Ireland

Geography

Ireland is an island in the northwestern Europe, in the north Atlantic Ocean whose main geographical features include low central plains surrounded by a ring of coastal mountains.

Geographical Facts

• The highest peak – Carrauntoohil (1041 m)• The longest river – River Shannon (386 km)• The largest lake – Lough Neagh (392 km2)

• It has a total area of 84,421 km2

• It is located at approximately 53°N, 8°W• It’s population reaches 4,620,352

Early History

• Around 300 BC - Celts invade Ireland• 1169 - Normans conquered Celts• 1542 - Kingdom of Ireland• 1799 - Union with Great Britain

History

• The Easter Rising - the aims of ending British rule in Ireland and establishing the Irish Republic

• Independence - The principal beneficiary of the 1916 rising was Sinn Fein, a political movement founded in 1905 by Arthur Griffith.

Dublin

Dublin is the capital of

Ireland. It is situated on the River Liffey and encompasses a land area of approximately 115 km2. It’s population is approximately 1.8 million.

“town of the hurdled ford”

Dublin LandmarksDublin Castle

• Originally built as a defensive fortification for the Norman city of Dublin, it later evolved into a royal residence.

• The Castle served as the seat of English government, and now it’s a major Irish government complex.

Other Landmarks

• St. Patrick’s Cathedral

• Mansion House

• Spire of Dublin

• Trinity College

Dublin Entertainment

• Dublin has a vibrant nightlife

• Many pubs across the city centre (Temple Bar)

• Live music on the streets

• Large modern multiscreen cinemas

Traditional Music

• Irish traditional music includes many kinds of songs, including drinking songs and laments.

• Traditional dance music includes reels, hornpipes and jigs.

Music Today

• Today, the traditional music combines with popular like pop and rock.

• Thanks to that, many performers such as U2, Flogging Molly or Cranberries became very famous.

Art

• Jonathan Swift – the oldest vernacular poetry in Europe

• Gulliver's Travels • Newgrange – neolithic

carvings, bronze age

Modern Art

Sport

• Gaelic football is the most popular sport in Ireland.

• Football is the most popular sport involving national teams.

Quiz

a) Cardiff

b) Dublin

c) London

1. Capital of Ireland is…

a) Temple Bar

b) Chocolate Bar

c) Temple Pub

2. The most famous pub in Dublin is…

a) Eastern Europe

b) Northwestern Europe

c) Southern Europe

3. Ireland is situated in …

a) Irish Museum of Modern Art

b) Irish Museum of Martial Arts

c) Irish Museum of Mystic Antics

4. What does IMMA stand for?

a) 6,9 million

b) 3,5 million

c) 4,6 million

5. The population of Ireland is…

a) 300 BC

b) 300

c) 1969

6. Celts invaded Ireland in…

a) Easter Rising

b) Christmas Rising

c) Halloween Rising

7. The fight for independence is called…

a) Tango

b) Salsa

c) Jig

8. The most famous Irish dance is…

a) U2

b) Flogging Molly

c) 2-Pac

9. Which of these performers is from Ireland?

a) Gaelic baseball

b) Gaelic football

c) Celtic football

10. The most popular sport in Ireland is…

a) Fighting Association of Ireland

b) Fire and Ice

c) Football Association of Ireland

11. What does FAI stand for?

a) Jonathan Livingston

b) Jonathan Swift

c) Taylor Swift

12. Who wrote the oldest vernacular poetry?

The End

Dorijan Luka K. Luka Š.

IX. gimnazija, Zagreb, Croatia

November 2011