IRELAND
Basic information
The capital
of Ireland is Dublín
Irish
people speak two langugjes: Irish and English
There are 4
857 000 habitants in Ireland
The currency
in North Ireland is the pound and in South Ireland is the euro
Culture
It has been
influenced by Anglo-Norman, English and Scottish culture. Irish culture has a
global reach and festivals such as St. Patrick's Day and Halloween are
celebrated all over the world.
Gastronomy
The main
ingredient of Irish cuisine is potato. The best known fish are salmon and cod.
One of the drinks most associated with Ireland is the Guinness that is usually
served in pubs, malt whiskey is well known, as well as Irish coffee.
Typical Irish Food
Boxty: Potato
cake
Coddle: sausages
wrapped in bacon mixed with potatoes and onions.
Colcannon:
mashed potatoes with cabbage and onions
Fish and
chips: battered fish with chips
Seafood
chowder: white seafood soup
Symbols
The
triskelion represents physical, mental and spiritual well-being
Shamrock is
a symbol of good luck, especially if it has four leaves.
The harp is
the traditional symbol of Ireland and it reflects the immortality of the soul.
It is the
combination of the traditional Christian cross with a ring (a symbol of solar
energy, a source of life)
Traditions
Those cute
little goblin men so typical of Irish images are the leprechauns, protagonists
of Irish popular folklore.
In Ireland
the most popular sport is rugby, but there are two that are typical of the
Irish tradition: Gaelic football and Irish hurling.
Some
celebrations, such as Halloween and Christmas, actually belonged to the ancient
pagan Celtic calendar: Sahmain on Halloween and Yule on Christmas.
The party
par excellence of Ireland is the festival of Saint Patrick, celebrated on March
17 of each year. It is so popular that it is also celebrated in many places in
the world.
Politics
The
Government and policy of Ireland consists of a representative democratic
parliamentary republic. There are several political parties in Ireland. The
political landscape is dominated by Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael, historically
opposed entities.
