WELCOME TO IRLAND

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WELCOME TO IRLAND

• IRISH ISSUE
• Political system
• History
• Holidays

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Political system
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Since 1921 Ireland has been divided into two
political units Northern Ireland and Ireland.
Ireland is an independent state in the European
Union.

• SYMBOLS

• The national emblem is the harp, the traditional
  instrument of old Irish bards.
• An alternative symbol is the trefoil plant.

• Irish tricolour flag of green , white and orange
  symbolises the union of north
• and south.
• Green represents the Republican community,
• Orange is the colour of Protestant Ulster
• White refers to the peace between the two.

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GOVERNMENT

• Ireland is a parliamentary democracy. The
  President, who is Head of State, is elected for
  seven years by the direct vote of all citizens.
  The President signs and promulgate laws and is
  also the supreme commander of the armed force.

President
The Prime minister appoints members of the
government who head various departments or
ministries
Prime minister
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POLITICAL PARTIES
There are four main political parties in Ireland
Fianna Fail, Fine Geal, the Labour Party, and the
Progressive Democrats

• RELIGION

96 per cent of the population in Ireland is
Catholic and less than 4 per cent Protestant. The
Catholic enjoyed until 1972 special position in
The Republic although other religious
denominations are recognised e.g. the Church of
Ireland (Protestant). The Presbyterian Church,
the Methodist Church, etc.
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History

• Ireland is an island in the north-western Europe.
  The first settlers arrived between 8000 and 7000
  BC these were followed by the first
  Celtic-speaking people between 700 and 500 BC and
  Viking settlers in the ninth century AD. Until
  the fifteenth century Ireland was a patch-work of
  competing kingdoms
• and over-kingdoms. English involvement in
  Ireland began with the arrival
• of the Normans in the tenth century, but
  England did not have full control
• until the whole island had been conquered
  in 1609.
• Prior to 1801 Ireland enjoyed a
  self-governing status under the Parliament of
  Ireland, but was ruled by its Anglo-Irish,
  Protestant minority. In 1801 this parliament was
  abolished and Ireland became an integral part of
  a new
• United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
  under the Act of Union. In 1922, after the War of
  Independence, the southern twenty-six counties of
  Ireland seceded from the United Kingdom (UK) and
  became the independent state known today as the
  'Republic of Ireland'. The remainder of the
  island,
• known as 'Northern Ireland', remained part
  of the UK.

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HOLIDAYS

• ST PATRICKS DAY
• ST BRIDGETS DAY

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ST.PATRICKS DAY

• 
  
• Every year on March 17th, the Irish people
  honour their patron saint, Patrick, also known as
  Saint Pat or Paddy. His symbol is a shamrock, so
  the Irish wear shamrocks on his day.
• They are suppose to attend religious
  services and have community and family gatherings
  as well. Colourful parades pass through towns and
  cities led by brass and pipe bands.
• People celebrate this day all over the
  world with parades during the day and special
  dinners at night of corned beef and cabbage,
  traditional Irish fare. Other events are musical
  events and pilgrimages throughout Ireland.
• People wear green clothing, badges, buttons
  or ribbons on the day as this is the colours
  associated with the Emerald Isle and the
  shamrock. This is known as the custom of wearing
  the green. It is also traditional to have a drink
  of Patrick's Pot (whiskey) on this day.
• Saint Patrick's day celebrates the famous
  saint who legend is told drove all the snakes
  from Ireland.

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ST BRIDGETS DAY

• In Irish folk tradition St Bridgets Day
• (1st of February is the first day of spring.
• St Bridget, the patron of cattle and diary
  work,
• had the reputation of being the best mead
• and ale maker.
• She loved to cook, and like many saints
• she could feed the multitude with very
  little.
• In some parts of Ireland, people still bake
• oaten bread in the shape of a cross.
• They put it on the window-sill together
• with a sheaf of straw for the saint and her
  pet cow,
• so that St Bridget will bless the house.