 million of the
six million Irish people who immigrated to North America between 1848 and 1950.
Located outside the Cobh Heritage Centre is the statue of Annie Moore and her two brothers.
Annie Moore became the first ever emigrant to be
processed in Ellis Island when it officially opened on 1st
January 1892.
Annie and her brothers sailed from
Queenstown on the SS Nevada on the 20th December and
arrived after 12 days of travelling in steerage. President
Mary Robinson unveiled the statue outside Cobh Heritage
Centre on the 9th February 1993. A similar statue of Annie
can be found in Ellis Island, New York which represents
not only the honour of her being the first emigrant to pass
through Ellis Island but also stands as a symbol of the
many Irish who have embarked on that very same journey.
On 11 April 1912, Queenstown was the final port of call for the Titanic as she set out the
Atlantic on her ill-fated maiden voyage. Local lore has it that a Titanic crewmember John
Coffey, a native of Queenstown, jumped ship although there is no record of him on the crew
list. 123 passengers boarded in all; only 44 survived the sinking.
Cobh was also a major embarkation port for men, women and children who were deported to
penal colonies such as Australia. The records of such deportations are found in the ship
logbooks in the Cobh Museum.
Blarney Castle
Blarney Castle
View from top of the castle
Blarney Castle (Irish: Caisleán na Blarnan) is a medieval stronghold in Blarney, near Cork,
Ireland, and the River Martin. Though earlier fortifications were built on the same spot, the
current keep was built by the MacCarthy dynasty, Kings of Desmond, and dates from 1446.
The noted Blarney Stone is found among the machicolations of the castle.
According to legend, kissing the stone endows the kisser with the gift of gab (great eloquence
or skill at flattery). The stone was set into a tower of the castle in 1446. The castle is a popular
tourist site in Ireland, attracting visitors from all over the world to kiss the stone and tour the
castle and its gardens.
The word blarney has come to mean "clever, flattering, or coaxing talk"
Blarney Stone
Limerick
Limerick, Irish: Luimneach is the third largest city in the Republic of Ireland, and the
principal city in County Limerick. The city is situated on several curves and islands of the
River Shannon, which spreads into an estuary shortly after Limerick.
Tourist attractions in the city centre include King John's Castle (1212), St Mary's Cathedral
(1168), Hunt Museum, the University of Limerick, Georgian house and gardens and the
Treaty Stone.
King John's Castle stands on the banks of the
River Shannon. Photo taken from Thomond St Mary's Cathedral
Bridge.
Galway City
Galway is a city, a county, and an experience to be savoured and remembered.
There is certain chemistry and vibrancy to this friendly University City, which many delight
in, and few forget. Music, festivals, horseracing, pubs, restaurants, shops, theatres and most of
all Galway people, combine to create this atmospheric medieval city. From this pulsating
heart
the
rest
of
the
county
flows.
Galway City is one of the fastest growing cities in Europe and it has become the third city in
the Republic of Ireland after Dublin and Cork. It began as a small fishing village centred on
the estuary of the River Corrib, a river traditionally called Abhainn na Gaillimhe (The Galway
River) after Galvia, a mythological princess said to have drowned in its waters.
The city takes its name from the Gaillimh River (River Corrib) that formed the western
boundary of the earliest settlement, which was called Dún Bhun Na Gaillimhe, or the fort at
the mouth of the Gaillimhe. The word Gaillimh means "stony" as in "stony river".
(Alternative, mythical, derivations was given in History of Galway). The city also bears the
nickname The City of the Tribes, because fourteen "Tribes" (merchant families) led the city in
its Hiberno-Norman period. The term Tribes was originally a derogatory phrase from
Cromwellian times. The merchants considered themselves as English nobility, and hence were
loyal to the King.
Galway city is unique among Irish cities because of the strength of its Irish language,
music, song and dancing traditions - it is often referred to as the 'Bilingual Capital of
Ireland'. The city is well known for its ‘Irishness’, and mainly because it has on its doorstep
the Galway Gaeltacht (Irish-speaking area). The Irish language can be heard in use by locals
and is visible on the city streets and in the outlying villages.
Irish theatre, TV production and Irish music are an integral part of Galway city life, with An
Taibhdhearc, the National Irish Language Theatre, and TG4 headquarters in Galway. This has
brought an Irish-speaking young professional population to the city and county, and has
generated a renewal of interest in the language and in language-related activities and social
events.
The Aran Islands are easily accessible from Galway City by air or by ferry and all three are
Gaeltacht regions. Inis Mór or Árainn is the largest and most developed of the three, crisscrossed by a maze of stonewalls and rich in language, culture and heritage.
Waterford
Waterford (from Old Norse: Veðrafjǫrðr/Vedrafjord meaning "ram fjord" or "windy fjord"—
Irish: Port Láirge meaning "Lárag's port") is the fifth largest city in Ireland, and the largest
city in the South-East of the country. Founded in 914 AD by the Vikings, it is the country's
oldest city. The city is situated at the head of Waterford Harbour (Irish: Loch Dá Chaoch or
Cuan Phort Láirge). The city motto Urbs Intacta Manet Waterfordia ("Waterford remains the
untaken city") was granted by King Henry VII of England in 1497.
Reginald's Tower is the oldest urban civic building in Ireland, and the oldest monument to
retain its Viking name. To this day, it remains Waterford's most recognisable landmark. It is
believed to be the first building in Ireland to use mortar.
From top, left to right: Waterford Marina,
Holy Trinity Cathedral, Reginald's Tower, a
piece of Waterford Crystal, Waterford City
by night.
The River Suir, which flows through Waterford City, has provided a basis for the city's long
maritime history. Waterford Port has been one of Ireland's major ports for over a millennium.
In the 19th century, shipbuilding was a major industry. The owners of the Neptune Shipyard,
the Malcomson family, built and operated the largest fleet of iron steamers in the world
between the mid-1850s and the late-1860s, including five trans-Atlantic passenger liners.
Today, Waterford is famous for Waterford Crystal, a legacy of the city's former glass making
industry. Glass, or crystal, was manufactured in the city from 1783 until early 2009.
Ring of Kerry
The Ring of is a tourist trail in County Kerry, south-western Ireland. The route covers the 179
km circular road starting from Killarney, heading around the Iveragh Peninsula and passing
through other little town and villages. Popular points include Muckross House (near
Killarney), located within Killarney National Park.
Killarney
Killarney (Irish: Cill Airne, meaning "church of sloes") is a town in County Kerry,
southwestern Ireland. The town is located north of the MacGillicuddy Reeks, on the
northeastern shore of the Lough Lein/Leane, which are part of Killarney National Park. The
town and its surrounding region are home to St. Mary's Cathedral, Ross Castle, Muckross
House and Abbey, Lakes of Killarney, Torc Waterfall and Gap of Dunloe.
Killarney National Park (Irish: Páirc Náisiúnta Chill Airne) is located beside the town of
Killarney, County Kerry, Ireland. It was the first national park established in Ireland, created
when Muckross Estate was donated to the Irish state in 1932. The park has since been
substantially expanded and encompasses over 102.89 km2 (25,425 acres) of diverse ecology,
including the Lakes of Killarney, Oak and Yew woodlands of international importance, and
mountain peaks. It has Ireland's only native herd of Red Deer and the most extensive covering
of native forest remaining in Ireland. The park is of high ecological value because of the
quality, diversity, and extensiveness of many of its habitats and the wide variety of species
that they accommodate, some of which are rare. The park was designated a UNESCO
Biosphere Reserve in 1981. The park forms part of a Special Area of Conservation.
Muckross House
Lakes of Killarney
They consist of three lakes - Lough Leane, Muckross Lake (also called Middle Lake) and
Upper Lake.
The lakes lie in a mountain-ringed valley starting in the Black Valley.
The lakes from nearby Torc Mountain
Lakes of Killarney as viewed from Ladies
View.
Muckross Lake.
Another perspective from Ladies View.
Carrauntoohil or Carrantuohill (pronounced /ˌkærənˈtuːl/ — from Irish: Corrán Tuathail,
meaning "Tuathal's sickle / Tuathal's serrated mountain") is the highest peak in Ireland.
Located in County Kerry, it is 1,038 metres (3,406 ft) tall and is the central peak of the
Macgillycuddy's Reeks range.
Carrauntoohil (middle) looking south along
the Hag's Glen
Killarney awarded the "Best Kept Town" award for 2007 in a cross-border competition jointly
organised by the Department of the Environment and the Northern Ireland Amenity Council.
Owing to its natural heritage, history and proximity to the Dingle Peninsula, Skellig Michael
Island and its location on the Ring of Kerry, Killarney is a popular tourist destination.
Kenmare
Kenmare (Irish: An Neidín, meaning "the little nest") is a small town (population 1701) in the
south of County Kerry, Ireland. The name Kenmare is the anglicised form of Ceann Mara[6]
meaning "head of the sea", referring to the head of Kenmare Bay.
Kenmare lies on two of the more famous Irish tourist attractions, the Ring of Kerry and the
Ring of Beara, approximately 32 kilometres (20 miles) from Killarney. As a result, it is a very
popular tourist destination and many of the businesses in the area cater to tourists.
Cliffs of Moher
The Cliffs of Moher (Irish: Aillte an Mhothair, lit. cliffs of the ruin, also known as the Cliffs
of Mohair) are located in the parish of Liscannor at the south-western edge of the Burren area
near Doolin, which is located in County Clare, Ireland.
The cliffs rise 120 meters (394 ft) above the Atlantic Ocean at Hag's Head (Irish: Ceann na
Cailleach), and reach their maximum height of 214 meters (702 ft) just north of O'Brien's
Tower, eight kilometres away. The views from the cliffs attract close to one million visitors
per year. On a clear day, the Aran Islands are visible in Galway Bay, as are the valleys and
hills of Connemara.
O'Brien's Tower is a round stone tower at the approximate midpoint of the cliffs. It was built
by Sir Cornelius O'Brien, a descendant of Ireland's High King Brian Boru, in order to impress
female visitors.
The Cliffs of Moher are home to one of the major colonies of cliff nesting seabirds in Ireland.
The area was designated as a Refuge for Fauna in 1988 and as a Special Protection Area for
Birds (SPA) under the EU Birds Directive in 1989. Included within the designated site are the
cliffs, the cliff-top maritime grassland and heath, and a 200-metre zone of open water, directly
in front of the cliffs to protect part of the birds' feeding area. The designation covers 200
hectares and highlights the area's importance for wildlife.
Atlantic Puffin
The Atlantic Puffin (Fratercula arctica) is a seabird species in the auk family. It is a pelagic
bird primarily dives for fish, but also eats other sea creatures, such as squid and crustaceans.
Its most obvious characteristic is its brightly coloured beak during the breeding seasons. Also
known as the Common Puffin, it is the only puffin species, which is found in the Atlantic
Ocean. The curious appearance of the bird, with its colourful huge bill and its striking piebald
plumage, has given rise to nicknames such as "clown of the ocean" and "sea parrot".