Ireland is an island in the northwest of Europe with an area of 32,595 sq miles. About 370 km (230 miles) long by 225 km (140 miles) wide, Ireland comprises the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. The population of the island of Ireland is approximately 5.8 million people, 4.1 million in the Republic of Ireland and 1.7 million in Northern Ireland. Ireland is the third largest island in Europe.
Geography: Ireland has thirty-two counties, and four provinces: Connacht, Leinster, Munster and Ulster. A ring of coastal mountains surrounds low central plains. About five percent of Irish land is under forest. The island's green vegetation is a product of its mild climate and frequent but soft rainfall. Ireland's most scenic areas lie in the south western and western counties. These areas are largely mountainous and rocky, with beautiful green views.
Irish: is the Celtic language of Ireland. It was brought to Ireland by Celtic invaders in 1000 BC, and to the end of the 18th century, was spoken by the majority of the people. The English language gained ground rapidly and Irish is now spoken regularly only in certain areas in the west of Ireland. It is taught in all schools, but despite active support from the government of Ireland, there are probably fewer than 90,000 speakers. It is the first official language of the Irish Republic and recently became an official language of the European Union (EU).
Literature and the arts: For such a small country, Ireland has made a large contribution to world of art and literature in all its branches, mainly in English. In more recent times, Ireland has produced four winners of the Nobel Prize for literature: George Bernard Shaw, William Butler Yeats, Samuel Beckett, and Seamus Heaney.
James Joyce is widely considered as one of the most significant writers of the 20th century. His novel: Ulysses is considered one of the greatest novels of the 20th century.
Landscape: The Irish landscape is one of Ireland’s greatest attractions. Ireland's most scenic areas lie in the south western and western counties. There are several National Parks filled with towering hills, romantic lakes, and will always remain Ireland's most unspoiled treasures. Magnificent scenery has attracted many visitors to these parks for years.
Climate: The Atlantic Gulf Stream keeps the Irish climate mild most of the year. Average temperatures in winter are 4 - 7o C, and in summer are 14 - 18o C. Rainfall is heaviest in the west and lightest in the southeast, but at all times very unpredictable.
Sport: Gaelic hurling and football are the most popular sports in Ireland - they make up the national sports of Ireland, known as Gaelic Games. All Gaelic games are governed by the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA).
Other main sports include: Rugby, Football (soccer), Horse racing and Greyhound racing.
TJ Tierney is an award winning Irish Landscape photographer and a freelance writer.
He frequently writes for the shopping directory http://www.shop-4us.com and the photography directory http://www.goldprints.com
To view or buy some of his images visit his on line gallery at GoldenIrishLight
Migration Is The Human Heart On A Journey Of Hope.
They estimate that there are 70,000,000 people world wide that can claim Irish ancestry. At least 50% of those are said to live in the U.S. Many of those people, often referred to as ex-pats (expatriates), left Ireland to find work. They became recognised in their adopted countries for their hard work reliability and adaptability. The Irish work ethic has been the hallmark of the Irish workers leading them to become vital members of their communities.
Now many of these Irish XPats and/or their children are looking back to the land of their origins to see where they came from. To see what has shaped them into the people that they have become today. Searching for their Celtic roots as some have put it.
For many Irish living abroad this means the regular trip home to Ireland to visit family members or old friends. For others it means the once in a lifetime journey back to the "Emerald Isle", a country that they may never have been to previously, to visit the ancestral home or village their of parents, who due to their new circumstances and/or the pace of life, never managed to return to.
This site is intended to be a window into Ireland for those who for many reasons may never visit Ireland or if they have been, may never return. It is for the people, whether of Irish origin or not, who want to feed their interest in Ireland and those who have a curiosity or eve just a mild interest in all things Irish.
The links on these pages include sites of cultural, sporting and musical interest. Though not necessarily a tourist guide or even a travel site there are links to sites where you can book accommodation, rent a car and plan your vacation here. You can purchase traditional jewellery and other gifts, download pictures trace your genealogy or just read the latest news items in the national and local papers here in Ireland. In case you forgot what it looks like we have links to some Irish webcams and photo sites.
We try to present as wide a variety of links giving as broad a view of Ireland as possible. We are open to suggestions and will gladly consider any suggested Irish links for addition to the site if we feel they are in keeping with our theme. If you do have a suggestion please click on, Contact Us, at the bottom of the page to email us.
Ireland the third-largest island in Europe. It is an island in the northern Atlantic west of Britain. Dublin the capital of Ireland, having something for everyone, is a popular travel destination for young and old alike. Ireland was christened the, “Emerald Isle” by Belfast poet William Drennan in 1795. Although it is thought by many to be one of the most beautiful countries in the world the rain is never far away. The heavy rain is responsible for the Emerald grass which adds to the green beauty of the Irish countryside.
The colourful Irish historical background and the still evident culture and lifestyle of its people make Ireland a very attractive holiday destination.
Ireland’s Irish name is Éire, though this is often substituted with the Latin Hibernia, it has in the past attracted many different names. Perhaps the most memorable of these would be "The Land Of Saints And Scholars". This name, of course, came about due to its strong tradition of education and the deeply religious nature of its people.
The economy in Ireland was built on agriculture and fishing. In recent years, it has been recognised that the tourism industry could also be a significant source of income for many people in locations too remote for industry and too unproductive for significant farming. In spite of this newfound interest in tourism there are few parts of Ireland spoilt by this in the way that many other hot spots around the world have been. These days with the spread of the, “Burger Culture” the young Irish people have managed to develop a new culture which, though uniquely Irish, bridges the gap between the thatched cottage and the condominium.
The tourism and hotel industry has become one of the cornerstones of Irish economy. Many of the hotels in Ireland are family owned and can give the personal attention and atmosphere that cannot be matched by bigger hotel groups anywhere in the world. The scenic locations of the Irish hotels offer beauty of a type unseen anywhere else.
If you are planning a trip to Ireland there are links on this page that may by useful. If not then we still have a lot to offer in the line of information, links and photos etc. and there is more to come as we improve the site.
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