In area, Scotland is about 30.000 square miles. Its population is about 5.200.000 people. Scotland was an independent kingdom. In 1707 the Act of Union was passed. This Act incorporated Scotland with England in the United Kingdom, but the Scots kept their own legal system, religion, education and administration, and still keep them now. It is governed from London under a Secretary of State for Scotland who is usually a Scot.
The English language is spoken all over Scotland with a variety of regional accents – Scottish dialects. Among the people of some remote Highlands districts the Gaelic language is still used.
Scotland is a northern land, but it is not particularly cold there.
During the nineteenth century much industrial development, based at first on coal mining, took place in the region round Glasgow and Edinburgh. Although Edinburgh is the capital, Glasgow has for a long time been the chief center of commerce and industry.
Scottish towns look very different from English towns. Architectural traditions are quite distinct, and certain styles never appear in England. Two-storey red brick houses of England contrast with gray four-storey apartment houses in Scotland.
The most interesting and beautiful part of Scotland – and of the whole of Britain – is the north and west, of the region commonly called “the highlands and islands”. Great sea-lochs, wild and empty hills, cone-shaped mountains deep valleys attract a lot of tourists. Shooting, fishing and deerstalking are rich men's sports. Most visitors to modern Scotland come away with an impression that Scotsmen are hospitable, generous and friendly.
Topic Northern Ireland
The majority of the inhabitants of this large and beautiful island are Celtic in origin. After the Reformations in England and Scotland, many English and Scottish Protestants were settled in Ireland by the English monarch and became the most powerful element in the country because they owned much of the land. In 1801 the union of Ireland with Great Britain took place, and the new political unit was called the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. The union was not favored by the Catholic majority of the inhabitants, who regarded the dominant Protestant minority as foreign invaders and oppressors.
The Protestant and Catholic communities` mutual hostility is a characteristic feature of six counties of Northern Ireland. Serious disorders turned into the real war. In August 1969 British troops were sent to keep order, but terrorist acts continued.
The purpose of the British is to unite the two communities against extremists from both sides. There has been some progress towards this end, but many problems remain unsolved and the danger of a new wave of violence still exists.
Topic Wales
Wales has been united with England for seven hundred years, and through all this time England and Wales have formed one single political and administrative unit.
The territory of Wales is about 8.000 square miles. The population of Wales is about 3 m. people.
Central and North Wales are farming regions, while South Wales is the industrial part of the country. It is rich in coal. Cardiff, the capital of Wales, is also a large port.
Wales is a very popular place for spending holidays. Every year, thousands of people take their holidays at the seaside on the North Wales coast or, if they prefer, enjoy peace in villages far from town life. Some people choose Snowdonia. This is a national park around Snowdon, which is ideal for walking or hiking holidays.
Among the best-known Welsh characteristics are certain romanticism and love of poetry and music. The annual bardic festival known as the National Eisteddfod of Wales has a 1,200-year-old history: choral singing of hymns is a national art. Oratory is another. Singers, dancers, musicians and poets come from all over the world to complete for the awards at the festival. They often wear national costumes. At the festivals Welsh girls wear the nationals dress – a tall black hat, a red skirt and a white apron.
Another source of national pride is Rugby football.
In the whole of Wales, 99 per cent of the people can speak English, and the Welsh language, which is a Celtic one and very different from English, is, in fact, declining.
Ireland ( [ˈaɪrlənd]) - Island ( island), located northeast of continental Europe. The third largest in Europe and the twentieth largest on Earth, this island is separated from Great Britain by the Irish Sea ( the Irish Sea).
Population ( population)
Ireland is not a single country. There are two independent states on the island - the Republic of Ireland ( Republic of Ireland), which occupies about 5/6 of the area and Northern Ireland (Northern Ireland), which is part of the UK and is located in the northeast. The population of Ireland is about 6.4 million people. Of these, 4.6 million live in the Republic of Ireland and only 1.8 million live in Northern Ireland.
Climate ( climate)
mild oceanic climate oceanic climate), low mountains ( low mountains) and the absence of sudden temperature changes ( temperature drops) contribute to lush vegetation ( lush vegetation) on the island. Until the 17th century, dense forests ( thick forests) covered most of the area of Ireland, but now, as a result of human activities, almost all forests have disappeared ( deforested).
Notable characters ( famous symbols)
The symbols of Ireland are the harp, the strings of which give rise to the world-famous Celtic music, the Celtic cross ( the Celtic cross) and white clover leaf - shamrock ( Shamrock). The country is also the birthplace of the fairy tale character leprechaun ( leprechaun) - a small stocky man in green clothes.
Religion ( religion)
Most of ( majority) of the population are Catholics ( Catholics) - 88%.
Capital ( capital)
Dublin ( Dublin) was founded ( was founded) by the Vikings in 988 AD. Original title - Dubh Linn(from Irish dubh- black, and linn- backwater, pond).
Languages ( languages)
Ireland is bilingual ( bilingual) the country. The population speaks two languages - English ( English) and Irish ( Irish). The Irish language belongs to the Celtic language group with Indo-European roots and is also called Gaelic ( Gaelic). For a long time the country was under the control of Britain, and the local language practically ceased to be used, with the exception of some areas in the west of Ireland. After the independence of the Irish Free State in 1922, the government sought to restore the use of the Irish language by the population. It began to be taught at school, and also used along with English in state office work, road signs etc. However, English is still the main one ( commonly used) language of the country. Only in a small part of the territory, called the Gaeltacht and located along the west coast, Irish is in daily use ( in everyday use). A 1995 national survey found that only 5% of Irish people use Irish frequently and only 2% consider it their first language ( native tongue). However, over 30% of the population claims to have some degree of Gaelic proficiency.
Irish accent ( Irish accent)
Irish English is melodious and musical, and there is something bewitching in it, akin to the roar of the waves, the howling of the wind and the overflow of harp strings. And although brilliant English is spoken in Ireland, the Irish accent is indestructible. And the main reason for this is the influence of the dominant Irish language for a long time ( Irish).
An example of difference from others native speakers maybe it's how the irish pronounce the sound th [ θ , ð ]. They do not bother with the manipulation of the tongue and blowing air between the teeth, but simply replace it with t(muffled sound) or d (ringing sound). So the phrase " So do you see the thirty trees over there? That's right!” sounds like “ So do ya see the tirty trees over dere? Dat's right!”.
Also, the Irish respect vowels ( vowels). Unlike German and Slavic languages, where consonants can be piled up without a single vowel, in Irish English the word film, for example, would sound like fill-um, and the Irish name Colm consists of two syllables.
Features of Irish English ( Peculiarities of Irish English)
Naturally, the Irish version of English has its own characteristics.
For example, instead of speaking any language, the Irish have it. Instead of saying, " I speak Irish” (I speak Irish), an Irishman will say “ I have Irish”.
Or, instead of " to have just done” to indicate a just completed action in Ireland they say “ to be after doing". For example: I'm after finding a euro on the road! = I've just found a euro on the road.
Another interesting feature is that many Irish people do not use the word yes ( yes) and no ( no). Instead, the verb from the question is simply repeated. ( Can you swim? - I can! Do you like tomato juice? - I don't).
Irish proverbs ( Irish Proverbs)
The Irish are famous for their insight and sense of humor. This is confirmed by the proverbs of the Emerald Isle.
Man is incomplete until he marries. After that, he is finished. A man is not perfect until he marries. After that, he is finished.
What butter and whiskey will not cure, there is no cure for. “What oil and whiskey can't cure can't be cured at all.
Three things come without asking: fear, jealousy, and love. - Three things come without asking - fear, jealousy and love.
It is sweet to drink but bitter to pay for. - It is sweet to drink, but bitter to pay. (Softly spreads and hard to sleep.)
Idleness is a fool "s desire. - Idleness is the desire of a fool.
A diplomat must always think twice before he says nothing. A diplomat should think twice before remaining silent.
A change of work is as good as a rest. A job change is as good as a break.
Cheerfulness is a sign of wisdom. - Cheerfulness is a sign of wisdom.
Listen to the sound of the river and you will get a trout. “Listen to the sound of the river and you will get trout.
Fun facts about Ireland ( Fun facts about Ireland)
And, finally, some interesting facts about this wonderful country:
- The longest name in Ireland belongs to the town Muckanaghederdauhaulia located in County Galway.
- An ancient Irish tradition is to turn the birthday boy over on his birthday, pick him up by his legs and lightly hit the floor several times, for good luck. The number of strokes should correspond to the child's age plus one year.
- traditional hangover cure hangover cure) in Irish: to bury the suffering in wet river sand up to the neck. ( I'll just take the hangover, thanks. :-))
- In the old days, a pig was often allowed to live in a house with his family on an Irish farm. He (or her) was usually called “ the gentleman who pays the rent” (the gentleman who pays the rent).
- The most revered saint in Ireland is Patrick ( St. Patrick) was not the most educated person and, they say, was embarrassed by his poor writing skills.
- James Joyce ( James Joyce) once called an Irish dark beer Guinness"wine of Ireland".
- The Titanic was built in Northern Ireland.
- The number of sheep living on the Emerald Isle exceeds its population. In 2010, it was about 8 million. And even traffic jams, as you can see in the video, arise precisely because of them :-)
If you find an error, please highlight a piece of text and click Ctrl+Enter.
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland, also known as Ulster, is still a part of the United Kingdom. It is made up of six countries: Antrim, Armagh, Down, Fermanagh, Londonderry, Tyrone. One third of the population lives in and around the capital, Belfast. Belfast is also the most important port and commercial and industrial centre. Some parts of the territory, those that are not close to the capital, have remained mainly rural.
The Irish population is divided into two groups: the Protestants and the Catholics. The Protestants are of British origin. They are descendants of British settlers who came to Ireland in the 16th and 17th centuries, during and after the Reformation. The Catholics are mostly natives of Ireland.
The Protestants were the majority and dominated the Catholics with strong discrimination. In 1968 the Catholics began the movement for equal civil rights.
The fightings between the two groups of the population continue to this day.
Northern Ireland has a strong cultural tradition: songs, dances, literature and festivals.
It has its own Art Council, and there are orchestras, theaters, ballet and opera companies.
Questions:
1. How many countries are there in Northern Ireland?
2. What is the capital of Northern Ireland?
3. Into what parts is the Irish population divided?
4. Who are the Catholics?
5. Who are the Protestants?
6. Has the Catholics-Protestants problem been solved?
7. Does Northern Ireland have strong cultural traditions?
Vocabulary:
population - population
origin - origin
descendant - descendant
settler - settler, migrant
discrimination - discrimination
civil rights - civil rights
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland, known as Ulster, is also part of the United Kingdom. It consists of six parts: Antrim, Down, Fermanag, Londonderry and Tyrone. A third of the population lives in and around the capital, Belfast.
Belfast is also the most important port, commercial and industrial center. Some parts of the territory, located not quite close to the capital, remain predominantly rural.
The Irish population is divided into two groups: Protestants and Catholics. Protestants are of British origin. They are descendants of British settlers who came to Ireland in the 16th and 17th centuries, during and after the Reformation. Catholics are mostly natives of Ireland.
The Protestants were superior and dominated by the Catholics, and there was strong discrimination. In 1968, Catholics began a movement for equal civil rights. The struggle between the two groups of the population continues to this day.
Northern Ireland has a strong cultural tradition: songs, dances, literature and festivals. It has its own Academy of Arts, as well as orchestras, theaters, ballet and opera companies.
Interesting facts about Ireland in English with translation will help you learn a lot and prepare for the lesson.
Interesting facts about Ireland in English
The Irish flag dates from the 1800's.
There are more mobile phones in Ireland than there are people.
Ireland joined the European Community in 1973.
Ireland was one of the initial 12 European Union nations that began using the euro currency in 2002.
The Irish capital, Dublin is home to over one quarter of the total population.
Other Irish cities of note include Cork, Limerick and Galway.
Irish novelists have made major contributions to world literature. Famous writers include Jonathan Swift - Gulliver's Travels, Bram Stoker - Dracula and James Joyce - Ulysses.
Ireland has won the Eurovision Song Contest a record seven times.
A number of multinational technology corporations have set up European headquarters in Ireland helping to make it one of the largest exporters of hardware and software-related goods and services in the world.
Saint Patrick's Day is Irelands official national holiday. The 17th of March holiday is celebrated in Ireland and also embraced by many other countries around the world.
The world famous Guinness beer is from Ireland, it originated in the Dublin brewery of Arthur Guinness.
Gaelic football and hurling are traditional sports of Ireland and remain the most popular sports in the country.
At the Olympics, boxing is Ireland's most successful sport.
In 2002 Ireland was the first country in the world to have an environmental tax for plastic shopping bags and in 2004 it was the first to introduce a public smoking ban.
Shamrock (type of clover) is the national symbol of Ireland and along with the harp it is a registered trademark of the country.
interesting facts about Ireland with translation
The Irish flag dates back to 1800.
Ireland has more mobile phones than people.
Ireland joined the European Community in 1973.
Ireland was one of the first 12 European Union countries to use the euro in 2002.
More than a quarter of the total population lives in the Irish capital Dublin.
Other notable Irish cities include Cork, Limerick and Galway.
Irish novelists have made a great contribution to world literature. Notable authors include Jonathan Swift - Gulliver's Travels, Bram Stoker - Dracula and James Joyce - Ulysses.
Ireland has won the Eurovision Song Contest a record seven times.
A number of multinational technology corporations have established a European headquarters in Ireland, helping to make it one of the largest exporters of hardware and software products and services in the world.
Saint Patrick's Day is the official national holiday of Ireland. The March 17 holiday is celebrated in Ireland and is also covered by many other countries around the world.
The world famous Guinness beer from Ireland, it originated in Arthur Guinness's Dublin brewery.
Gaelic football and throwing are Ireland's traditional sports and remain the most popular sports in the country.
At the Olympics, boxing is the most successful sport in Ireland.
In 2002, Ireland was the first country in the world to have an environmental tax on plastic shopping bags, and in 2004 it introduced the first smoking ban in public places.
The clover is the national symbol of Ireland and, along with the harp, is a registered trademark of the country.
Northern Ireland, an integral part of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, is located in the northeastern portion of the island of Ireland. Northern Ireland is bounded on the north and northeast by the North Channel, on the southeast by the Irish Sea, and on the south and west by the Republic of Ireland. It includes Rathlin Island in the North Channel and several smaller offshore islands. It is also known as Ulster, because it comprises six of the nine counties that constituted the former province of Ulster.
The total area of Northern Ireland is 14,148 sq km. The shoreline is characterized by numerous irregularities and is about 530 km (about 330 mi) long. The major indentations are Lough Foyle in the north and Belfast, Strangford, and Carlingford loughs in the east. A striking feature of the northern coast is the Giant's Causeway, a rock formation consisting of thousands of closely placed, polygonal pillars of black basalt. The country consists mainly of a low, flat plain in the approximate center of which is Lough Neagh, the largest lake in the British Isles.
The climate of Northern Ireland is mild and damp throughout the year.
The most valuable natural resources of Northern Ireland are its fertile soil and rich pasturelands. Natural waterpower is plentiful. The chief minerals are basalt, limestone, sand and gravel, granite, chalk, clay, and shale; bauxite, iron ore, and coal are also found in small amounts.
The capital and largest city of Northern Ireland is Belfast. The other major city in Northern Ireland is Londonderry.
Originally, Northern Ireland was culturally indistinguishable from the remainder of Ireland. However, with the waves of colonization from England and Scotland during the 17th century, the northeastern province of Ulster evolved a distinctive cultural identity. There is a thriving theatrical movement in Belfast, and much literary activity. Belfast is the base of Opera Northern Ireland, which presents seasons at the Grand Opera House in the city, and also tours the province. A ballet company is based in the capital, as is the Belfast Philharmonic Society, one of Britain's leading choral societies. The Ulster Symphony Orchestra is among the leading orchestras of Britain. Queen's University hosts the annual Belfast Festival. Northern Ireland has two national museums: the Ulster Museum in Belfast, which houses a collection of Irish antiquities; and the Ulster Folk and Transport Museum in Holywood, County Down.
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland, an integral part of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, is located in the northeastern part of the island of Ireland. Northern Ireland, bounded on the north and northeast by the North Channel, on the southeast by the Irish Sea, and on the south and west by Ireland. It includes Ratlin Island and several smaller islands. It is also known as Ulster because it includes six of the nine counties that make up the former province of Ulster.
The total area of Northern Ireland is 14,148 sq. km. The coastline is characterized by numerous bays and is about 530 km (about 330 miles) long. The main bays are Loch Foyle in the north, and Belfast, Strangford and Carlingford Lowes in the east. A distinctive feature of the north coast is the Giant's Causeway (Giant's Staircase), a rock formation composed of thousands of closely spaced, polygonal pillars of black basalt. The country mainly consists of a low plain, approximately in the center of which is Lough Neagh, the largest lake in the British Isles. Other important lakes are Lough Erne and Upper Lough Erne.
The climate of Northern Ireland is mild and humid throughout the year.
Northern Ireland's most valuable natural resources are its fertile soils and rich pastures. It is rich in natural hydroresources. The main minerals are basalt, limestone, sand, gravel, granite, chalk, clays and shales; bauxite, iron ore and coal are also found in small quantities.
The capital and largest city of Northern Ireland is Belfast. Another major city in Northern Ireland is Londonderry.
Initially, Northern Ireland was culturally indistinguishable from the rest of Ireland. However, with waves of colonization from England and Scotland in the 17th century, the northeastern province of Ulster evolved into a distinct cultural identity. There is a thriving theater movement in Belfast, and much literary activity. Belfast is the backbone of opera in Northern Ireland, with Grand Opera seasons in the city as well as tours in the provinces. The ballet company is based in the capital, as is the Belfast Philharmonic, one of the UK's leading choral societies. The Ulster Symphony Orchestra is one of the UK's leading orchestras. Queen's University hosts the annual Belfast Festival. Northern Ireland has two national museums: the Ulster Museum in Belfast, which houses a collection of Irish antiquities, and the Ulster Folk Transport Museum in Holywood, County Down.
