Yomiiii Yomiiiii!!!!!!!!!!!!

Almost everyone when asked about Irish food mentions two things -  Irish Stew and Corned Beef with cabbage. And almost every visitor to Ireland is surprised to find that neither features all that commonly on restaurant menus!

In fact corned beef is not traditionally Irish at all- but Bacon and Cabbage is.

Irish Stew

That isn´t to say that such dishes are no longer eaten, they are, but they are homely dishes, served to family, rather than ones which would be chosen on an evening out. And so their apparance on a restaurant menu is a rarity.

Most traditional Irish food use simple, basic and cheap ingridients, a reminder of the fact that they originated in a less affluent past. Many have been given a modern twists by a new generation of chefs or incorporated into dishes that better suit the tastes of a more widely.

    

                                                                                                                                                     By Yuri

Weird Ireland...

Interesting facts about Ireland



People & Culture

• The Irish consume in average 131.1 liters of beer per year - the 2nd highest per-capita consumption after the Czech Republic.
• Famous Irish breweries include Guinness, Smithwicks (Kilkenny), and Harp Lager.
• The three most famous symbols of Ireland are the green Shamrock, the harp, and the Celtic cross.
• Halloween traces back its origins to the Gaelic festival of Samhain, a harvest festival held on 31 October to mark the end of summer. Samhain became associated with All Saints (1 November) from the early Middle Ages and the two progressively merged over the centuries, creating Halloween.
• 88% of Irish citizens are nominally Roman Catholic. The Republic of Ireland has one of the highest rates of church attendance in the Western World (around 45% of regular Mass attendance).
• The ancestral language of Irish people is Irish Gaelic. Nowadays 1.6 million people claim a self-reported competence in Irish, but only 380,000 fluent speakers remain.
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• Many Irish family names start with "Mac" or "O'...", which means respectively "son of ..." and "grandson of ..." in Gaelic.
• Since 1981, Slane Concert has been held annually on the grounds of Slane Castle, at the initiative of its owner, the 8th Marquess Conyngham. Artists who have performed at Slane include David Bowie, Bob Dylan, Queen, The Rolling Stones, Bruce Springsteen, Guns N' Roses, R.E.M., The Verve, Robbie Williams, Bryan Adams, U2, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Madonna and Oasis.
• Ireland has won seven times the Eurovision Song Contest (in 1970, 1980, 1987, 1992, 1993, 1994 and 1996), more than any other country.
• Londonderry's Banks of the Foyle Halloween Carnival is the oldest Halloween celebration in Ireland, as well as Ireland's largest street party.
• Dalkey, a suburb of Dublin, is Ireland's "Beverly Hills", home to a number of Irish celebrities, such as the authors Maeve Binchy, Roddy Doyle and Hugh Leonard, the film directors Neil Jordan and Jim Sheridan, as well as several international music figures, including U2 members Bono and The Edge, Enya, Chris de Burgh and Van Morrison. Among former residents were James Joyce, George Bernard Shaw, and more recently singer Jim Kerr, and F1 drivers Damon Hill and Eddie Irvine.
• The story of the world-famous vampire Count Dracula was written in 1897 by Bram Stoker, from Dublin. His real-life inspiration for his character was a friend of his, the actor Sir Henry Irving. Count Dracula was the culmination of 20 years of vampire stories in Victorian literature. Dracula is said to have been inspired by the early Irish legend of Abhartach, an evil chieftain who, after being betrayed by his subjects and slain by the hero Cathrain, rose from his grave every night to drink the blood of his subjects.

Posted by: Alexi Luna

Let's dance!!

Irish Dance

Posted by: Kevin S.

WHAT YOU DID NOT KNOW ABOUT IRELAND (posted by Juan Pablo D.A.)

Background: Celtic tribes arrived on the island between 600-150 B.C. Invasions by Norsemen that began in the late 8th century were finally ended when King Brian BORU defeated the Danes in 1014. English invasions began in the 12th century and set off more than seven centuries of Anglo-Irish struggle marked by fierce rebellions and harsh repressions. A failed 1916 Easter Monday Rebellion touched off several years of guerrilla warfare that in 1921 resulted in independence from the UK for 26 southern counties; six northern (Ulster) counties remained part of the United Kingdom. In 1948 Ireland withdrew from the British Commonwealth; it joined the European Community in 1973. Irish governments have sought the peaceful unification of Ireland and have cooperated with Britain against terrorist groups. A peace settlement for Northern Ireland, known as the Good Friday Agreement and approved in 1998, is being implemented with some difficulties.

Geography

Ireland

Location:	Western Europe, occupying five-sixths of the island of Ireland in the North Atlantic Ocean, west of Great Britain
Geographic coordinates:	53 00 N, 8 00 W
Map references:	Europe
Area:	total: 70,280 sq km land: 68,890 sq km water: 1,390 sq km
Area - comparative:	slightly larger than West Virginia
Land boundaries:	total: 360 km border countries: UK 360 km
Coastline:	1,448 km
Maritime claims:	territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
Climate:	temperate maritime; modified by North Atlantic Current; mild winters, cool summers; consistently humid; overcast about half the time
Terrain:	mostly level to rolling interior plain surrounded by rugged hills and low mountains; sea cliffs on west coast
Elevation extremes:	lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Carrauntoohil 1,041 m
Natural resources:	natural gas, peat, copper, lead, zinc, silver, barite, gypsum, limestone, dolomite
Land use:	arable land: 15.2% permanent crops: 0.03% other: 84.77% (2001)
Environment - international agreements:	party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Marine Life Conservation
Geography - note:	strategic location on major air and sea routes between North America and northern Europe; over 40% of the population resides within 100 km of Dublin

People

Ireland

Population:	4,015,676 (July 2005 est.)
Age structure:	0-14 years: 20.9% (male 434,225/female 406,730) 15-64 years: 67.5% (male 1,358,086/female 1,354,148) 65 years and over: 11.5% (male 203,614/female 258,873) (2005 est.)
Median age:	total: 33.7 years male: 32.9 years female: 34.49 years (2005 est.)
Population growth rate:	1.16% (2005 est.)
Birth rate:	14.47 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Death rate:	7.85 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Infant mortality rate:	total: 5.39 deaths/1,000 live births male: 5.91 deaths/1,000 live births female: 4.84 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:	total population: 77.56 years male: 74.95 years female: 80.34 years (2005 est.)
Nationality:	noun: Irishman(men), Irishwoman(women), Irish (collective plural) adjective: Irish
Ethnic groups:	Celtic, English
Religions:	Roman Catholic 88.4%, Church of Ireland 3%, other Christian 1.6%, other 1.5%, unspecified 2%, none 3.5% (2002 census)
Languages:	English (official) is the language generally used, Irish (official) (Gaelic or Gaeilge) spoken mainly in areas located along the western seaboard
Literacy:	definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 98% (1981 est.) male: NA% female: NA%

Government

Ireland

Country name:	conventional long form: none conventional short form: Ireland local long form: none local short form: Eire
Government type:	republic
Capital:	Dublin
Administrative divisions:	26 counties; Carlow, Cavan, Clare, Cork, Donegal, Dublin, Galway, Kerry, Kildare, Kilkenny, Laois, Leitrim, Limerick, Longford, Louth, Mayo, Meath, Monaghan, Offaly, Roscommon, Sligo, Tipperary, Waterford, Westmeath, Wexford, Wicklow note: Cavan, Donegal, and Monaghan are part of Ulster Province
Independence:	6 December 1921 (from UK by treaty)
National holiday:	Saint Patrick's Day, 17 March
Constitution:	adopted 1 July 1937 by plebiscite; effective 29 December 1937
Legal system:	based on English common law, substantially modified by indigenous concepts; judicial review of legislative acts in Supreme Court; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:	18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:	chief of state: President Mary MCALEESE (since 11 November 1997) head of government: Prime Minister Bertie AHERN (since 26 June 1997) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president with previous nomination by the prime minister and approval of the House of Representatives elections: president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term; election last held 31 October 1997 (next scheduled for October 2011); note - Mary MCALEESE appointed to a second term when no other candidate qualified for the 2004 presidential election; prime minister nominated by the House of Representatives and appointed by the president election results: Mary MCALEESE elected president; percent of vote - Mary MCALEESE 44.8%, Mary BANOTTI 29.6% note: government coalition - Fianna Fail and the Progressive Democrats
Judicial branch:	Supreme Court (judges appointed by the president on the advice of the prime minister and cabinet)
Political parties and leaders:	Fianna Fail [Bertie AHERN]; Fine Gael [Enda KENNY]; Green Party [Trevor SARGENT]; Labor Party [Pat RABITTE]; Progressive Democrats [Mary HARNEY]; Sinn Fein [Gerry ADAMS]; Socialist Party [Joe HIGGINS]; The Workers' Party [Sean GARLAND]
Flag description:	three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), white, and orange; similar to the flag of Cote d'Ivoire, which is shorter and has the colors reversed - orange (hoist side), white, and green; also similar to the flag of Italy, which is shorter and has colors of green (hoist side), white, and red

Economy

Ireland

Economy - overview:	Ireland is a small, modern, trade-dependent economy with growth averaging a robust 7% in 1995-2004. Agriculture, once the most important sector, is now dwarfed by industry and services. Industry accounts for 46% of GDP, about 80% of exports, and 29% of the labor force. Although exports remain the primary engine for Ireland's growth, the economy has also benefited from a rise in consumer spending, construction, and business investment. Per capita GDP is 10% above that of the four big European economies and the second highest in the EU behind Luxembourg. Over the past decade, the Irish Government has implemented a series of national economic programs designed to curb price and wage inflation, reduce government spending, increase labor force skills, and promote foreign investment. Ireland joined in circulating the euro on 1 January 2002 along with 11 other EU nations.
Budget:	revenues: $62.51 billion expenditures: $63.52 billion, including capital expenditures of $5.5 billion (2004 est.)
Public debt:	31.2% of GDP (2004 est.)
Agriculture - products:	turnips, barley, potatoes, sugar beets, wheat; beef, dairy products
Industries:	steel, lead, zinc, silver, aluminum, barite, and gypsum mining processing; food products, brewing, textiles, clothing; chemicals, pharmaceuticals; machinery, rail transportation equipment, passenger and commercial vehicles, ship construction and refurbishment; glass and crystal; software, tourism
Electricity - production:	22.88 billion kWh (2002)
Electricity - production by source:	fossil fuel: 95.9% hydro: 2.3% nuclear: 0% other: 1.7% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:	21.78 billion kWh (2002)
Electricity - exports:	100 million kWh (2002)
Electricity - imports:	600 million kWh (2002)
Natural gas - production:	815 million cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:	4.199 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:	0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:	3.384 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:	9.911 billion cu m (1 January 2002)
Current account balance:	$-2.881 billion (2004 est.)
Exports:	$103.8 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Exports - commodities:	machinery and equipment, computers, chemicals, pharmaceuticals; live animals, animal products
Exports - partners:	US 19.7%, UK 17.7%, Belgium 14.7%, Germany 7.7%, France 6%, Netherlands 4.6%, Italy 4.5% (2004)
Imports:	$60.65 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Imports - commodities:	data processing equipment, other machinery and equipment, chemicals, petroleum and petroleum products, textiles, clothing
Currency (code):	euro (EUR) note: on 1 January 1999, the European Monetary Union introduced the euro as a common currency to be used by financial institutions of member countries; on 1 January 2002, the euro became the sole currency for everyday transactions within the member countries
Currency code:	EUR
Exchange rates:	euros per US dollar - 0.8054 (2004), 0.886 (2003), 1.0626 (2002), 1.1175 (2001), 1.0854 (2000)
Fiscal year:	calendar year

Communications

Ireland

Telephones - main lines in use:	1.955 million (2003)
Telephones - mobile cellular:	3.4 million (2003)
Telephone system:	general assessment: modern digital system using cable and microwave radio relay domestic: microwave radio relay international: country code - 353; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Transportation

Ireland

Railways:	total: 3,312 km broad gauge: 1,947 km 1.600-m gauge (46 km electrified) narrow gauge: 1,365 km 0.914-m gauge (operated by the Irish Peat Board to transport peat to power stations and briquetting plants) (2004)
Highways:	total: 95,736 km paved: 95,736 km (including 125 km of expressways) unpaved: 0 km (2002)
Waterways:	753 km (pleasure craft only) (2004)
Pipelines:	gas 1,795 km (2004)
Ports and harbors:	Cork, Dublin, New Ross, Shannon Foynes, Waterford
Merchant marine:	total: 39 by type: bulk carrier 4, cargo 27, chemical tanker 1, container 1, passenger/cargo 4, roll on/roll off 2 foreign-owned: 11 (Germany 3, Italy 3, Norway 1, Switzerland 1, United Kingdom 3) registered in other countries: 18 (2005)
Airports:	36 (2004 est.)
Airports - with paved runways:	total: 15 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 6 (2004 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways:	total: 21 914 to 1,523 m: 4 under 914 m: 17 (2004 est.)

Military

Ireland

Military branches:	Army (includes Naval Service and Air Corps)
Military service age	17 years of age for voluntary military service; enlistees under the age of 17 can be recruited for specialist positions (2001)

St. Patrick´s Day????'

By Izaack

FAMOUS PEOPLE FROM IRELAND

   Paul David Hewson 

Born in Ireland on May 10, 1960. Bono has been the lead singer of the rock band U2 since 1976. U2 has won 22 Grammy Awards to date, and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2005. Lauded by fans and critics an outstanding performer and songwriter. 

Evanna Lynch

                    

     Born in the town of Termonfecken in Ireland, she is one of four children to Donal and Marguerite Lynch. Her acting carreer began in 2007 when she competed in an open audition against nearly 15,000 girls, and won the coveted role of Luna Lovegood in the "Harry Potter" movie franchise.      

Pierce Brosnan      

                 

Born on May 16, 1953, in Drogheda. Best known for his recurring role as the famous British spy James Bond the film series of the same name

Sam Neil

The first actor who achieved leading roles in films such as Omen III: "The fFnal Conflict"and "Dead Calm", also won a broad international audience in his roles as Alisdair Stewart in "the Piano" and  Dr. Alan Grant in the 1993 film "Jurassic Park".

                                                                                                                                              By Cinthia