Ireland Features

Features of Ireland Ireland:				Library, in Dublin. The harp is the national symbol
Map and Location Island Location: Ireland is an				of Ireland.
island off western Europe in the Northern Atlantic				Short Irish History:
Ocean. Ireland is a divided country, with				Irelands Areas of Historical Interest: Interesting
independent governments.				sites in Ireland include: Bru na Boinne (Newgrange),
The Republic of Ireland (also called Ireland or Eire)				Boyne Valley, Ceide Fields, Clonmacnoise, Croagh
occupies 5/6th of the island of Ireland Northern				Patrick, Dun Aengus, Glendalough, Hill of Tara,
Ireland occupies 1/6th of the island and is a part				Lough Derg, Skellig Michael, Rock of Cashel.
of the United Kingdom. Capital(s) Republic of				Bru na Boinne "Boyne Palace": Ireland's
Ireland: Dublin. Northern Ireland: Belfast Official				Stonehenge One of Ireland's most spectacular
languages: English and Gaelic. Size: The Republic of				archaeological sites is located in the Boyne Valley
Ireland covers 27,135 square miles (70,280 sq				in County Meath. Newgrange, Dowth and Knowth
km).Population: The population of Ireland is about				were built around the same time that Stonehenge
3,689,000 (as of 2000). Climate: Ireland has a cool,				was erected in England. These tombs were built
often-cloudy climate.				around 3200 B.C., several centuries before the
Flag of Ireland The Republic of Ireland's flag is				great pyramids of Egypt. The exact reason these
tricolor, and is made of three equal-sized				sites were built is unknown, but one of their
rectangles of orange, white, and green. The flag is				features, is that they may have been used as an
twice as wide as it is tall. The green side is by the				ancient form of solar calendar. The Newgrange
flagpole. This flag was first used in 1848. Colors in				site was designed to catch the sun during the
the flag represent the native population and				winter solstice (December 19-23), the rising sun
religious beliefs in Ireland.Green: Signifies the native				shines thru a slit over the entrance, and lights up
people of Ireland (most of whom are Roman				the burial chamber for 17 minutes. At Dowth, the
Catholic). Orange: Represents the British				light of the setting sun of the solstice illuminates
supporters of William of Orange who settled in				one of the chambers. At Knowth, the rising sun
Northern Ireland in the 17th century (most of				of the spring and autumn equinoxes lights the
whom are Protestant). White: White occupies the				eastern passage, while the setting sun may have
center of the flag and signifies peace between				caught the western passage those days.
these two groups of people.				Clonmacnoise (Offaly) An early Christian monastic
Irish Provinces: Commonly known as the Four				site founded by Saint Ciaran in the 6th century on
Green Fields of Ireland. Irelands 4 provinces.				the banks of the River Shannon at the
Connacht is the north-western province of Ireland,				crossroads of Ireland in County Offaly. The
comprising the counties of Galway, Mayo, Sligo,				Clonmacnoise location borders the three provinces
Leitrim and Roscommon. Leinster is the eastern				of Connaught, Munster and Leinster. The
province of Ireland, comprising the counties of				monastery is on the east side of the River
Louth, Meath, Dublin, Wicklow, Wexford, Kilkenny,				Shannon, in what was then the Kingdom of
Carlow, Laois, Offaly, Kildare, Westmeath and				Meath, but occupying a position so central it was
Longford. Munster is the southernmost province				the burial-place of many of the kings of
of Ireland, comprising the counties of Claire, Cork,				Connaught as well as those of Tara. The site
Kerry, Limerick, Tipperrary, and Waterford. Ulster				includes the ruins of a cathedral, eight churches
forms one of the historical provinces of Ireland.				(10th-13th century), two round towers, three high
Six of its Nine counties Antrim, Armagh, Derry,				crosses and a large collection of early Christian
Down, Fermanagh, and Tyrone, are known				grave slabs. The original high crosses and grave
together as Northern Ireland. Three counties				slabs are on display in the Visitor Centre.
Cavan, Donegal, and Monaghan, are part of the				Hill of Tara (Meath) Though best known as the
Republic of Ireland.				seat of the High Kings of Ireland. 142 kings are
Irish Identifiable:				said to have reigned there in prehistoric and
Claddagh: The Friendship, Lovea and Loyalty				historic times. The Hill of Tara has been an
Symbol or Ireland The Claddagh design is said to				important site since the late Stone Age when a
originate from the Galway Area, and the Aran				passage-tomb was constructed there. Tara was
Islands. The Claddagh ring was originally worn by				at the height of its power as a political and
men, but later used as a Marriage Ring for Men				religious centre in the early centuries after Christ.
and Women. The symbol is comprised of 2 hands,				Features of the Hill of Tara include the Mound of
a heart and a crown.The hands symbolize the 2				the Hostages, the Stone of Destiny, and Ancient
parties involved. The heart is the seat of affection				Standing Stones Rock of Cashel (Tipperary) This
or love. And the crown perfection. So, a perfect				was the seat of kings and mediaeval bishops for
union of love between 2 parties. Common word				900 years and flourished until the early 17th
translations to the Claddagh are: Friendship				century. A spectacular group of stone fort
(hands), Love (heart) and Loyalty (crown).				Medieval buildings set on an outcrop of limestone
Harp Emblem: Its Importance in Irish History The				in the Golden Vale. Features include 12th century
harp symbol has been recognized as the emblem				round tower, High Cross and Romanesque Chapel,
of Ireland since the 13th century. It was officially				13th century Gothic cathedral, 15th century Castle
adopted as Ireland's national symbol when the				and the restored Hall of the Vicars Choral. The
Irish Free State was created in 1922. The most				original forbidding fortification of the Eoghanachta,
famous Harp of Ireland is the Brian Boru harp				kings of Munster. Brian BorÃº was crowned
which is located at the Trinity College in Dublin.				King of Munster here in 977 and he became High
The Boru harp is the oldest surviving Irish harp,				King of Ireland in 1002. He was the first high king
and is the model used for the State emblem.				to exact universal and effective tribute from the
Trinity Symbol: The Trinity Symbol is an ancient				other kings of Ireland.
Celtic design. The Trinity emblem is an ancient				Dun Aengus: DÃºn Aonghasa (Dun Aengus -
symbol for a high spiritual dignity. In the Christian				Angus' Fort) The mysterious structure of Dun
faith, it represents the Holy Trinity: Father, Son,				Aengus is situated on the western side of Inish
and Holy Spirit. The Trinity symbol has been				MÃ³r, one of the three Aran Islands
inscribed in stone, and also has been colored. Red				(OileÃ¡in Ãrainn), stone outcrops, in the
for power, faith, language and sacrifice. Blue				Atlantic thirty miles (48 kms) west of Galway
-represents faith and trust. Green -color of the				City. The islands, Inish MÃ³r, Inishmann and
plants and trees, suggests hope of life eternal.				Inisheer have some of Europe's finest examples
Celtic Cross: The Celtic Cross is possibly the best				of pre-historic and early Christian antiquities.Dun
known symbol of Early Christianity in Ireland. The				Aengus is a vast fortification perched on the
High Celtic Cross is a self contained monument,				summit of a hill that rises precipitously from the
and are as high as 20 feet. They are generally				ocean to a height of 300 feet (100 meters). Half
made of sandstone, and their main characteristic				the site, consisting of three concentric enclosures,
feature is a circle connecting the arms. The rings				has fallen into the sea, but what is left makes a
around the high cross may have been a symbol				fascinating sight. The cliff edge at Cahercommoun
of the cosmos, and at the center is the				in the Burren is Early Christian and DÃºn
Crucificition of Christ. Or, the ring may have been				Aonghasa is believed to be much older. Dun
a structural piece, to prevent the arms of the				Aengus has been estimated to have been built
cross from snapping off. There are many				anywhere from 900BC to 500C.
decorations on the crosses many including scenes				Glendalough (Wicklow) This early Christian
from the bible, while others feature animal				monastic site was founded by St. Kevin in the 6th
Interlace, and scroll work. The crosses at				century. Set in a glaciated valley with two lakes,
Monasterboise and Cross of Scriptures,				the monastic remains include a superb round
Clonmacnoise are good examples for the				tower, stone churches and decorated crosses.In
traditional Celtic Cross.				the 6th centaury St. Kevin founded a monastery
Irish Famous:				and from this grew a monastic city, which
Brian Boru Harp Brian Boru (c. 940-1014) The last				became famous as a centre of learning
of the High King's to lift Ireland out of the ruins of				throughout Europe. The spectacular Round Tower
the Norse Age. He rebuilt ruined churches, built				in the Monastic City stands an impressive 34m
others, he sent overseas to replace lost books				high and 16m in circumference.The tower was
and artifacts and all that he possibly could to heal				originally built as a bell tower and a place of refuge
the wounds of the past two centuries of Norse				when the monastery was attacked. There are
pillage. One of the symbols most associated with				many stone crosses and churches to see. As well
Irieand is the Brian Boru Harp. This Harp is now				as these magnificent remains, there is the
located in the Long room, at the Trinity College				breathtaking scenery of the valley to enjoy.

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Ireland Features