Ireland

The Republic of Ireland is located on the island of Ireland, in the northwest of Europe, right off the coasts of England and Wales.

The Republic of Ireland occupies most of this island, leaving only a small corner to Northern Ireland, which belongs to the United Kingdom.

The Republic of Ireland has a total area of 70,273 km² and has just over 4.5 million inhabitants.

Dublin is the capital of Ireland. The country is divided into four provinces: Ulster, Munster, Leinster, and Connacht.

In Ireland, two official languages coexist, English and Gaelic. Regarding the official currency, the euro is used in the Republic of Ireland, while the pound sterling is used in Northern Ireland.

Since Brexit, the Republic of Ireland remains part of the European Union, while Northern Ireland, which is part of the United Kingdom, is not.

Ireland has been historically subject to England, and since the Middle Ages, numerous wars and uprisings have taken place to achieve independence.

It wasn’t until 1921 that a peace treaty was signed with the UK where Ireland’s sovereignty was finally recognized.

Even so, the British Empire requested that six Irish counties in the Ulster region remain under British rule. The reason? In these counties, the predominant religion was Protestantism, the same as in Great Britain. Ireland agreed, the Irish Republic was formed, and Christianity was established as the official religion.

Since then, the Republic of Ireland, which holds 83% of the territory, coexists on the island of Ireland with Northern Ireland.

After facing several economic crises from 2008 to 2013, Ireland has managed to recover with flying colors in recent years, regaining its position as an economic powerhouse and becoming once again one of the countries with the highest per capita income in the world.

Dublin is the capital of Ireland, and it is also one of the most culturally rich cities in the country. In addition, thanks to its ancient history and the different civilizations that have lived on its land, it has a very beautiful and magical architecture.

The geography of Ireland is simply spectacular. Called the Emerald Isle for centuries thanks to its always green landscapes, Ireland has large undulating grass-covered plains and epic rocky cliffs where you can get lost trekking or cycling, and imagine being part of an adventure worthy of Lord of the Rings or Game of Thrones.

As a curious fact, you’ll be pleased to know that its vast plains and meadows are covered in clovers, which, along with the harp, is one of the national symbols and according to popular belief, brings good luck.

Dublin is one of the most charming cities in Ireland. Famous for its authentic Irish pubs where locals and foreigners often gather to toast with pints of beer of all colors and listen to live music.

Dublin has 1,056,000 inhabitants and is the most populous city in Ireland. It is also one of the most beautiful and emblematic cities; it is home to the Cathedral of Saint Patricks, patron saint of Ireland, and the beautiful Christ Church. In addition, the city is a museum itself and strolling through the streets, you can relive the history of Dublin.

Dublin is very well connected by bus and train, making it the ideal place to take one or a few day trips to its famous fishing villages and cliffs.

The climate in Dublin is changeable. So much so that in a single day, you can experience all four seasons (it wasn’t going to be Melbourne the only place in the world where you could experience so many changes in a single day, right?). The only great constant is the rain, which tends to be constant but gentle throughout the year.

Despite being the capital of Ireland, Dublin has quite affordable prices. Thanks to this, it has quickly become one of the preferred destinations for European students to perfect their English.

Ireland is a country of beer and whiskey, and the most popular beer is black Guinness beer.

You can order a pint or a glass, and even if you’re very thirsty, you’ll have to wait for the beer to settle before taking the first sip; good things come to those who wait!

If you don’t like black beer, don’t worry. The menu of Irish pubs is very varied, and you can order a lager or a cold Heineken.

Specifically in Dublin. It is a 16 km surface park called Phoenix Park, which was opened in 1660. In its meadows, you can see monuments alongside tranquil herds of grazing deer.

In Ireland, the star foods are meat and potatoes. They prefer to use butter for cooking, and for take-out, fish and chips.

However, if there is one dish that you can’t miss, it is the famous Irish Breakfast. A mixed plate that will provide you with a generous portion of sausages, bacon, fried eggs, black pudding, baked beans, roasted tomatoes, toast, and coffee. The Irish know how to start the day!

So much so that they have their own sports in addition to recognized rugby teams. These include Gaelic football, a mixture of rugby and soccer, and hurling, in which players are armed with sticks and must hit a ball.

The Irish alphabet has only 18 letters, compared to the 26 in the Anglo-Saxon alphabet. The letters it doesn’t have are j, k, q, v, w, x, y, and z.

Despite having a few fewer letters, the Irish language, also known as Gaelic, has three main dialects: Ulster, spoken in the north; Munster, spoken in the south; and Connacht, spoken in the central and western regions of the island.

Ireland is a country with a lot of history, and much of it can be visited as a large part of its architectural heritage is still standing. If you enjoy this type of attraction, you can visit numerous castles such as Blarney Castle and Charles Fort, which are well-preserved.

Traditional Irish music is Celtic music, and it is played using instruments such as the famous bagpipe, the bodhrán (a type of small drum), the Celtic harp, the fiddle (similar to a violin), and the tin whistle (a type of flute).

Best of all, Celtic music is accompanied by Irish dances, a type of group dance in which dancers dance while holding hands and jumping joyfully

On March 17, St. Patrick’s or St. Patrick’s Day, the patron saint of Ireland, is celebrated throughout the country. It is a holiday, and the Irish take to the streets dressed in green with the mythical hats to celebrate by drinking pints of beer.

Ireland is the birthplace of Celtic culture and has many mythical stories to tell. Irish forests have a special magic and are full of mythological beings, such as fairies, leprechauns, and famous Leprechauns with their red beards, green and brown clothing, and striped stockings.