What part of Europe is Ireland in? How is Ireland different from Northern Ireland? What the traveler should know

Republic of Ireland.

The name of the country comes from the Irish Eire - "western country".

Capital of Ireland. Dublin.

Ireland Square. 70285 km2.

Population of Ireland. 3841 thousand people

Location of Ireland. The country is located in the northwest and occupies five-sixths of the island of Ireland. Washed by water.

Administrative divisions of Ireland. Ireland includes the provinces of Leinster, Munster and Connaught, as well as part of the province of Ulster. Most of Ulster belongs to Northern Ireland, which is an integral part. It is divided into 26 counties. The cities of Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Waterford, Dun-Lary are separated into independent administrative units.

Ireland's form of government. Republic.

Head of State of Ireland. President elected for a term of 7 years.

Higher Legislature Ireland. bicameral parliament.

Ireland's highest executive. coalition government.

Major cities in Ireland. Cork, Limerick, Galway, Waterford.

Official language of Ireland. Irish (Gaelic - the revived language of the country's indigenous inhabitants, which is still spoken by a minority), English. Religion. 93% -, 4% - Protestants.

Ethnic composition of Ireland. 98% Irish, 2% English, Scottish.

Currency of Ireland. Euro = 100 cents.

Rivers and lakes of Ireland. Due to the large territory of Ireland, a dense network of rivers has formed, and. The most significant river is the Shannon, which crosses the country from east to west. do not freeze, full-flowing and navigable.

Landmarks of Ireland. In Dublin - the National Museum with exhibits from the period of early Christianity, the National Gallery, the castle of the 12th century, St. Patrick's Cathedral, the Gothic church of Christchurch of the 11th-13th centuries, the famous Blarney stone, kissing which, according to legend, one can receive a special gift of seduction of persons of the opposite gender.

Useful information for tourists

Alcoholic beverages, including beer, are sold only in outlets that have special licenses for this (“Off Licence”).

Airports and train stations in Ireland are not served by porters.

Hotels and restaurants, as a rule, add 10-12% to the bill to pay for services; in establishments of a lower class, tips are usually not given. Car traffic is on the left.

Dublin buses are double-decker and painted green. Tickets can be purchased from the driver, and various discounts are offered on pre-paid tickets for periods ranging from one day to one month, as well as on the number of trips. There are also special discounts for train and bus tickets, with such a ticket you can travel around Ireland for 5-8 days both on buses and on trains.

Useful data for tourists about Ireland, cities and resorts of the country. As well as information about the population, the currency of Ireland, the cuisine, the features of visa and customs restrictions in Ireland.

Geography of Ireland

The Republic of Ireland is a state in Western Europe that occupies most of the island of Ireland. The western coast is indented by deep bays. The interior is dominated by lowlands with numerous lakes and marshes; low mountains rise in the southern part of the island and near the coast. The highest point is Mount Karrantohil (1041 meters above sea level).


State

State structure

Parliamentary republic. The head of state is the president. The head of government is the prime minister. The Parliament is bicameral, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives.

Language

Official language: Irish (Gaelic), English

Religion

Catholics - 93%, Protestants - 5%.

Currency

International name: EUR

Popular Attractions

Ireland Tourism

Where to stay

Ireland enjoys constant popularity among tourists. Hotels in this country have a standard international classification, while the quality of service here is strictly controlled by the Irish Hotel Federation. Therefore, choosing one of the hotels, you can be sure of the appropriate service. As a rule, a buffet breakfast is included in the price of accommodation in hotels.

In addition to hotels in Ireland, accommodation in the so-called guest houses is possible. Hotels of this type also have their own classification - from one to four stars. For those who prefer the comfort of home and a family atmosphere, family B&Bs are scattered all over Ireland, especially in small towns. Here you can enjoy traditional home cooking, but be aware that in some hotels breakfast includes muesli and bread with jam, while in others it is a varied buffet. Check this point in advance.

No less popular among tourists is accommodation in ancient palaces and castles. Although the cost of living is quite high, tourists are also offered swimming pools, golf courses, and spa centers.

Well, those who want to completely immerse themselves in the authentic atmosphere will like accommodation in rural hotels. Here you will be offered not only to relax your body and soul, but also the opportunity to perform some agricultural work, for example, to look after the garden. In addition, meals are exclusively made from fresh local products.

It is worth considering that during major holidays all hotels must be booked in advance, while the cost of living on these days can be increased several times. As a rule, all hotels have pubs or restaurants.

Holidays in Ireland at the best price

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Tours and attractions in Ireland

Ireland is an amazing country with beautiful natural landscapes and an ancient history that dates back to ancient times. The most interesting historical, architectural and cultural attractions, as well as the original Irish flavor will provide a unique atmosphere and a lot of impressions.

The capital of Ireland Dublin is the historical, cultural and economic center of the country. The city is very popular among European tourists. Most of Ireland's most important sights are concentrated in Dublin and its environs. Among the most interesting places Dublin is worth mentioning St. Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin Castle, Christ Cathedral, Dublin Cathedral Mosque, Dublin Needle or Light Monument, Manderley Castle, Leinster House (Parliament House). Also of interest are the National Museum of Ireland, the Irish Museum contemporary art, State Museum of Heraldry, Trinity College and its Book of Kells, Samuel Beckett Bridge, National Abbey Theater of Ireland and National Botanic Gardens. An important attraction of the city is Phoenix Park - one of the largest public parks in the world. On its territory there are such attractions as the Presidential Residence, Ashtown Castle, the Papal Cross, as well as one of the most famous European zoos - the Dublin Zoo. St Stephen's Green is located in the central part of Dublin - this picturesque place is quite popular among both locals and visitors to the city.

The second largest city in Ireland is Cork (the administrative center of the county of the same name). In the historical center of the city there are many architectural, historical and cultural attractions. The most interesting of them are St. Finbarr's Cathedral, St. Patrick's Street, St. Mary's Cathedral, St. Patrick's Church, St. Anne's Church, City Hall, Cork Museum, Cork Opera House, Crawford Art Galleries and Firkin Crane Center. The vibrant nightlife of Cork is also famous, with many nightclubs and traditional Irish pubs. There are also Blackrock and Desmond Castles in County Cork.

Many historical and natural attractions are located in County Kerry. The most famous are Lakes of Killarney, Blasket Islands, Brandon and Carantwill Mountains, Urag Stone Ring, Scotia Cave, Killarney National Park, Macross Abbey, Ballycarbury and Ross Castles, Macross House and Gallarus Oratory. The city of Galway is also popular among tourists. It is worth seeing the Church of St. Nicholas, the Cathedral, Lynch Castle, the City Museum and the Spanish Arch.

On the territory of County Galway are the famous Aran Islands and one of the most picturesque corners of the country - Connemara. In the city of Limerick, it is worth visiting King John's Castle, St. John the Baptist's Cathedral, St. Mary's Cathedral, Bishop's Palace, City Hall and the Hunt Museum. Also interesting to visit and oldest city Ireland - Waterford with its oldest structure, the Reginalds Tower and the Treasure Museum.

In the east of Ireland in County Meath is the world-famous Brú na Boine, a complex of 40 burial mounds. The most famous of them - the three huge tombs of Newgrange, Naut and Daut, located in the center of the complex, surpass the legendary Stonehenge in their age and Pyramids of Egypt. These majestic buildings have a colossal historical meaning and are the most important monuments of megalithic art in Europe.


Irish Cuisine

Irish cuisine is distinctively simple, with Northern Ireland - the "Emerald Isle" - producing some of the finest organic produce in the world. Proximity to the sea, climate and vast countryside strongly influence the products common in Northern Ireland. Thanks to abundant rains, pastures are always full of juicy grass, which is good for the production of milk, which in turn makes excellent cream, butter and cheese. The green Irish hills make an excellent base for raising cattle, and the mild climate means that the cattle can graze in the meadows all year round and the meat comes out juicy and tasty; it is on the basis of such fresh lamb that the traditional Irish stew is prepared.

The excellent soil and climate also create ideal conditions for growing the potato, which has been a staple and symbol of Irish cuisine ever since it was brought from South America through Spain. Potatoes form the basis of many Irish soups, pies, dumplings, breads, buns, pies and even pancakes. One of the most famous Irish dishes is colcannon (from the old name "cole" - cabbage), which is made from mashed potatoes, chopped cabbage, onions and seasonings. Champ is a similar dish, but the potatoes are not chopped very finely and are mixed with finely chopped green onions, milk, butter, salt and pepper. Another traditional potato dish is boxty - pancakes made from grated potatoes fried in a pan.

Various fish are found in abundance in the rivers and lakes of Northern Ireland: salmon, trout, perch, eel, pike. Lobsters, shrimps, oysters and mussels are caught in the sea, as well as all kinds of fish, including cod, rays, flounder, herring and mackerel. In addition to seafood, red algae (dulse) are mined in the sea, which were traditionally used for food. Algae can be mixed with mashed potatoes (dulse champ). Irish moss or pearl moss (an edible seaweed) is often harvested in the spring and is used either fresh or dried.

Ireland has many delicious traditional pastries. This is farls (farls), which are baked from wheat flour with the addition of oatmeal in the form of a quarter of a circle (since in translation this word means "one fourth"). Very popular soda bread (soda bread) with its unusual sour taste (thanks to the use of buttermilk). Potato bread is another traditional dish and is served cold or fried in pork fat as part of breakfast. Bram brack fruit bread, reminiscent of the Welsh bara brith, is served with tea with butter.

The famous Russian poetess Zinaida Gippius once, although she had never seen Ireland, called it "a foggy country with sharp rocks." Now the island of Ireland, on which, in fact, the Republic of Ireland is located, is called the "Emerald Isle", because. trees and plants are green almost all year round. However, tourists in Ireland will be interested not only in nature, but also in numerous medieval castles, as well as other attractions, traditional festivals and local alcoholic drinks (Irish whiskey, beer and ale).

Geography of Ireland

The Republic of Ireland is located on the island of Ireland, in northwestern Europe. This country has a land border only with Northern Ireland, which is part of the UK. The island of Ireland is washed on all sides by the Atlantic Ocean (the Celtic Sea in the south, the St. George Canal in the southeast and the Irish Sea in the east). The total area of ​​this country is 70,273 sq. km. The highest peak in Ireland is Mount Carantwill, whose height reaches 1041 m.

Capital

The capital of Ireland is Dublin, which now has a population of about 550 thousand people. Historians claim that a Celtic settlement on the site of modern Dublin existed already in the 2nd century AD.

Official language of Ireland

Ireland has two official languages- Irish and English. However, only 39% of the population of Ireland knows the Irish language.

Religion

About 87% of the inhabitants of Ireland are Catholics belonging to the Roman Catholic Church.

State structure

According to the Constitution, Ireland is a parliamentary republic, the head of which is the President, who is elected for a 7-year term.

executive power belongs to the bicameral Parliament - Oirakhtas, consisting of the Senate (60 people) and the House of Representatives (156 people).

The main political parties are the Labor Party, Fine Gael, Fianna Fáil, Sinn Féin, the Workers' Party of Ireland, and the Socialist Party.

Climate and weather in Ireland

The climate in Ireland is determined by the Atlantic Ocean and the warm Gulf Stream. As a result, the climate in this country is temperate maritime. The average annual air temperature is +9.6C. The warmest months in Ireland are July and August, when the average air temperature reaches +19C, and the coldest months are January and February (+2C). The average rainfall is 769 mm per year.

Average air temperature in Dublin:

  • January - +4C
  • February - +5С
  • March - +6.5C
  • April - +8.5C
  • May - +11С
  • June - +14C
  • July - +15С
  • August - +15С
  • september - +13C
  • october - +11C
  • November - +7С
  • December - +5C

Seas and oceans

The island of Ireland is washed on all sides by the Atlantic Ocean. In the south, Ireland is washed by the Celtic Sea, and in the east by the Irish Sea. In the southeast, the St. George Canal separates Ireland and Great Britain.

Rivers and lakes

Many rivers flow through Ireland. The largest of these are Shannon, Barrow, Shur, Blackwater, Bunn, Liffey, and Slaney. As for the lakes, of them, first of all, the following should be mentioned: Loch Derg, Loch Mask, Loch Neagh, and Killarney.

Note that Ireland has an extensive network of canals, most of which were built more than 100 years ago.

Story

The first people on the island of Ireland appeared 8 thousand years ago. Then, during the Neolithic, Celtic tribes from the Iberian Peninsula arrived in Ireland. The spread of Christianity in Ireland is associated with the name of St. Patrick, who arrived on this island around the middle of the 5th century.

Since the 8th century, Ireland has been subjected to a century-long invasion of the Vikings. At this time, the country is divided into several counties.

In 1177, a significant part of the territory of Ireland was captured by English troops. AT mid-sixteenth For centuries, the British tried to impose Protestantism on the Irish, but they could not do it completely. Thus, to this day, the inhabitants of the island of Ireland are divided into two religious concessions - Catholics and Protestants (in the Republic of Ireland, the majority of the population are Catholics).

In 1801 Ireland became part of Great Britain. It wasn't until 1922, after the Irish War of Independence, that most of Ireland seceded from Great Britain, forming the Irish Free State (but which was part of the Commonwealth of Great Britain). Only in 1949 did Ireland become truly independent. However, Northern Ireland, where the majority of the population is Protestant, is still part of the UK.

In 1973 Ireland was admitted to the EU.

Culture of Ireland

Despite the fact that the British for many centuries tried to include Ireland in their empire, the Irish still managed to maintain their national identity, as well as traditions and beliefs.

The most popular festivals in Ireland are the St. Patrick's Day Festival and Parade, the Galway Oyster Festival, the Cork Jazz Festival, the Bloomsday Festival, and the Dublin Marathon.

Kitchen

Traditional products in Ireland are meat (beef, pork, lamb), fish (salmon, cod), seafood (oysters, mussels), potatoes, cabbage, cheese, dairy products. The most famous Irish dish is Irish stew, which is made from lamb, potatoes, carrots, parsley, onions and cumin.

Another traditional Irish dish is boiled bacon with cabbage. Ireland is also famous for its traditional soda bread and cheesecake.

Everyday non-alcoholic drinks in Ireland are tea and coffee (think of the famous Irish coffee, which includes whiskey, brown sugar and whipped cream). As for alcoholic beverages, the Irish prefer whiskey, beer and ale.

Landmarks of Ireland

Despite the fact that Ireland is a small country, it still has a lot of interesting sights. The top ten of them, in our opinion, are the following:


Cities and resorts

Ireland's largest cities are Cork, Limerick and, of course, Dublin. The largest of them is Dublin, which is now home to about 550 thousand people. In turn, the population of Cork is more than 200 thousand people, and Limerick - about 100 thousand people.

Souvenirs/Shopping

Tourists from Ireland usually bring traditional Irish sweaters from the Aran Island (we recommend buying white Aran sweaters, not colored ones), Waterford Crystal glassware, tweed suits, linen, CDs of Irish music, fishing tackle, and, of course, Irish whiskey.

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Ireland, the Emerald Isle, is one of the most attractive and mysterious European countries. A land of fairies and elves, fiery revolutionaries and paradoxical writers, romantic legends and pragmatic whiskey makers...
Ireland is one of ancient countries Europe, perfectly preserved its culture and historical heritage- despite the difficult fate - after all, the territory of Ireland is still divided between the Republic of Ireland and Great Britain ...

Ireland - Republic of Ireland, Poblacht na hÉireann in Irish, Republic of Ireland in English - occupies most of the island of the same name. The name comes from the Irish word Éire meaning "state".

In addition to the Republic of Ireland, there is also Northern Ireland, Tuaisceart Éireann or Northern Ireland. It is an administrative and political unit of the United Kingdom with its capital in the city of Belfast. It includes 6 of the 9 counties of the historical province of Ulster.

Administrative Republic of Ireland divided into 4 historical provinces - Ulster, Leinster, Munster and Connacht; and those, in turn, into 26 counties. 20 counties belong to the independent Republic, 6 - to Northern Ireland.

The independence of the Republic of Ireland was proclaimed in 1949, in 1973 the country joined the European Union.
Ireland is a parliamentary republic, its Parliament consists of two houses - representatives and the Senate. Executive power belongs to the president elected for 7 years, and in fact - to the prime minister approved by the president.

Island of Ireland, by the way, the third largest among the European islands, located in the northern part of the Atlantic Ocean; from the east it is also washed by the Irish Sea.
Accordingly, the climate of Ireland is temperate maritime, with mild winters and cool summers, with a significant amount of precipitation - which made Ireland the "Emerald Isle".
The warmest month of the year is July, the average air temperature is + 18-20 C. The coldest is January, with an average monthly temperature of minus 9 degrees Celsius.

The capital of country- city Dublin, with a population of just over one and a half million people.
Dublin is a city-county located on the Dublin Bay of the Irish Sea. Being the center of the political, cultural and economic life of Ireland, Dublin is also the main port city of the country.
The most popular version of the etymology of the city's name is "Black Pool", and the modern Irish name of the capital is Baile Átha Cliath, or BÁC for short, meaning "settlement at the ford" (the River Liffey, which flows into Dublin Bay). We will talk about Dublin below, when describing the sights of the country.

The second largest city in the country Cork, it is home to about 200,000 people (including suburbs).
Yet Irish population is, according to 2006, just over 4.2 million people. Of these, the majority - more than 88% - are "native Irish" of Celtic origin. National minorities are represented by another 40 nationalities, among which, for obvious reasons, the British are in the lead - 2.74% of the population. Following are the Poles - 1.5%, an honorable third place, less than 1%, went to the Lithuanians.

Time in Ireland behind Moscow for 3 hours.
National currency- euro
Official languages ​​of Ireland- Irish and English.

Religion in Ireland traditionally plays an important role in public life. The main denomination is Catholicism; followed by Protestantism. In Northern Ireland, which remained in the possession of Britain, the Protestant population predominates.

Cities and sights of Ireland
The center and heart of the country is its capital, elegant Dublin.
It is believed that the city was founded in 841 by the Scandinavians, at the confluence of the River Liffey into Dublin Bay. But the first mention of a Celtic settlement on this site dates back to the middle of the 2nd century AD and belongs to the Greek astronomer and geographer Ptolemy.

One of the first English invasions of Ireland dates back to 1169, when Dublin, after being captured by Henry II Plantagenet, became a royal city and a stronghold of English influence in the country for a long time. Since then, the city has preserved several architectural landmarks - first of all, of course, Dublin Castle, which housed the British government. Not far from it are the Cathedral of St. Patrick, Cathedral of Christ and Church of St. Audina.

Of the other architectural and historical sights of Dublin, Blackrock House, the summer residence of the Irish Viceroys, should be cancelled; obelisk in honor of the Duke of Wellington; Fifteen Acres Square - a place of noble duels; the labyrinth of old streets around Temple Bar, the focus of Georgian architecture in the areas of Marriott Square, Ely Plate ... And, of course, the main street of the city - O'Connoll Street - many times destroyed and restored, a motley mixture of architectural styles and eras.

Dublin boasts a rich cultural tradition. It is not for nothing that so many famous English-speaking writers were born in it: Oscar Wilde, Bernard Shaw, William Yeats, Samuel Beckett, Jonathan Swift and even the creator of Dracula Bram Stoker! Dubliners are proud of their famous countrymen and honor them - for example, on June 16, the townspeople annually celebrate Bloomsday - a holiday dedicated to the protagonist of James Joyce's novel "Ulysses".
The city is home to the National Library of Ireland and the National Printing Museum, the Civic Museum and museums of national and contemporary art, many theaters, exhibition and concert halls, the Trinity College complex and the Royal Irish Yacht Club ...

Other sights of Ireland are, first of all, medieval castles, the amazing nature of the country and the world-famous town of Newgrange - a megalithic religious building older than Stonehenge and the pyramids of Giza.

Many ancient castles are now located National parks, cultural or tourist organizations, including 4-5 star hotels. For example - the estate of Count Macross, now - National Park Macross. Or Cabra Castle in County Cavan - now it's not just a hotel, but a haunted hotel! And in the castle of the Earl of Thomond (Bunratty, County Clare) medieval banquets for tourists are often held - but keep in mind that not only treats, but also serving will be medieval, that is, you will have to eat with your hands ...

Limerick is famous not only for its comic quintuples, but also for its 800-year-old royal castle, and the city's cathedral - the same age as the castle ... Residents of the seaside town of Dingle speak only their native Gaelic, willingly study Celtic culture, and in the city itself there are many fish restaurants on the ocean serving delicious local dishes made from freshly caught fish...

Irish cuisine
Here we smoothly move on to the culinary topic. Irish cuisine is the cuisine of a country that has remained poor throughout most of its history. Therefore, it is simple and resourceful in the use of the main food product - potatoes.
Potato pancakes (boxty), mashed potatoes with green onions, butter and milk (champ), mashed potatoes with cabbage, potato bread (potato bread) - this is not a complete list of various potato dishes known to the Irish.
Milk and dairy products are widely used by the Irish, although until the 80s of the last century in Ireland there was only one type of cheese - cheddar. One of the traditional dairy dishes is Goody - bread boiled in milk with sugar and spices.
Popular meat dishes: Irish stew - lamb stew with onions and, yes, potatoes; Crubeens - boiled, pre-salted, pork leg; bacon stewed with cabbage...


Irish cuisine may seem rustic to some. But the Irish took revenge in the field of drinks! Irish whiskey, Irish beer - there is no person who does not know Guinness or Kilkenny, has not heard at least once the name Bushmills or has not tried Irish coffee ... And the famous Bailey's Irish Cream liqueur and its less famous, but no less tasty "brothers": Carolans Irish Cream, O "Gradey" s Country Cream ... And the Irish also have apple cider and their own moonshine - Potin, made from malt or potatoes. Yes, Ireland is worth visiting just to taste its delicious drinks at the place of their manufacture!

Holidays in Ireland

March 17 - the day of St. Patrick, the Enlightener of Ireland and, according to legend, the creator of whiskey - the main national holiday of the country. Ireland also owes the green color and the shamrock as a symbol to this saint - with the help of the clover shamrock, the educator explained to the people the concept of the Holy Trinity.
On this day, it is customary to cook traditional Irish dishes, as well as “clover pastries” (Shamrock Cake), washing down the treat with a lot of whiskey,

Customs regulations (information from the Travel ru website): import and export of currency is not limited, standard weapons-drugs-pornography are prohibited. When importing medicines, you must have a prescription written by a doctor. Imported cigarettes are not subject to duty - up to 200 pieces, alcoholic beverages - with a strength of over 22% - up to 1 liter, less - up to 2 liters; perfumes up to 50 ml and personal items. Attention: the current changes in customs rules must be clarified immediately before the trip!

Website of the Embassy of the Republic of Ireland in Russia: www. dfa.ie/home

In preparing the article, the following sites were used: wikipedia, travel ru, gastronom ru, veter-s.ru

Southern and Northern Ireland. Historically, the northern coast of the island is part of the UK, and the rest is a separate country with the same name - Ireland.

Similarities

These countries have differences, but also a lot in common. Let's start with what still unites these two worlds:

  • Ireland and Northern Ireland united common roots: it is believed that the ancestors of the current Irish were immigrants from the territories of the Mediterranean and Black Seas.
  • Population. In both countries, the Irish are considered the indigenous population.
  • Geographical position. You can not argue that both states are located on the territory of the same island. Therefore, they have one climatic zone (temperate marine), soil types (podzolic and swampy), flora and fauna;
  • State device. Both countries have a parliamentary republic. In Northern Ireland, the legislature is called the Northern Ireland Assembly.
  • Religion: Even before the split into two states, the island was dominated by the Christian religion. Since ancient times, it was believed that Christianity was brought to the island by St. Patrick, who came from the north (Great Britain). But evidence was found that Christianity in Ireland began to emerge long before the arrival of Patrick - in the south of the country.
  • Administrative division: both states are divided into counties. Northern Ireland includes 6 counties and 26 belong to the Republic of Ireland.
  • State languages. Despite the fact that the countries are different, they have one language - English - due to common roots and close proximity to each other. Although for quite a long time the Irish authorities have been trying to replace the state language with purely Irish. At the beginning of the 21st century, bills were even passed that banned signs in English along the entire coast of Ireland.
  • Currency. Since Ireland joined the European Union (since 1999), another currency has been introduced on its territory - the euro, as in Northern Ireland.
  • Irish folk music and dance. From ancient times to the present, both in the Republic of Ireland and in Northern Ireland, folk music has been quite homogeneous, fiery and recognizable throughout the world.
  • Holidays. Both Northern and Southern Ireland still celebrate some national holidays: Christmas, New Year, Easter Monday, May holidays.

A bit of history

It is worth mentioning the reason why Ireland split into two separate states. For eight hundred years, the island of Ireland was considered a colony of Great Britain, and of course the natives did not agree with this. But it wasn't until the early 20th century that the conflict reached its climax.

In 1921, 6 counties separated from Ireland, now part of Northern Ireland. Later, in 1949 the rest of the island declared itself an independent state. Until now, the inhabitants of the Republic of Ireland (RI) do not like the British and people from Northern Ireland.

Differences

From the above, we can conclude the following differences between the two countries:

  1. The Republic of Ireland is a free and independent state while Northern Ireland is part of the UK.
  2. Population: despite the fact that both countries were previously inhabited by the Irish, in our time most of the inhabitants of Northern Ireland are British (English, Scots).
  3. languages ​​and dialects. The official languages ​​of these two countries are similar, but in Ireland the officially recognized second language is Irish. Also, in Northern Ireland, unlike its neighbor, the Scottish language is used. And in Southern Ireland, oddly enough, the second most popular language is Polish.
  4. National holidays. National Irish holidays include: St. Brigid's Day, St. Patrick's Day, Beltane, Lugnassad, Mabon, Samhain, St. Stephen's Day. These holidays have survived from pagan times, and are celebrated in Southern Ireland to this day. In Northern Ireland, the national holidays of the British are popular.
  5. Religion. Both countries are Christian states, but in Northern Ireland the majority are Protestant, as are the British.
  6. Independence. The Republic of Ireland dreams of including Northern Ireland. And the inhabitants of Northern Ireland have long considered themselves part of the UK.
  7. mentality. Any resident of Southern Ireland will be outraged and offended by the statement that he is part of Britain;

If Northern Ireland was almost completely saturated with the culture of England, then the southern Irish still remain authentic. For example:

  • In Northern Ireland, as in England, people prefer tea in terms of drinks. In Southern Ireland, beer (the famous Guinness is from there), whiskey and Irish coffee (with the addition of liquor) are considered national drinks.
  • There are no specific words in the Irish language for agreeing or refusing - you will not hear from the lips of the Irish equivalent of our "yes" or "no".
  • In Northern Ireland, a pub is considered a place to have a good drink. For the Southern Irish, the pub (or "pub" as they are called there) is a place where you can spend any leisure time. This is the place for Friday parties, families with children, and cultural events such as a music concert.
  • Swearing and swearing is welcomed in Southern Irish culture. A certain amount of insults to the interlocutor is considered an indicator of friendliness and trust.
  • In Southern Ireland, holidays are usually celebrated in a pub or somewhere else. Inviting a stranger to a family holiday is considered bad manners.
  • In Ireland, it is not customary to react emotionally to compliments. They will respond to any compliment briefly and coldly, or not agree with it at all.

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