Euro Travel Pages

Ireland Revisited

On the northwestern part of Europe lies the Republic of Ireland. The country occupies most of the island of the same name. Its capital and largest city is Dublin and its only land boundary is shared with Northern Ireland which is a province of Great Britain.

The country is popularly known as the “Emerald Isle” and for a very good reason. Its general topography consists of green landscapes and rolling plains. Originally, farming was one of the country’s major industries but due to the age of industrialization in the 1950’s, the manufacturing sector has dominated much of Ireland’s economy. The country is currently experiencing rapid economic growth which is manifested in its highly-developed cities. Interestingly, in spite of all these advances, the country has been able to maintain the rich culture that it is widely known for.

Historical profile

For centuries, Ireland was a part of Great Britain. It has gone through periods of struggles in an attempt to gain independence from the British crown. Finally, in 1949, it has declared itself separate from its ruling country and has since begun creating its own identity. To this day, the country is one of the fastest developing nations on this side of the world.

Culture

Ireland’s culture goes back to almost ten thousand years ago and has since gone through several developments. But according to many experts, the legacy that the Celts have made during the Iron Age is one that has managed to survive the centuries. In fact, this facet of Irish culture can still be seen today in various artifacts and even in the country’s practices. When the nation was Christianized in the fifth century AD, the Celts have managed to retain some aspects of their former Druidic religion. This has formed a distinctive branch of Christianity known as Celtic Christianity.

One of the most dominant manifestations of Irish culture is in its art and literature. Because of the country’s language and its powerful influence, literature became one of the many aspects that kept Ireland’s culture alive even to this day. In fact, many literary experts revere its literary heritage as one of the most outstanding in the world. Whether it is in Gaelic (the country’s native language) or in English (its official language), Irish literature has become one of the world’s favorites.

Architecture

Some of the more popular tourist attractions in Ireland consist of architectural masterpieces that have survived the test of time. Many tourists travel into the country just to see the dolmens – prehistoric chambers that were formed more than two thousand years back. There are a lot of these still standing today and the country’s government has been providing full support towards the preservation of these cultural and historical legacies.

Romanesque architecture is also quite common in this country. Medieval castles are still found standing all over Ireland, most of which are still well-maintained by their respective owners and are now open to tourists worldwide.

Ireland features a host of other attractions for every type of tourists. For many who have already visited the country, a visit is not enough to learn more about the place. You could visit Ireland hundreds of times but you’re still bound to discover something new about it on your next trip.