Ireland for Kids

Brief History of Ireland

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Ireland's history is very deep and enriched. It has had a lot of different events, some of which are good and bad. To put it simpler, I'll out it in points:

8000 BC: Humans arrive in Ireland from Britain and Europe
300 BC: Celts move in from France, bringing their culture with them
400s AD: Saint Patrick arrives in Ireland and converts Ireland to Christianity
800s: Vikings invade and raid the monasteries for treasure
1016: Irish High King, Brian Boru, beats the Vikings at the Battle of Clontarf, Dublin
1169: Anglo-Norman armies invade Ireland from England and capture Dublin.
1541: Ireland becomes a Kingdom, with the Monarch of England as the monarch. This overtook the Lordship of Ireland, which existed in the Medieval Period, although Ireland was not fully part of England's Empire.
1603: The Irish leaders flee to Europe, and English/Scottish settlers move in to take over the land in the North of Ireland, known as Ulster. This is known as the 'plantation'.
1640s: Ireland falls into a bitter power struggle, as the Irish rebel to the new colonists, which leads to the 1641 Irish rebellion. This rebellion is crushed by Oliver Cromwell, Protector of England in 1648-9.
1680s: King James II of England attempts to help Irish Catholics against the Protestant English, who have thrown him off the throne for being Catholic. He is crushed by William of Orange, new king of England.
1798: Irish Wolfe Tone rises up against the English in another massive rebellion, supported by the Napoleon's French. They are crushed, but Wolfe Tone is found dead before he was executed. He is remembered as one of Ireland's greatest patriots in history.
1801: Irish Parliament is abolished, which results in the British Parliament at Westminster ruling from now on.
1845: Start of the Great Famine of the 1840s, which kills at least 1 million people. People begin to emigrate to America, Britain Australia, and Canada.
1916: A rebellion breaks out in Dublin against British rule. It is crushed, but it makes more people rise up against British rule.
1920s; War breaks out, which results in the Anglo-Irish Treaty of 1921. This parts the island. But people want it completely free, so the Civil War starts.
1947: Republic of Ireland (Eire) is created, and Ireland breaks away from the Commonwealth. Ulster is not included, which annoys many Irish nationalists, especially the IRA.
1969: First sign of trouble in Northern Ireland that is included in what is known as the Troubles. This is caused by the difference in religion in Ireland, between Catholicism and Protestantism.
1969-1998: Troubles tear Northern Ireland apart. Many outbreaks occur in towns and cities across Northern Ireland, including Bloody Sunday, Derry 1972, and Omagh 1998.
1998: The Belfast Agreement is made, which results in an end to the War in Northern Ireland. Ireland and the UK work together to towards the end of the century. Meanwhile, Eire's economy is being boosted in what is known as the Celtic Tiger, a period of massive economic growth.
2000-: Ireland continues it's advancement and flourishes in the new millennium, making an even more major part in the world than before.

Visitor Lincoln

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St. Patrick's Day Parade in Dublin 2007

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Population

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Ireland has a population of about 6.1 million people. The average population density of Ireland is about 60 people per square km. In the Republic there are 4.3 million people, and in Northern Ireland there is 1.8 million people. Dublin is the biggest city by far, with a population of 1.7 million in the Greater Dublin Area. Next comes Belfast with just above 0.5 million, then Cork, Limerick, Derry, Galway, Waterford and so on. Ireland's population is only half as much as it was in 1841, before the famine, but it is growing steadily and is predicted to reach that population by 2050.

Ireland is made up of mostly pure Irish. Although there are large numbers of groups coming from outside Ireland. The biggest minority is Britons. There around 400,000 Britons in Ireland up to around 5% of the population. Next there is Polish (200,000), then Lithuanians (115,000), Chinese (50,000),Nigerians (30,000) Germans (20,000), Latvians (15,000), Americans (10,000), and lots more. They now make up 10% of Ireland's population, twice as much as Portugal. Ireland is now considered a popular place to live. So good that Irish descendants are finally coming home.

Religion

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Ever since the English settled in Ireland, there has been a war between the 2 main religions: Catholics and Protestants. This had a big effect on Ireland. In the late 1960s, the Catholics (also known as the Republicans) formed together then the, Irish Army, the IRA (Irish Republican Army) advanced to Northern Ireland, were most of the Protestants (a.k.a. Unionists) lived. There then rose a number of terrorist attacks throughout the 1970s, on of the worst the terrorist attack called "Bloody Sunday". These terrorist attacks contiued and reached its peak in the 1980s. It was so bad that Northern Ireland was recognized throughout the world as what would now be Iraq. So many terrorist attacks continued that people were not aloud into Northern Ireland. It continued throughout the 1990s and one major incident in Omagh when the bomb in 1998 killed over 30 people. Finally, in 1999, an agreement in Belfast was signed to ease the relations between the North and South. So basically, the terrorist attacks, known in Ireland and abroad as "The Troubles", came to an end. But the IRA refused to disarm. However, in 2005, the IRA disarmed.
In Ireland, there are mainly Roman Catholics, in the ROI about 88%. But there are Protestants, Church of Ireland, Angelican, and a small number of Jews and Islam.

Notable Sites (and people) for Visiting in Ireland

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The Giant's Causeway, Co. Antrim: Wonderfully shaped stones
Hill of Tara, Co. Meath: Wonderful patterns and views
Newgrange, Co. Meath: Wonderful facts of prehistoric Ireland
Skellig, Co. Kerry: Wonderful rocks and views
Blarney Castle and Stone, Co. Cork: A special stone, and the beautiful town of Blarney, Co. Cork (my grandparents live there)
Aran Islands, Co. Galway: A rare place to see old Irish Culture (before the famine)
Kilkenny Castle, Co. Kilkenny: A wonderful site in the east
Dublin City: A wonderful city to see old Ireland (as well as modern Ireland)
Donegal Mountains: Wonderful landscape
Irish People: Happy and friendly, especially in the western and southern areas

President and Taoiseach (Prime Minister)

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There has been 8 Presidents of Ireland since the early 20th Century. The first was Douglas Hyde. Today, the President of Ireland is called Mary McAleese. The President of Ireland lives in a large house called Aras an Uachtarain (pronounced "Air-is on Oocharon"). It is located in Phoenix Park, Dublin.

The Prime Minister of Ireland is called a Taoiseach (pronounced "Tea-shuc"). There has been ten Taoiseach's, the most recent being Bertie Ahern.

Historical Disasters in Ireland

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Sadly, Ireland has suffered from some aviation, natural, and rail disasters.

One of Ireland's worst natural disasters was the Great Famine of the 1840s. At that time people mostly lived on a valuable food: the potato. In 1845 a fungus struck the potatoes and the had nothing to eat. 1 million people died and about a have a million emigrated to Britain, America, and Australia. It lasted until 1848.

The worst aviation disasters was the Tuskar Rock Air Disaster. On Sunday, March 24th, 1968, an Aer Lingus Vickers Viscount flying between Cork and London Heathrow carrying 61 people inexplicably crashed about two miles north-east of Tuskar Rock, on the South-East coast of Ireland. It was probably caused by structural failure in the port tailplane, but it was not determined how. It was also called Aer Lingus Flight 712. It remains Ireland's worst aviation disaster. It was the Vickers Viscount's 4th worst disaster.

A train traveling between Dublin and Cork crashed into another train killing 18 people and injuring more than 70.

In 1998, a IRA bomb exploded in the lovely town of Omagh in Northern Ireland killed 29 and injured many more. It was Ireland's worst Troubles attack ever. All the troubles stop completely in 1998.

Transportation

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Road transport

Ireland, together with Britain, drives on the left hand side of the road. Because of this the string wheel is on the right. Also in Ireland, people use different signs of the road then the UK. Motorways in Ireland didn't appear till the 1980s. The Naas-Bypass, or M7 motorway (freeway) opened. Ireland today has a wider amount of motorways. These are the following motorways existing in Ireland (not including Northern Ireland):

M1: North Dublin to Newry (just north of border), A1 to Belfast, 97km long
M4: Lucan (West Dublin) until Kinnegad (central Ireland) N4 to Sligo, (northwest Ireland), 55km long
M6: Roots off M4, N6 to Galway (West Ireland), 2km long
M7: Naas (south-west of Dublin) to Mounrath (mid-way between to main N7 destinations),
N7 to Limerick (southwest Ireland), 63 km long
M9: Roots off M7, N9 to Waterford (south-east Ireland), 6km long
M11: Bray (south-east Dublin), N11 to Wexford, (southeast Ireland)
M50: Ring road (beltway) of Dublin. Almost all motorways root off this route. 45 km long. Upgrading to three or four lanes on each side.

Ireland has many more plans for motorway. Ireland's other routes without motorway yet are:
N2: Dublin to Derry ( Northern Ireland), A5 to Derry
N3: Constructing a motorway from Dublin to Kells, which is 40km long. N3 to Ballyshannon (northwest Ireland)
N5: Kinnegad to Westport.
N8: Constructing an M8 which is 120 km long, Dublin to Cork (southern Ireland). Has a small toll road 17.5km long and another which is not tolled and is 15km long.

Even with all these plans, some people say Ireland is one of the worst countries in the world for road construction, but they are improving.

Railways
Ireland has had a long age of railways, probably since the early 1800s. It has railways from Dublin to main cities and main cities to other main cities.

Air
Ireland has about 5 main big airports, and many smaller airports the main airports are Dublin, Belfast, Cork, Shannon, and Knock airports. Also, Ireland's main airlines from Britain, Europe, America, and even Dubai are Aer Lingus, Ryanair and Aer Arran.

Irish National Anthem (and Irish Landscape)

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Irish Uilleann Pipe Music

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Introduction to Riverdance

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Dublin

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Dublin is the capital and biggest city in Ireland. It is famous for its Guinness (Irish Beer) and its famous people and writers. It's landmarks include Trinity College, The Dublin Spire, Aras an Uachtarian, Custom House, The Point Theatre, St. Stephen's Green, Grafton St, Phoenix Park, Liberty Hall, and so many others.
Dublin was once a main trading post and settlement for Vikings until 1014. In the 19th century, it was the centre of Irish Writing and Art.
Then in 1916, it was a very unhealthy city to live in, because at that time, there was a large War for Independence from Britain called the Easter Rising.
Now, Dublin is a city of more than a million. People from all over Europe, including Polish, British, Russian, Latvians, and Lithuanians, have settled in Dublin.
It is getting more and more modern every year. Dublin now has its own light rail and even has a Proposal for a Metro in the future.
Dublin Airport is even busier then Lisbon Airport. It handles more than 20 million per year. It even has a plan for a second terminal.
Dublin's skyline is low, but it is getting higher and higher buildings every year. New skyscraper proposals are Point Village, U2 Tower, and Heuston Gate.
Dublin is famous for Georgian Buildings.
In 2003, the BBC stated it to be one of the best cities in Europe to live in. People also state it is low in crime.
Dublin is getting bigger and more modern every year.

Flag, Anthem and Arms

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Ireland has a tricolour flag of Green, White and Orange. The width is twice the length and it is a horizontal flag. The Green means the Roman Catholics of Ireland, Orange means the Protestants and the White in the middle, peace between both religions.

The Irish Coat of Arms has been the Gaelic Harp since medieval times. The harp is also called the Clarsach in Irish. Another symbol of Ireland is the Shamrock. The Harp is included on many things, like the back of the Irish Euro Coins.

The Irish National Anthem is called Amhran na bhFiann It is sung like this slowly:

Irish version

Sinne Fianna Fáil
Atá faoi gheall ag Éirinn
Buíon dár slua
Thar toinn do ráinig chughainn
Faoi mhóid bheith saor
Sean-tír ár sinsear feasta
Ní fhágfar faoin tiorán ná faoin tráill
Anocht a théam sa bhearna bhaoil
Le gean ar Ghaeil chun báis nó saoil
Le gunna scréach faoi lámhach na bpiléar
Seo libh canadh Amhrán na bhFiann

English Version

Soldiers are we
Whose lives are pledged to Ireland
Some have come
From a land beyond the wave
Sworn to be free
No more our ancient sire land
Shall shelter the despot or the slave
Tonight we man the "gap of danger"^[4]
In Erin's cause, in death or life
'Mid cannon's roar and rifles' peal
We'll chant a soldier's song

Climate

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Some people don't expect the temperate climate Ireland has. They think it is cold and snowy. But Ireland is warmed by the Gulf Stream and nowhere in Ireland is more than 90 kilometres from the sea, so Ireland's climate is fairly oceanic over most of the country. Ireland is well known for its changeability. Ireland has a lot of rain, but it is normally drizzle, so it is rarely heavy. Places in the west can receive more than 2000 mm of rain a year. While places in the east can receive at least 700mm of rain.
Even due to its northerly latitude, snow in Ireland is infrequent (except on mountains) and is rarely heavy. But Ireland can have at least 1 or 2 snow days in a year. One example is the 3-4th of January 2008, when over a foot of snow fell in just 6 hours which is unusual. Also, a rare type of phenomenon known a "Thundersnow" (which means a thunderstorm with snow falling instead of rain) was seen in some parts of Northern Ireland and North Leinster.
Temperatures in Ireland do not vary that much. Temperatures in January normally vary between 4 and 7 degrees. In July, temperatures normally vary between 14 and 16 degrees. In winter, temperatures can fall to 0 or below on some cold days, but normally fall to -5 on nights and occassionally down to -10.
In Summer temperatures can exceed to 20 and even 25. Temperatures of 30 are rare but not unheard. In July 2006, a temperature of 32.3 was recorded in the midlands. Here are records of temperatures in Ireland:

Highest temperature: 33.3 degrees

Lowest temperature: -19.1 degrees

Sometimes strong winds can affect Ireland. In January 2007, the European Windstorm Kyrill affected Ireland severely with winds battering of up to 149 kilometres per hour at Dublin. An even stronger wind affected Ireland in the year 1839. It is known as Ireland's 2nd worst natural disaster. It is known in Ireland as the Night of the Big Wind. It swept across Ireland on the night of January 6/7. Winds battered at up to 205 kilometres per hour. A quarter of all Dublin houses suffered damage or were completely destroyed. Large amounts of flooding were reported. Severe poverty was caused by it. In Irish folklore, it was known as Judgement Day. It was the worst storm to hit Ireland for many centuries.

Partition of Ireland

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Ireland is not a single country. It is shared between the UK and Eire. The part owned by the British is known as Northern Ireland or Ulster. The Republic of Ireland, or Eire, the ROI, or even just Ireland, is not part of the UK. It takes up five-sixths or the island. It was created in 1922 and was then known as the Irish Free State, then Southern Ireland, then the current name, the Republic of Ireland. The war for Irish Independence began in the early 1910s. In 1916, the Easter Rising took place in Dublin. Then in 1922, the Anglo-Irish Treaty Created the Irish Free State. Many Republicans still want Northern Ireland to be part of Ireland, and create the Irish Republic.

Introduction

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Ireland is an island in north-west Europe
Ireland does not have many people; it has just about 6 million people. But it can be very busy. Dublin, the capital and biggest city in Ireland, is a very busy city. It has just above 1 million people.

Ireland is nicknamed "the Emerald Isle" since its vegetation is so green and is covered in pasture and farmland. In Ireland, the landscape can vary from place to place. For instance, north of Dublin City, there are large plains with many fields of different shapes and sizes. But in the mountains in County Donegal, there are large valleys of plain grass and bogs.

Welcome

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Failte! This is Irish for "Welcome." Another saying is "Cead Mile Failte", meaning "a hundred thousand welcomes. This website will give you a welcome to the beautiful Emarald Isle and her people. Welcome to Ireland!