THE EMERALD ISLAND

The Irish flag, created in 1848, was designed to reflect the country's political realities.

The national emblem of Ireland is the harp.

The Republic of Ireland (officially named Ireland) occupies 83 percent, about five-sixths of the island of Ireland. The remainder constitutes Northern Ireland, which is part of the United Kingdom and is located in the north-east.

The first settlers on the island were Celtic tribe-people; they began arriving and settling around 600 B.C.

In the 12th century English invaders arrived in Ireland, and so began seven centuries of bitter Anglo-Irish conflict.

The uprising was cruelly crushed with many of the rebellion leaders being executed by the British - but the significance of this uprising was that the campaign carried on in the form of guerrilla warfare and in 1921 independence from the UK was secured for 26 southern Irish counties. Finally in 1998 a peace settlement for Northern Ireland - known as the Good Friday Agreement - was approved. The Good Friday Agreement is now being implemented although with some difficulties.

Ireland has one of the oldest and most fascinating histories of the world.

Irish literature is highly regarded around the world, with W.B. Yeats (1923), George Bernhard Shaw (1925), Samuel Beckett (1969) and Seamus Heaney (1995) being awarded the Nobel Prize. James Joyce is said to be one of the most important modern writers.

HAD I the heavens' embroidered cloths, Enwrought with golden and silver light, The blue and the dim and the dark cloths Of night and light and the half-light,

I would spread the cloths under your feet: But I, being poor, have only my dreams; I have spread my dreams under your feet; Tread softly because you tread on my dreams.

Hurling and Gaelic football are the most popular sports in Ireland, although rugby, cricket and football are also very popular.

Irelands cuisine is very traditional and hearty, ensuring every meal is satisfying and delicious.

In addition to the myriad of historic centers and museums, there are plenty of festivals that will truly enhance your trip to the country.

St. Patricks Day celebrates the teachings of Christianity by St. Patrick, the patron Saint of Ireland. Citizens of Ireland dont typically wear green on St. Patricks Day, but they do wear Shamrocks as a symbol of the teachings of the Holy Trinity, and pin Shamrocks to the outside of their coats or shirts.

Pubs are popular places for the locals to hang out on game days, the weekends, or happy hour.

Irish whiskey is probably the best and finest whiskey one can find anywhere on earth due to the time it takes to create the spirit, its price and its overall taste.

The "Oscar" statuette handed out at the Academy Awards was designed by Cedric Gibbons, who was born in Dublin in 1823. The Newgrange passage tomb in County Meath was constructed around 3200 BC, making it more than 600 years older than the Giza Pyramids in Egypt, and 1,000 years older than Stonehenge. Bram Stoker was working as a civil servant in Dublin when he wrote "Dracula" in 1897. Baileys Irish Cream which was launched in Ireland in the early seventies is now the most popular liqueur in the world. The home of Guinness is in Dublin. The famous Guinness Brewery is at St. James' Gate The Titanic was built in Belfast St Patrick's Day was originally celebrated as a religious holiday. In 1903 it became a public holiday and the first St. Patrick's Day parade was held in Dublin in 1931. The Irish government began to use St. Patricks Day to showcase Ireland and it's cultural heritage during the 1990s. Saint Patricks Day has now turned into Saint Patrick's Festival. St Patrick's Festival is now a four day event. It is also the home of the myth regarding the existence of Leprechauns and their pots of gold. Ireland was one of the earliest countries to establish a system of hereditary surnames. Originally, the forms were limited to prefixes, ie Mac (meaning 'son of') and 'O' (meaning descendant of).

The flag of Ireland perhaps the single most important emblem of the Republic. The shamrock probably the most recognised of the symbols of Ireland and perhaps the most loved. The little three leafed plant has connections to St Patrick and Catholicism, and is a reminder of the country's green carpet. Hot and dark with a creamy white head. It can only be Irish coffee. The Irish Celtic Cross. A mixture of pagan worship and Christianity comes together in this design. Celtic High Crosses are the giants of the Irish countryside, and impressive remnants of antiquity. The traditional Irish ring the claddagh ring symbolizes friendship, love and loyalty. The Irish harp On Irish passports, coins and flags (not to mention the logo of a certain famous brand of stout), the wire-stringed harp is the oldest official emblem of Ireland. The sometimes good, sometimes evil leprechaun the little fella has associations with the 'other side' and his unpredictability makes him worthy of respect Irish Celtic Knot is one of the best known motifs in Celtic art & folklore. The twists and turns of the design are found in Ancient stone art and tattoos.

KILKENNY

DUBLIN

GENERAL POST OFFICE

NATIONAL MUSEUM

MANSION HOUSE

TYPICAL IRISH DOORS