Historical Disasters in Ireland

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

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)

Irish Uilleann Pipe Music

Introduction to Riverdance

Dublin

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

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