Ireland

Ireland is not very known for its diversity of cuisine but nonetheless it has some interesting specialties and dishes with long traditions to offer. The Irish national dish is called “Irish Stew” and contains lamb, potatoes, onions and different vegetables. Also very popular are the thick and nutritious Irish soups which are offered in most of the cafes and tearooms where also a wide range of salads, sandwiches and cakes satisfy hunger.
As a country with seaside, Ireland does obviously also offer many fish and seafood dishes. A delicacy is for example the “Smoked Salmon”.
Ireland is also known for its famous brown ale Guinness or its apple wine called cider. Very popular is also the Irish whiskey which is called “Uisce Bheatha” in Gaelic and means “water of life”.

Music and dancing are part and parcel of the Irish life as they grow up with it. The world-famous Irish Folk is usually played with harps, tin whistles, fiddles and bagpipes and will also carry you off.
Pubs are also very important for the Irish. Every village no matter how small has its own pub where the cultural and social life takes place. The Irish do not only eat and drink the national beer Guinness in the pubs, they also discuss about the world affairs, philosophize about the meaning of life and play music. For many Irish people the pub is their second living room.
Apart from music, literature also plays a prominent role for the Irish. Ireland can draw on tradition in terms of literature. Already the Celtic monks have contributed to the design of the Holy Scripture: The Book of Kells which can be looked at at the Trinity College in Dublin, testifies this. With the Irish authors Oscar Wilde, James Joyce, Roddy Doyle and Frank McCourt the country can boast a number of important authors.
The national holiday takes place on 17 March and the Irish national saint St. Patrick is commemorated. On this day the country turns into a colorful fun fair with green as the dominant color.

Ireland is less rich in species compared to the European mainland or the neighboring Britain. This is mainly because Ireland got quickly isolated after the ice age due to the rising sea-level. There are only 31 domestic mammals in Ireland and some of them like the badger, the red fox or the hedge-hog are very common while others like the red deer only live in national parks.
Nevertheless the green island is gorgeous and definitely worth a journey. Visit for example the Cliffs of Moher, the Aran Islands, Dingle, Shannon, Burren or the Giant’s of Causeway.

Ireland is a democracy. Apart from the conflict in Northern Ireland there is political ease and stability in the whole country.

In the Bronze and Iron Age the Celts occupied Ireland. After the Christianization of Ireland by the British slaves (one of them was the national saint Patrick of Ireland) in the beginning of the 5th century the first Irish prosperity followed. However, this prosperity was interrupted by the forays of the Vikings. Later the English conquerors drove out the Irish to the infertile West of the isle. When in the 19th century the whole potato harvest was rotten there was a period of mass starvation in Ireland. More than one million Irish died of starvation and many others immigrated to the United States.
In the beginning of the 20th century Ireland made a big step towards political independence. However, six counties remained British. Down to the present day the conflict in Northern Ireland casts a damp over the Irish-Britsh politics and domestic politics of Ireland.

Fresh air, green meadow, crystal clear water, friendly Irishmen and old castle ruins: Boredom will be the last thing you experience in Ireland as there are so many possibilities to spend free time.
Ireland is a paradise for anglers: Lots of rivers offer a wide population of fish and marine animals and you can even watch whales and dolphins at the coasts.
There is also something for the sport fans: You can play and practice on a golf course or explore the area on a horseback or during a cycle tour. Water rats can go on canoe or kayak tours and those who would like to stay on the water for a couple of days will have the possibility to stay on a houseboat.
Those who are interested in culture will definitely get their money’s worth as well. You can visit a great deal of monasteries, high crosses, round towers, palaces and castles.
The nature and landscape of Ireland exert a pull on everyone and will also attract you. Visit the Ring of Kerry in the South which is probably the most beautiful coast road in Europe or let yourself impress of Burren, a karst landscape with unique plants. Close by there are the most famous steep coasts of the country, the Cliffs of Moher. The Giant’s Causeway or the Connemara National Park are also well worth seeing.
Not only the Irish nature is more than appealing, the Irish themselves are very open towards strangers and always ready to help. Experience a night in the pub with the Irish and their traditions. You will easily get into conversations with the natives and you will soon meet new friends. People who love to go out can spend the nights celebrating at the party mile Temple Bar in Dublin.