IRELAND
Ireland seems almost like an appendix to
the great European landmass. Precariously positioned in the Atlantic
Ocean, nothing but 3,000 miles of sea stands between Ireland and the
land that its emigrants have so influenced, the USA. Ireland is an
island of 84,288 sq. km (32,544 miles). At its longest it measures 485km
(302miles), and at its widest it measures 304km (189 miles). The highest
mountain is Carrantuohill coming in
at 1,040 metres( 3,414feet). The longest river is
the Shannon stretching for some 370 kms (230 miles) to the
Atlantic. The largest lake is Lough Neagh in Northern Ireland. The
island is divided into four provinces Ulster (9 counties) is in the
north, Munster (6 counties) is in the south, Leinster (12 counties) is
in the east and Connacht (5 counties) is in the west.Ireland's size and
island status mean that you are never far from the sea. Ireland's
distinctive indented coastline, together with a myriad of lakes and the
longest river in the British Isles, the Shannon, means that water is a
recurring theme.
A failed
1916 Easter Monday Rebellion touched
off several years of guerrilla warfare that in 1921 resulted in
independence from the UK for the 26 southern counties; the six northern
counties (Ulster) remained part of Great Britain. In 1948 Ireland
withdrew from the British Commonwealth; it joined the European Community
in 1973. Irish governments have sought the peaceful unification of
Ireland and have cooperated with Britain against terrorist groups. A
peace settlement for Northern Ireland, approved in 1998, was implemented
the following year.
In terms of industry, agriculture has for centuries been the economic
mainstay of the country. Apart from a small area around Belfast, the
island was free from heavy industry. Recent developments have seen
tourism become Ireland's largest single industry; we had the pleasure of
welcoming 5.4 million visitors to our island in 1998. The country is
also gaining a reputation as a communications and IT centre, acting as a
gateway between the US and Europe. Long gone are
the days when Ireland was one of the poorest countries in Europe and its
natives fled to all corners of the globe in search of refuge. Today it
is cool to be Irish and thanks to the likes of the Corrs, Boyzone and
U2, evocative images of Ireland now pervade popular culture across the
globe. The Ireland of the new millennium is a modern, progressive
European nation whose 'Celtic Tiger' economy is
booming, but it is not only Irish eyes that are smiling as
more and more tourists discover Ireland for themselves.
Population density remains low, only Dublin can claim true city status
on a worldwide scale, and its population of 1.2 million is far from
overwhelming. The total population of the island is around 5 million.
Life in the country often seems untouched by time, the pace of life is
noticeably slower. This coupled with the natural friendliness of the
people means Ireland is a place where one can truly relax. Ireland has
two official languages, Gaelic and English. English is the everyday
language used by the vast majority of the population. Small communities
do exist where Irish is the spoken language; these are mostly restricted
to the western side of the country
The capital of the Irish
Republic is the city of Dublin. It is undoubtedly the
spiritual and cultural heart of the entire country. Crowding around the
banks of the murky River Liffey the city, like the country, is bound in
rich layers of history, back to the days when Celtic tribes wandered the
peat bogs, to the present that sees the city overflowing with trendy
bars and nightclubs. Elsewhere, the cities of Cork, Galway and Limerick
boast their own charms, but it is out in the rolling countryside that
you can unearth the idyllic Ireland of the movies. Here in the
atmospheric old pubs you can experience the legendary 'craic' where
music and song lead the course of an evening. Alternatively, ramble over
the hills of Glenmalure or sail through the mist shrouded Pater-Noster
Lakes, places that seem a million miles away from the tourist maelstrom
of Dublin.
