| Famous symbols of Ireland... | | | | The river Shannon rises in County Cavan and is |
| The harp, also known as the national symbol of | | | | approximately 240 miles long. It contains 3 lakes, |
| Ireland, the Celtic cross, the shamrock and the Irish | | | | Lough Allen, Lough Ree and Lough Derg. |
| wolfhound are all well known Irish symbols. | | | | Irish delicacies... |
| Religion... | | | | Drisheen is a type of pudding made from cow's, pigs |
| The majority of the Irish population are Roman | | | | or sheeps blood. White pudding is a mixture of pork, |
| Catholic (88%). | | | | cereal, bread, fat and suet. Periwinkles are sea snails |
| National language... | | | | boiled in salted water. |
| Gaelic is Ireland's national language. Only in the | | | | Guinness... |
| Gaeltacht (Irish speaking) areas of Ireland will you | | | | To trip to Ireland would be complete without |
| find that Irish is used as the everyday language. In all | | | | sampling a pint of the black stuff! It's said that no |
| other parts of Ireland, English is the spoken language. | | | | matter where you go in the world, only in Ireland will |
| Music... | | | | you be served the most velvety, and creamiest pint |
| Ireland's most famous musical export would have to | | | | of the "black stuff". |
| be U2, closely followed by The Boomtown Rats, Thin | | | | Bailey's Irish Cream... |
| Lizzy and more recently Boyzone and Westlife. | | | | This hugely popular liquor has been around since the |
| Hollywood factor... | | | | '70's. |
| The cream of the crop includes Richard Harris, Pierce | | | | Irish pubs... |
| Brosnan, Cillian Murphy and Colin Farrell. | | | | Stumble upon a "trad night", throw in the customary |
| The world of literature... | | | | singsong, a bit of Irish dancing and you're in for a |
| To our credit, Ireland has produced Bram Stoker, | | | | crackin' evening! |
| James Joyce, Oscar Wilde, William Butler Yeats, | | | | A sporting nation... |
| Maeve Binchy and Celia Aherne. | | | | Irish people are very passionate about Gaelic games - |
| Patron Saint... | | | | football, hurling, rounders, handball and camogie. |
| Saint Patrick, who brought Christianity to Ireland in | | | | Rugby and soccer are also very well supported in |
| around 430. St Patrick's Day is celebrated in Ireland, | | | | Ireland. |
| and indeed all over the world, on March 17th. | | | | The great outdoors... |
| Our capital - Dublin... | | | | The Cavan Way, The Dingle Way and The Kerry |
| Dublin was founded by the Vikings in 988 and was | | | | Way are just some of the country's scenic walking |
| originally called Dubh Linn (which means Black Pool in | | | | routes that offer a great opportunity to sample |
| Irish). | | | | Ireland's breathtaking countryside. |
| First Saint Patrick's Day parade... | | | | Sense of humour... |
| Boston was the proud host with an event organised | | | | There's nothing like the Irish sense of humour, wit |
| by the Charitable Irish Society in 1737. | | | | and play with words. Have a look at the below |
| The White House... | | | | examples: |
| James Hoban, a Kilkenny born architect, won a | | | | "not backwards in coming forwards" - means a |
| competition to design the original White House. | | | | person is not shy. |
| Famous outlaws... | | | | "no flies on him" - means a person is not easily |
| Grace O'Malley (Queen of the Pirates) operated off | | | | deceived. |
| the west coast of Ireland and Ned Kelly (son of an | | | | "she has a tongue that would clip a hedge" - means a |
| Irish convict) was an infamous Australian outlaw. | | | | person who gossips. |
| Highest mountain... | | | | "come for a day and stay for a week" - means |
| Killarney, County Kerry is home to the highest | | | | someone outstaying their welcome. |
| mountain - Carrantouhill, part of the mountain range | | | | Just a few facts to ponder over - for a small island |
| the McGillycuddy Reeks. | | | | we certainly have a lot going for us! |
| Longest river... | | | | |