Irish people enjoy futbol (soccer), rugby, horse racing and golf. Rugby in Ireland has become increasingly intense and competitive. Ireland has played in every Rugby World Cup game and made it to the quarter finals in four of them. The Irish rugby league team is made up mostly of players from Ireland, England and Australia Ireland is also known for breeding and training of race horses and is also a large training ground for racing dogs. Golf is very popular and golf tourism is a major industry attracting more than 240,000 people a year.
Rugby |
Horse Racing |
Like America, Ireland is very ethnically diverse. As a result these ethnic groups have shaped the culture of Ireland today. The Celts long ago brought in the development of Christianity in Ireland and Britain brought an early medieval renaissance of Celtic art between 390 and 1200 AD. Many of the styles of music and art now thought of as typically "Celtic" developed in this period, and are found throughout much of Ireland and Britain.
Ireland is a dynamic and lively modern country with a young population. It is a country where music, conversation, culture, traditions, time to relax and listen and to make friends is important. Irish society is friendly and chatty. Irish people won’t mind if you talk to them even if they don’t know you, but they might not start a conversation with you first. In the Republic of Ireland people often touch each other’s arms while talking and there’s lots of hugging.
Extended
family remains the basis of social structure. Even when family members emigrate
they keep strong ties to their family and return for regular visits. Many
customs and traditions, for example, names, recipes or holiday celebrations are
handed down from generation to generation. Sometimes so far back no one really
remembers where or how they came from.
Irish Home |
Traditional Irish Breakfast |
Religion has played a huge role in Irish cultural life since ancient times. Ireland’s pre-Christian heritage was made up of the Celtic church following the work of Saint Columba an Irish missionary (521-596 AD).
Saint Columba's goal was to spread Christianity to pagan places like England and the Frankish empire. This brought written language to the illiterate population of Europe during the “Dark ages” that came after the fall of Rome. Because of this Ireland was known as “the island of saints and scholars”.
Romans Catholics have played a major role in Irish
social life. Almost every town has a catholic church. 95% of Irish people are
Roman Catholics. The Republic of Ireland is Roman Catholic and Northern Ireland
which is part of the United Kingdom is more protestant. This has caused much
conflict and strife between the republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. During the 1800s the Northern Ireland and Southern Ireland grew farther apart due to economic differences. In the North life flourished and in the South unequal distribution of land and resources was an issue. Anglican Protestants owned most of the land as a result the standard of living was lower for the large catholic population. The Protestants and Catholics divided into two republics. Most Irish Catholics desired complete independence from Britain, but Irish Protestants feared living in a country ruled by a Catholics.
I hope that you enjoyed reading my blog about Ireland. I enjoyed re-searching and writing it. Someday I'd like to visit Ireland and see it's beauty and culture.
~Tina
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