My CountryMy Country

IRELAND ÉIREIRELAND ÉIRE

We are here

The beginningThe beginning

The first settlers in Ireland were the Celts. The first settlers in Ireland were the Celts. Our native language is a Celtic Our native language is a Celtic

language. The Celts had a great language. The Celts had a great

love of art and music and this is still love of art and music and this is still

evident in Ireland today. evident in Ireland today.

Examples of Celtic architecture Examples of Celtic architecture

can still be found in Ireland. can still be found in Ireland.

It is worth remembering that the Irish It is worth remembering that the Irish have lived in the same country and have lived in the same country and spoken the same language for a very spoken the same language for a very long time. No other race in North long time. No other race in North Western Europe have inhabited the same Western Europe have inhabited the same country for as long as the Irish.country for as long as the Irish.

The Irish language has been spoken all The Irish language has been spoken all this time making it one of the world’s this time making it one of the world’s most ancient languages. most ancient languages.

Under the Roman empire, Christianity Under the Roman empire, Christianity came to Britain.came to Britain.

Patrick brought Christianity to Ireland.Patrick brought Christianity to Ireland. Christianity developed and spread in Christianity developed and spread in

Ireland due to the influence of the monks Ireland due to the influence of the monks and the monasteries.and the monasteries.

ChristianityChristianity

Main faith in IrelandMain faith in Ireland Two patron Saints – St Patrick and St BrigidTwo patron Saints – St Patrick and St Brigid Our national emblem is the shamrock. St Our national emblem is the shamrock. St

Patrick used this to teach about Christianity.Patrick used this to teach about Christianity. We celebrate St Patrick’s day on 17We celebrate St Patrick’s day on 17 thth March. March.

People wear shamrocks and the colour green People wear shamrocks and the colour green on this day. on this day.

We celebrate St Brigid’s day on 1We celebrate St Brigid’s day on 1stst February. February. People make St Brigid’s crosses on the eve of People make St Brigid’s crosses on the eve of this day. St Brigid used these to teach about this day. St Brigid used these to teach about Christianity.Christianity.

My CountryMy Country

1840’s – Ireland ruled by England1840’s – Ireland ruled by England Population of 8 million – 2/3 of which depended Population of 8 million – 2/3 of which depended

on agricultureon agriculture Two main problems in Ireland which England Two main problems in Ireland which England

could not solve and really did not try to solve – could not solve and really did not try to solve – over-population and poverty.over-population and poverty.

Potato was a dietary staple Potato was a dietary staple Blight struck the potato crop repeatedly Blight struck the potato crop repeatedly

between 1845 - 1849between 1845 - 1849

The Great HungerThe Great Hunger

Death (2 million) – extinction of lowest class of agricultural Death (2 million) – extinction of lowest class of agricultural tenanttenant

Emigration (2 million) – mainly to America. Birth of Irish Emigration (2 million) – mainly to America. Birth of Irish Americans!Americans!

Demise of the cottiers – people at the lowest rung of the Demise of the cottiers – people at the lowest rung of the agricultural ladder, lived in mud huts, lived off potatoes. agricultural ladder, lived in mud huts, lived off potatoes.

Change from tillage to pasture farming . Pasture farming Change from tillage to pasture farming . Pasture farming needed more land without the small cabins that Irish tenants needed more land without the small cabins that Irish tenants had so the English landlords began to clear the land i.e. had so the English landlords began to clear the land i.e. evicted the Irish farmers out of their homes. Thus the number evicted the Irish farmers out of their homes. Thus the number of larger farms grew and the tenants farmers had no homes or of larger farms grew and the tenants farmers had no homes or land to grow their food on. land to grow their food on.

Made the Irish aware of how badly and unfairly they were Made the Irish aware of how badly and unfairly they were treatedtreated

Ireland still ruled by EnglandIreland still ruled by England

1870 - 19141870 - 1914 Failed to understand and solve question on landFailed to understand and solve question on land Home Rule – a demand for an independent Irish Parliament to Home Rule – a demand for an independent Irish Parliament to

control Irish affairs. Three Home Rule Bills presented to control Irish affairs. Three Home Rule Bills presented to Westminster in 1886, 1893 and 1912Westminster in 1886, 1893 and 1912

Home Rule to come into being in 1914Home Rule to come into being in 1914 Ulster unionists opposed this – Solemn League and Covenant. Ulster unionists opposed this – Solemn League and Covenant.

Rise of Ulster Volunteers. Appeared civil war was imminent in Rise of Ulster Volunteers. Appeared civil war was imminent in Ireland. Became known as the Ulster Question.Ireland. Became known as the Ulster Question.

Outbreak of First World War meant that Home Rule was Outbreak of First World War meant that Home Rule was postponed. Many of the Ulster Volunteers fought and died for postponed. Many of the Ulster Volunteers fought and died for England in the war. England in the war.

Irish Volunteers split into National Volunteers and Irish Volunteers Irish Volunteers split into National Volunteers and Irish Volunteers (those who were prepared to fight for Britain in WW1 and those (those who were prepared to fight for Britain in WW1 and those who were not)who were not)

Ulster Question was not solved.Ulster Question was not solved.

Nationalists were in agreement that Ireland was a Nationalists were in agreement that Ireland was a separate nation therefore Irish people had the separate nation therefore Irish people had the right to control their own affairs. right to control their own affairs.

Irish IrelandIrish IrelandThe GAAThe GAAThe Gaelic LeagueThe Gaelic LeagueThe Literary RevivalThe Literary RevivalSinn FéinSinn FéinIRBIRBThe Labour MovementThe Labour MovementThe Irish VolunteersThe Irish Volunteers

Irish NationalismIrish Nationalism

The Easter Rising The Easter Rising 19161916

IRB began planning this in 1914IRB began planning this in 1914 Formation of Military Council 1915Formation of Military Council 1915 Weapons from GermanyWeapons from Germany Rising cancelled on Holy Saturday by Rising cancelled on Holy Saturday by

Mac NéillMac Néill Military Council met on Easter Sunday Military Council met on Easter Sunday

and decided to go ahead with Rising the and decided to go ahead with Rising the following day following day

Personalities of the Personalities of the RisingRising

Pádraic PearsePádraic Pearse Eoin Mac NéillEoin Mac Néill James ConnollyJames Connolly Joseph Mary PlunkettJoseph Mary Plunkett Sir Roger CasementSir Roger Casement Arthur GriffithArthur Griffith Éamonn de ValeraÉamonn de Valera

Aftermath of Aftermath of RisingRising

450 killed450 killed 2600 injured2600 injured Dublin city in ruinsDublin city in ruins People of Dublin were hostile towards insurgentsPeople of Dublin were hostile towards insurgents English introduced martial law in Ireland to deal with English introduced martial law in Ireland to deal with

insurgentsinsurgents 16 insurgents were executed16 insurgents were executed InternmentInternment Two months after Rising majority of Irish were in favour Two months after Rising majority of Irish were in favour

of Easter rebels.of Easter rebels. Growth of Sinn Féin – 1918 electionGrowth of Sinn Féin – 1918 election

War of Independence 1919 – 21War of Independence 1919 – 21 Black and Tans 1920Black and Tans 1920 Truce and Treaty 1921Truce and Treaty 1921 Civil War 1921 – 23Civil War 1921 – 23 Dissolution of the Treaty – De Dissolution of the Treaty – De

Valera Valera

The Ulster The Ulster QuestionQuestion

Due to Unionist opposition to Home RuleDue to Unionist opposition to Home Rule 1914 – six of the nine Ulster counties (Antrim, 1914 – six of the nine Ulster counties (Antrim,

Armagh, Derry, Down, Fermanagh, Tyrone) Armagh, Derry, Down, Fermanagh, Tyrone) were mainly Unionist and wanted to stay as were mainly Unionist and wanted to stay as part of the United Kingdompart of the United Kingdom

Government of Ireland Act 1920 – guaranteed Government of Ireland Act 1920 – guaranteed to Unionists that they had a place in the UK, to Unionists that they had a place in the UK, divided Ireland and created Northern Irelanddivided Ireland and created Northern Ireland

Northern IrelandNorthern Ireland

Mistreatment of CatholicsMistreatment of Catholics Civil Rights – Bloody SundayCivil Rights – Bloody Sunday War War PeacePeace

TodayToday

Ireland still dividedIreland still divided Two governments – Dublin and BelfastTwo governments – Dublin and Belfast Good Friday Agreement 1998 - Good Friday Agreement 1998 - multi-multi-

party agreement by most of Northern party agreement by most of Northern Ireland’s political parties, an international Ireland’s political parties, an international agreement between the British and Irish agreement between the British and Irish governmentsgovernments

Facts about Facts about IrelandIreland

Population – 6,298,000 Population – 6,298,000 32 Counties – 4 provinces32 Counties – 4 provinces Capital – DublinCapital – Dublin 84.2% of population are Catholic84.2% of population are Catholic Currency –Euro, Sterling Currency –Euro, Sterling English majority language but Irish is official English majority language but Irish is official

language in 26 counties and is being revived language in 26 counties and is being revived on whole island. on whole island.

More than 100 million people around the world More than 100 million people around the world claim to have Irish ancestryclaim to have Irish ancestry

Irish National Irish National Anthem Anthem

A Soldier's SongA Soldier's Song Amhrán na bhFiannAmhrán na bhFiann

Soldiers are weSoldiers are we Sinne Laochra FáilSinne Laochra FáilWhose lives are pledged to Ireland Whose lives are pledged to Ireland Atá faoi gheall ag ÉirinnAtá faoi gheall ag Éirinn

Some have come Some have come Buíon dár sluaBuíon dár sluaFrom a land beyond the wave From a land beyond the wave Thar toinn do ráinig chugainnThar toinn do ráinig chugainn

Sworn to be free Sworn to be free Faoi mhóid bheith saorFaoi mhóid bheith saorNo more our ancient sire land No more our ancient sire land Seantír ár sinsear feastaSeantír ár sinsear feasta

Shall shelter the despot or the slave Shall shelter the despot or the slave Ní fhágfar faoin tíorán ná faoin tráillNí fhágfar faoin tíorán ná faoin tráill Tonight we man the bearna baol Tonight we man the bearna baol Anocht a théim sa bhearna bhaoilAnocht a théim sa bhearna bhaoil In Erin’s cause, come woe or weal In Erin’s cause, come woe or weal Le gean ar Ghaeil, chun báis nó saoilLe gean ar Ghaeil, chun báis nó saoil ’’Mid cannon’s roar and rifles’ peal Mid cannon’s roar and rifles’ peal Le gunna scréach, faoi lámhach na bpiléarLe gunna scréach, faoi lámhach na bpiléar We’ll chant a soldier’s song We’ll chant a soldier’s song Seo libh canaídh Amhrán na bhFiannSeo libh canaídh Amhrán na bhFiann

Irish FlagIrish Flag

1642-1916

1922 - present

Places of Interest Places of Interest in Irelandin Ireland

Walls of Derry City Walls of Derry City The Giants CausewayThe Giants Causeway Croke ParkCroke Park New GrangeNew Grange The BurrenThe Burren Cliffs of MoherCliffs of Moher Kilmainham GaolKilmainham Gaol Islands off the West CoastIslands off the West Coast Titanic MuseumTitanic Museum Book of KellsBook of Kells Croagh PatrickCroagh Patrick The GaeltachtThe Gaeltacht

Famous Irish Famous Irish PeoplePeople

Liam NeesonLiam Neeson Colin FarrellColin Farrell Brendan GleesonBrendan Gleeson Pierce BrosnanPierce Brosnan Roy KeaneRoy Keane Robbie KeaneRobbie Keane U2U2 West LifeWest Life BoyzoneBoyzone Niall from One DirectionNiall from One Direction

Land of saints and Land of saints and ScholarsScholars

Some of our most famous writers are Some of our most famous writers are Bram StokerBram Stoker Jonathon SwiftJonathon Swift JM SyngeJM Synge James JoyceJames Joyce Oliver GoldsmithOliver Goldsmith Brendan BehanBrendan Behan Flann O BrienFlann O Brien Oscar WildeOscar Wilde George Bernard ShawGeorge Bernard Shaw Samuel BeckettSamuel Beckett WB YeatsWB Yeats C S LewisC S Lewis Maeve BinchyMaeve Binchy Seamas HeaneySeamas Heaney Brian FrielBrian Friel Roddy DoyleRoddy Doyle

Celebrations and Celebrations and EventsEvents

St Brigid’s Day – 1St Brigid’s Day – 1stst February February Shrove TuesdayShrove Tuesday Ash Wednesday and LentAsh Wednesday and Lent St Patrick’s Day - March 17St Patrick’s Day - March 17thth EasterEaster The Twelfth of JulyThe Twelfth of July HalloweenHalloween ChristmasChristmas