IRELANDIRELAND

Land, People and Land, People and HistoryHistory

Geography, Land and Geography, Land and EnvironmentEnvironment

““Ireland”– different meaningsIreland”– different meanings Northern Ireland (Ulster) – part of the Northern Ireland (Ulster) – part of the

UKUK the Republic of Ireland (Eire) – the Republic of Ireland (Eire) –

independent nationindependent nation Location, size, climate, geographical Location, size, climate, geographical

elevations, flora and faunaelevations, flora and fauna ““Emerald Isle”Emerald Isle” Environmental issuesEnvironmental issues

Geographical features: mostly level Geographical features: mostly level to rolling interior plain surrounded to rolling interior plain surrounded by rugged hill and low mountains; by rugged hill and low mountains; sea cliffs on west coastsea cliffs on west coast

Climate: temperate maritimeClimate: temperate maritime

Macgillicuddy's Reeks Located in southwest Ireland, the mountain range known as Macgillicuddy’s Reeks holds the highest peaks in the country. In the northeast, the mountains loom over the picturesque Lakes of Killarney.

Lough Leane, Ireland In southwestern Ireland lie the three Lakes of Killarney. This popular resort area is close to the town of Killarney, in mountainous County Kerry. The largest of the lakes, Lough Leane, shown here, along with Muckross Lake and Upper Lake comprise part of the national park.

Moher Cliffs, Western Ireland The spectacular sea cliffs of Moher on Ireland’s western coast rise to more than 200 m (600 ft) above the Atlantic Ocean. The cliffs provide habitat for many kinds of seabirds.

Ireland's Green County Kerry

Rocky Outpost

Ireland's Aran Islands

Galway Bay

Sunset on a Killarney Lake

Where the Shannon Reaches the Sea

Rugged Dingle Peninsula

Rock Garden of The Burren

County Donegal's Errigal Mountain

Capital: DublinCapital: Dublin

Dublin, Republic of Ireland Dublin figures prominently in Irish history, having been under Danish and British control before suffering through some of the most brutal battles of the Irish rebellion and revolution in the early 20th century. The Liffey River, shown here, flows through the city, now the capital of the Republic of Ireland. The old section of the city is situated on the river’s southern bank and features the Four Courts building, center. The 18th-century building is the seat of the republic’s high courts.

PopulationPopulation

The Great FamineThe Great Famine EmigrationEmigration present population situationpresent population situation

a complex society with a distinctive a complex society with a distinctive cultureculture

People of Ireland

Population 4,062,235 (2006 estimate)

Population density59 persons per sq km153 persons per sq mi (2006 estimate)

Urban population distribution 60 percent (2003 estimate)

Rural population distribution 40 percent (2003 estimate)

Largest cities, with populationDublin, 495,781 (2002)Cork, 123,062 (2002)Galway, 65,832 (2002)

Official languages Irish, English

Chief religious affiliationsRoman Catholic, 85 percentChurch of Ireland (Anglican), 4 percentProtestant, 1 percent

Life expectancy 77.7 years (2006 estimate)

Infant mortality rate 5 deaths per 1,000 live births (2006 estimate)

Literacy rate 98 percent (1995)

HistoryHistory

PrehistoryPrehistory middle Stone Age— earliest settlers (hunters)middle Stone Age— earliest settlers (hunters)

new Stone Age—farmersnew Stone Age—farmers

Bronze Age (2000BC)—prospectors and Bronze Age (2000BC)—prospectors and metalworkersmetalworkers

(1200BC)(sophisticated weapons (1200BC)(sophisticated weapons &artifacts)&artifacts)

Traditional Irish Farmhouse This house sits on the water in Inishmaan, one of the Aran Islands located off the western coast of Ireland. Known for the maintenance of their Gaelic traditions, the rugged fishing villages of the Aran Islands have remained, in many ways, unchanged over the centuries. Many inhabitants still speak Gaelic, adhere to their folk culture, and fish using the traditional methods of their ancestor

s.

The CeltsThe Celts Invasion of the CeltsInvasion of the Celts warrior culturewarrior culture most long-lasting influence: the language (Imost long-lasting influence: the language (I

rish)rish) social and cultural unity of the islandsocial and cultural unity of the island the Brehon law (stressing family group)the Brehon law (stressing family group) social stratificationsocial stratification

Learning Gaelic Young students prepare to answer questions at Moy School in Lahinch, Ireland, where most subjects are taught in Irish Gaelic. Gaelic language schools have contributed to a minor revival of Irish Gaelic, a once-widespread Celtic tongue that is now spoken by less than 20 percent of the Irish population.

The Coming of ChristianityThe Coming of Christianity

Saint PatrickSaint Patrick

monastery and Irish monksmonastery and Irish monks

Irish influence on Britain and Irish influence on Britain and EuropeEurope

The Middle AgesThe Middle Ages

Viking Raids in the 9th and 10th centuriesViking Raids in the 9th and 10th centuries

trading developed, major towns formedtrading developed, major towns formed

period of progress in the 11th and 12th period of progress in the 11th and 12th centuries: arts, religious reforms, strong centuries: arts, religious reforms, strong centralized monarchycentralized monarchy

Norman Invasion in 1167-1169Norman Invasion in 1167-1169

English king in Ireland from 1171English king in Ireland from 1171

centralized administration following Englandcentralized administration following England

cultural identity maintainedcultural identity maintained

Early Modern PeriodEarly Modern Period English monarchs’ reconquestEnglish monarchs’ reconquest — —against Gaelic Irish and Anglo-Norman lordsagainst Gaelic Irish and Anglo-Norman lords promotion of Protestantism in Ireland resistpromotion of Protestantism in Ireland resist

eded

The 18th CenturyThe 18th Century

Roman Catholics’ attempts to regain Roman Catholics’ attempts to regain English throne—a severe code of penal English throne—a severe code of penal legislationlegislation

independent Irish parliamentindependent Irish parliament

inspirations from the French Revolution inspirations from the French Revolution

reforms and repressionreforms and repression

Modern IrelandModern Ireland

no parliament from 1801no parliament from 1801

Irish Potato Famine 1845-1848Irish Potato Famine 1845-1848

struggles for Home Rulestruggles for Home Rule

Irish leaders:Irish leaders: Isaac Butt—Home RuleIsaac Butt—Home Rule Michael Davitt—National Land LeagueMichael Davitt—National Land League Charles Stuart Parnell —Home Rule partyCharles Stuart Parnell —Home Rule party Arthur Griffith —Sinn FeinArthur Griffith —Sinn Fein Patrick Pearse —Irish VolunteersPatrick Pearse —Irish Volunteers James Connolly —Irish Citizen ArmyJames Connolly —Irish Citizen Army

Arthur Griffith In 1902 Irish journalist Arthur Griffith founded a group that later became the nucleus of the Irish nationalist society Sinn Fein (“we ourselves”). Griffith negotiated the treaty partitioning Ireland into Northern Ireland, a part of the United Kingdom, and the Republic of Ireland, formerly Éire.

Damage from Easter Rebellion Irish rebels occupied the post office, left, and other buildings during the 1916 Easter Rebellion in Dublin, Ireland. During the week-long armed uprising, which demanded an end to British rule in Ireland, some 200 buildings were destroyed and many British soldiers and Irish fighters were wounded.

The Easter Rising of 1916The Easter Rising of 1916 The War of IndependenceThe War of Independence The Anglo-Irish TreatyThe Anglo-Irish Treaty Irish Free StateIrish Free State