| Features of Ireland Ireland: | | | | pillage. One of the symbols most associated |
| | | | with Irieand is the Brian Boru Harp. This |
| Map and Location Island Location: Ireland is | | | | Harp is now located in the Long room, at the |
| an island off western Europe in the Northern | | | | Trinity College Library, in Dublin. The harp |
| Atlantic Ocean. Ireland is a divided country, | | | | is the national symbol of Ireland. |
| with independent governments. | | | | |
| | | | Short Irish History: |
| The Republic of Ireland (also called Ireland | | | | |
| or Eire) occupies 5/6th of the island of | | | | Irelands Areas of Historical Interest: |
| Ireland Northern Ireland occupies 1/6th of | | | | Interesting sites in Ireland include: Bru na |
| the island and is a part of the United | | | | Boinne (Newgrange), Boyne Valley, Ceide |
| Kingdom. Capital(s) Republic of Ireland: | | | | Fields, Clonmacnoise, Croagh Patrick, Dun |
| Dublin. Northern Ireland: Belfast Official | | | | Aengus, Glendalough, Hill of Tara, Lough |
| languages: English and Gaelic. Size: The | | | | Derg, Skellig Michael, Rock of Cashel. |
| Republic of Ireland covers 27,135 square | | | | |
| miles (70,280 sq km).Population: The | | | | Bru na Boinne "Boyne Palace": Ireland's |
| population of Ireland is about 3,689,000 (as | | | | Stonehenge One of Ireland's most spectacular |
| of 2000). Climate: Ireland has a cool, | | | | archaeological sites is located in the Boyne |
| often-cloudy climate. | | | | Valley in County Meath. Newgrange, Dowth and |
| | | | Knowth were built around the same time that |
| Flag of Ireland The Republic of Ireland's | | | | Stonehenge was erected in England. These |
| flag is tricolor, and is made of three | | | | tombs were built around 3200 B.C., several |
| equal-sized rectangles of orange, white, and | | | | centuries before the great pyramids of Egypt. |
| green. The flag is twice as wide as it is | | | | The exact reason these sites were built is |
| tall. The green side is by the flagpole. This | | | | unknown, but one of their features, is that |
| flag was first used in 1848. Colors in the | | | | they may have been used as an ancient form of |
| flag represent the native population and | | | | solar calendar. The Newgrange site was |
| religious beliefs in Ireland.Green: Signifies | | | | designed to catch the sun during the winter |
| the native people of Ireland (most of whom | | | | solstice (December 19-23), the rising sun |
| are Roman Catholic). Orange: Represents the | | | | shines thru a slit over the entrance, and |
| British supporters of William of Orange who | | | | lights up the burial chamber for 17 minutes. |
| settled in Northern Ireland in the 17th | | | | At Dowth, the light of the setting sun of the |
| century (most of whom are Protestant). White: | | | | solstice illuminates one of the chambers. At |
| White occupies the center of the flag and | | | | Knowth, the rising sun of the spring and |
| signifies peace between these two groups of | | | | autumn equinoxes lights the eastern passage, |
| people. | | | | while the setting sun may have caught the |
| | | | western passage those days. |
| Irish Provinces: Commonly known as the Four | | | | |
| Green Fields of Ireland. Irelands 4 | | | | Clonmacnoise (Offaly) An early Christian |
| provinces. Connacht is the north-western | | | | monastic site founded by Saint Ciaran in the |
| province of Ireland, comprising the counties | | | | 6th century on the banks of the River Shannon |
| of Galway, Mayo, Sligo, Leitrim and | | | | at the crossroads of Ireland in County |
| Roscommon. Leinster is the eastern province | | | | Offaly. The Clonmacnoise location borders the |
| of Ireland, comprising the counties of Louth, | | | | three provinces of Connaught, Munster and |
| Meath, Dublin, Wicklow, Wexford, Kilkenny, | | | | Leinster. The monastery is on the east side |
| Carlow, Laois, Offaly, Kildare, Westmeath and | | | | of the River Shannon, in what was then the |
| Longford. Munster is the southernmost | | | | Kingdom of Meath, but occupying a position so |
| province of Ireland, comprising the counties | | | | central it was the burial-place of many of |
| of Claire, Cork, Kerry, Limerick, Tipperrary, | | | | the kings of Connaught as well as those of |
| and Waterford. Ulster forms one of the | | | | Tara. The site includes the ruins of a |
| historical provinces of Ireland. Six of its | | | | cathedral, eight churches (10th-13th |
| Nine counties Antrim, Armagh, Derry, Down, | | | | century), two round towers, three high |
| Fermanagh, and Tyrone, are known together as | | | | crosses and a large collection of early |
| Northern Ireland. Three counties Cavan, | | | | Christian grave slabs. The original high |
| Donegal, and Monaghan, are part of the | | | | crosses and grave slabs are on display in the |
| Republic of Ireland. | | | | Visitor Centre. |
| | | | |
| Irish Identifiable: | | | | Hill of Tara (Meath) Though best known as the |
| | | | seat of the High Kings of Ireland. 142 kings |
| Claddagh: The Friendship, Lovea and Loyalty | | | | are said to have reigned there in prehistoric |
| Symbol or Ireland The Claddagh design is said | | | | and historic times. The Hill of Tara has been |
| to originate from the Galway Area, and the | | | | an important site since the late Stone Age |
| Aran Islands. The Claddagh ring was | | | | when a passage-tomb was constructed there. |
| originally worn by men, but later used as a | | | | Tara was at the height of its power as a |
| Marriage Ring for Men and Women. The symbol | | | | political and religious centre in the early |
| is comprised of 2 hands, a heart and a | | | | centuries after Christ. Features of the Hill |
| crown.The hands symbolize the 2 parties | | | | of Tara include the Mound of the Hostages, |
| involved. The heart is the seat of affection | | | | the Stone of Destiny, and Ancient Standing |
| or love. And the crown perfection. So, a | | | | Stones Rock of Cashel (Tipperary) This was |
| perfect union of love between 2 parties. | | | | the seat of kings and mediaeval bishops for |
| Common word translations to the Claddagh are: | | | | 900 years and flourished until the early 17th |
| Friendship (hands), Love (heart) and Loyalty | | | | century. A spectacular group of stone fort |
| (crown). | | | | Medieval buildings set on an outcrop of |
| | | | limestone in the Golden Vale. Features |
| Harp Emblem: Its Importance in Irish History | | | | include 12th century round tower, High Cross |
| The harp symbol has been recognized as the | | | | and Romanesque Chapel, 13th century Gothic |
| emblem of Ireland since the 13th century. It | | | | cathedral, 15th century Castle and the |
| was officially adopted as Ireland's national | | | | restored Hall of the Vicars Choral. The |
| symbol when the Irish Free State was created | | | | original forbidding fortification of the |
| in 1922. The most famous Harp of Ireland is | | | | Eoghanachta, kings of Munster. Brian Ború |
| the Brian Boru harp which is located at the | | | | was crowned King of Munster here in 977 and |
| Trinity College in Dublin. The Boru harp is | | | | he became High King of Ireland in 1002. He |
| the oldest surviving Irish harp, and is the | | | | was the first high king to exact universal |
| model used for the State emblem. | | | | and effective tribute from the other kings of |
| | | | Ireland. |
| Trinity Symbol: The Trinity Symbol is an | | | | |
| ancient Celtic design. The Trinity emblem is | | | | Dun Aengus: Dún Aonghasa (Dun Aengus - |
| an ancient symbol for a high spiritual | | | | Angus' Fort) The mysterious structure of Dun |
| dignity. In the Christian faith, it | | | | Aengus is situated on the western side of |
| represents the Holy Trinity: Father, Son, and | | | | Inish Mór, one of the three Aran Islands |
| Holy Spirit. The Trinity symbol has been | | | | (Oileáin Ãrainn), stone outcrops, in |
| inscribed in stone, and also has been | | | | the Atlantic thirty miles (48 kms) west of |
| colored. Red for power, faith, language and | | | | Galway City. The islands, Inish Mór, |
| sacrifice. Blue -represents faith and trust. | | | | Inishmann and Inisheer have some of Europe's |
| Green -color of the plants and trees, | | | | finest examples of pre-historic and early |
| suggests hope of life eternal. | | | | Christian antiquities.Dun Aengus is a vast |
| | | | fortification perched on the summit of a hill |
| Celtic Cross: The Celtic Cross is possibly | | | | that rises precipitously from the ocean to a |
| the best known symbol of Early Christianity | | | | height of 300 feet (100 meters). Half the |
| in Ireland. The High Celtic Cross is a self | | | | site, consisting of three concentric |
| contained monument, and are as high as 20 | | | | enclosures, has fallen into the sea, but what |
| feet. They are generally made of sandstone, | | | | is left makes a fascinating sight. The cliff |
| and their main characteristic feature is a | | | | edge at Cahercommoun in the Burren is Early |
| circle connecting the arms. The rings around | | | | Christian and Dún Aonghasa is believed to |
| the high cross may have been a symbol of the | | | | be much older. Dun Aengus has been estimated |
| cosmos, and at the center is the | | | | to have been built anywhere from 900BC to |
| Crucificition of Christ. Or, the ring may | | | | 500C. |
| have been a structural piece, to prevent the | | | | |
| arms of the cross from snapping off. There | | | | Glendalough (Wicklow) This early Christian |
| are many decorations on the crosses many | | | | monastic site was founded by St. Kevin in the |
| including scenes from the bible, while others | | | | 6th century. Set in a glaciated valley with |
| feature animal Interlace, and scroll work. | | | | two lakes, the monastic remains include a |
| The crosses at Monasterboise and Cross of | | | | superb round tower, stone churches and |
| Scriptures, Clonmacnoise are good examples | | | | decorated crosses.In the 6th centaury St. |
| for the traditional Celtic Cross. | | | | Kevin founded a monastery and from this grew |
| | | | a monastic city, which became famous as a |
| Irish Famous: | | | | centre of learning throughout Europe. The |
| | | | spectacular Round Tower in the Monastic City |
| Brian Boru Harp Brian Boru (c. 940-1014) The | | | | stands an impressive 34m high and 16m in |
| last of the High King's to lift Ireland out | | | | circumference.The tower was originally built |
| of the ruins of the Norse Age. He rebuilt | | | | as a bell tower and a place of refuge when |
| ruined churches, built others, he sent | | | | the monastery was attacked. There are many |
| overseas to replace lost books and artifacts | | | | stone crosses and churches to see. As well as |
| and all that he possibly could to heal the | | | | these magnificent remains, there is the |
| wounds of the past two centuries of Norse | | | | breathtaking scenery of the valley to enjoy. |