Ireland story. Irish history in brief

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Where did Ireland start?

The first colony on the Emerald Isle was in the 12th century the town of Peil, founded by the Normans who arrived here. From the end of the 16th century Norman domination was established over Irish territory, and the local population was deprived of almost all rights. In 1366, With the adoption of the "Killkenny Statutes", the situation of the Irish worsened significantly. According to the laws, everyone was required to speak only English and wear clothes in the British manner. It was forbidden to sell weapons and horses to the Irish, and during the hostilities, even food. In the English territories, the Irish were not allowed to hold church offices, nor could they be provided with premises for religious purposes. An Englishman could kill an Irishman with impunity, for such a crime the killer was not even threatened with a fine.
Since the end of the 16th century, the ecclesiastical, monastic and private lands of the Irish were confiscated in favor of the English colonists. The ban on free religion led to a wave of uprisings throughout the country. During the famous English bourgeois revolution, Irish rebellions and unrest did not subside for about 10 years. until the ambitious and cruel Oliver Cromwell. He staged a real terror against the Catholics, who were mercilessly robbed and killed. The Legislative Act "On the Settlement", 1653, deprived all the Irish who participated in the uprising of the lands, they were submitted to the Parliament and distributed among its members. Catholic priests were expelled from Ireland, and Protestantism was proclaimed the state religion. Such a decision was sanctioned after the Jacobite wars by William of Orange, with his filing, Catholics no longer had the right to rent or acquire land, to educate their children, and taxes on the maintenance of the Anglican Church were simply ruinous. Wilhelm's reign led to a deterioration in the economic situation, the industry fell into decline, and the industries that competed with the English ceased to exist. But it was this period that was characterized by the development of Irish national identity.

Fight for independence

Since the end of the 17th century, various societies have appeared on the territory of Ireland, opposing the unfair treatment of the British towards the Irish. Discontent grew in society and Parliament, and the opposition gained momentum, promoting programs that give Ireland freedom and political autonomy. The next step was a boycott of British goods, which forced the British government to lift restrictions on trade. The first victory was the achievement of legislative independence by the Irish Parliament in 1782. The first laws were the return of voting rights to Catholics, then an agreement was signed unifying the relationship between the Irish and English parliaments. Since then, members of the Irish Parliament have been delegated to the House of Commons. However, it was not possible to achieve complete freedom until 1829, when Catholics were allowed to hold public office. The Irish tried with all their might to achieve self-government and strove for complete independence, but in the 19th century they failed to do this. Programs were repeatedly proposed to create their own executive bodies, but all proposals were rejected. In 1912, one of the initiatives being promoted was made law by the House of Lords.
The situation in the country continued to heat up, but preparations for Protestant-Catholic demonstrations were interrupted by the outbreak of the First World War. The Easter Rising took place in 1916. during which government buildings were taken under control. The rebellion was brutally suppressed by British naval artillery, but popular unrest became the impetus for further full-scale protests against the English conquerors. In 1918, the Irish Republicans won the majority of seats in Parliament, declaring the independence of Ireland while forming their own parliament. This decision gave rise to the three-year Anglo-Irish War from 1919 to 1921. After the end of the conflict, Britain gave independence to 26 Irish counties, and 6 counties were given the right to self-determination and the opportunity to secede from Great Britain. Northern Ireland advocated an alliance with the United Kingdom, which was the beginning of the Ulster standoff.

Northern Ireland in the 20th century

After the separation of the two Irelands, the territory of the "Emerald Isle" was swept by a wave of terrorist attacks. for which the Irish Republican Army claimed responsibility. The purpose of the IRA was to destabilize the situation in Northern Ireland in order to stop the attempts of the Northern Irish government to keep the situation in the country under control. Massive IRA attacks on Northern Ireland were from 1930 to 1945, in the early 1950s, and from 1956 to 1961.
The parliamentary predominance of Protestants over Catholics caused discontent among the latter. Adherents of the Catholic faith in 1967 created an association whose demand was civil equality for both religious groups. Rallies of community members led to an aggravation of relations between confessions, the result of unrest was a protracted conflict in Northern Ireland.
The apogee of the collisions came in 1969 when a wave of unrest swept across the country - from Londonderry to Belfast. To avoid a repeat of the turmoil, regular troops were introduced into the country, but the situation continued to deteriorate until direct rule was introduced in Northern Ireland, which caused resistance from the population. At the end of January 1972, the protests turned into "Bloody Sunday" when the military killed 13 Catholics who went to the rally. Protesters broke into the British Embassy building and burned it down. About 500 Northern Irish died between 1972 and 1975, after which the British government decided to hold a referendum, but the Catholics boycotted it. Another attempt to stabilize the situation was signing in 1973 of the Sunnigdelian Agreement between British and Irish leaders but real the 1985 treaty brought results. The document stated that Northern Ireland is a British administrative part as long as the inhabitants of the country agree with this.
In 1993 a declaration was made in Downing Street which reflected the desire of both parties to reach a political consensus, while stipulating the absence of violence in resolving any issues. The result was a ceasefire by the IRA and later by armed Protestants. New round of terrorist attacks carried out by the IRA in 1996, put an end to the truce.
Labor Party won the 1997 election, in whose election campaign it was planned to recognize all agreements between Britain and Northern Ireland. The result was conclusion of the Belfast peace agreement in 1997 between all Northern Irish and British political forces.

Irish tribes.

Since Ireland lies on the edge of the European world, some of the waves that passed over the continent did not reach its distant borders. No fossil remains of species have been found on Irish soil that would have preceded Homo sapiens. On the other hand, the Mediterranean type of Homo sapiens not only gave rise to a highly developed Neolithic culture, but also remained dominant on the island throughout the Bronze Age (c. 1800 BC - c. 350 BC). Whatever additional influences on the composition of this population occurred during this long period, it is unlikely that the conquests of the Celtic-speaking tribes took place earlier than the 4th century. BC. It is unclear whether there was any widespread invasion of Celto-Germanic tribes before the beginning of the Christian era, which Julius Caesar encountered on the Continent. In any case, it was the Celts (Gaels) who invaded Ireland as conquerors, bringing the Gaelic language and Iron Age culture. The former population still existed in almost all parts of the island and retained their system and customs long after the written history of Ireland begins. The vitality of the ancient Irish in the pre-invasion period explains the greater proportion of the pre-Celtic population in the total composition of modern Ireland than anywhere else in Great Britain, with the exception of Wales.

Bregon laws.

This code of laws and judicial system is clearly of very ancient origin. Some of its central elements may belong to the pre-Celtic period, since they are characterized by features that the ancient Celts do not have. The social life of the population, judging by these laws, already had a complex and hierarchical character. The smallest economic, as well as political and social unit was the clan. All the land was in the common possession of the clan, which gave away plots of land in the ownership of those who were a full and free member of the tribal community. The status of those who were part of the clan, but did not fully belong to the clan, had its own gradations. At the bottom of the hierarchy were vagabonds and slaves. The amount of land allocated to full-fledged members of the clan depended on the significance of the functions that they performed. The clan elected a leader who was responsible for the distribution and redistribution of land. Over time, the leader, as one would expect, began to consider the land as his property and endowed clan members only with the right to dispose of the land. However, throughout the pagan period, regularly assembled gatherings of clans exercised supreme power within the framework of tribal unions. From time to time the land of the clan was redistributed, but if that other plot remained for a long time at the disposal of the family that had been in power for generations, it began to be considered as property, and not just as a temporary possession. At the same time, the amount of land indicated the position of the family within the clan, and the number of cattle owned by it determined how rich it was. A significant part of the Bregon laws affect property rights. The transfer of property from one hand to another was accompanied by the most complicated procedures, depending on whether the transfer of land or personal property took place voluntarily or by virtue of law. These procedures also varied depending on the position of the persons involved in the case. Before a plaintiff could take possession of property previously owned by a superior person, he had to go through a period of abstinence from food. If the plaintiff died during this time, the defendant could be charged with murder. There was no clear line between civil and criminal law. If it was a crime, the injured party or the victim's immediate family had to ensure that charges were brought and the punishment itself was brought, but they were assisted in this by all members of the community. An essential role in the judicial process was played by the bregons (judges), who have existed since at least the beginning of the Christian era. Bregon was a professional interpreter of the laws and for a fee, albeit not an official one, ruled in cases that fell under them.

Irish kingdoms.

There are also broader political associations than clans. The first union within the entire island was, apparently, the Pentarchy, or five kingdoms (tuats) (traditional "five-fifths of Ireland"), most likely already existing at the dawn of the Christian era. As a result of the constant struggle of various dynasties, by 400 AD. seven independent kingdoms arose which existed, with minor changes, until the end of the Gaelic period in the early 17th century. The most important in the south was the territory owned by the Kashel dynasty, and in the north - the territory of the Tara dynasty. Three other states were closely connected with the latter, the kings (riagi) of which came from this dynasty; together they formed a confederation, the headship of which gave the chief king of the four states the title of High King (ard-riaga) of all Ireland. It was the combined forces of these kings that attacked the Romans in Britain and on the Continent in the 4th century; during one of these robbery attacks, St. Patrick, who was destined to convert Ireland to Christianity. Nevertheless, in each of the Irish kingdoms, the direct power of the king extended only to members of his own clan; power over subordinate clans was expressed only in the payment of tribute by them.

Rise of the Irish Church.

At the beginning of the 5th c.

most of the population continued to worship the gods of the druids. There were also a few Christians in the country, and in order to take care of them, Pope Celestine I sent the Roman Palladius to Ireland in 431 as a bishop. After the death of the latter the following year, a similar mission was entrusted to St. Patrick, who over the next 30 years converted almost the entire Irish people to Christianity and founded the Church of Ireland with an archiepiscopal seat at Armagh. The national church, although it served to further unify the country, developed primarily within the framework of clans and monasteries. Each clan had its own clergy, who lived in a monastery headed by an abbot. Often the direct heir of the clan became an abbot, and many abbots were ordained bishops, which reduced the influence of non-monastic bishops. Although the Church of Ireland differed for some period from the Roman in the matter of the day of the celebration of Easter and tonsure, in the 7th century. it nevertheless took on a Latin form in the 7th century; in matters of doctrine, there have never been differences of opinion between the churches. The most remarkable result of Ireland's conversion to Christianity was the widespread dissemination of religion and learning throughout the country through the activities of the monasteries. Intellectually, the Church of Ireland was replenished with theologians from the Continent fleeing the barbarian invasions, but the key figures of the Christian enlightenment were Irish. Until the end of the 8th c. Ireland was one of the main centers of Christian learning. The monastic schools not only contributed to the development of culture in the country and taught students from other countries, but also sent monks on missions to Scotland, England and the Continent. Outstanding monks in this respect were Saints Columba and Columban. In 563 St. Columba founded the monastery of Iona off the coast of Scotland, which became the center of Christianity in the north of Britain. Even more important were the acts of St. Columbanus, founder of the monastery of Luxeuil in Burgundy (590) and the monastery of Bobbio in northern Italy (613). At least 60 other monasteries descended from the Luxey monastery. Future priests from Ireland came to these centers, from here, over the next 500 years, missionaries dispersed to the countries of Western Europe.

Vikings.

Compared to the rest of Europe, southern Ireland was at peace during the period from the coming of St. Patrick until the end of the 8th century; however, in the north, there was a constant struggle between kingdoms and within the kingdoms themselves. Although there was an almost unbreakable line of succession to the high kings, no one was able to establish a single authority over the entire island. Starting in 795, another factor of discord appeared - the Vikings, from whom Ireland suffered for more than two centuries. By 850, the Danes, as the Irish called the Vikings, captured Dublin, Waterford and Limerick, which they turned into centers of trade and strongholds for raids on other parts of the country. A century later, when some of the descendants of the conquerors converted to Christianity and were assimilated by the Irish, the most terrible invasion of the "Danes" fell upon the country. The challenge was accepted by Brian Boroime, who rose in the south and in 1002 became an ard-riag. The army of the south attacked the army of the north at Dublin and defeated it at the battle of Clontarf 1014. Brian himself was killed, but this victory marked the end of the era of Viking raiding raids throughout the British Isles.

national consolidation.

In addition, Briand managed to ignite in the Irish, who already had a sense of national cultural unity, the desire for political unification. During the one and a half years between his death and the invasion of the Anglo-Norman conquerors (1169) there was a process of liberation of subject clans from the power of the old "local" kings (the exception was Connaught); a truly national king appeared - Rory O "Connor, who settled in Dublin. Similar processes took place in the Church of Ireland. The period of the Viking conquests led to demoralization in the Irish church as a result of the devastation caused by both the conquerors and local kings. In addition, the bishops in the busy the Danes of Dublin, Waterford and Limerick considered the archbishop of Canterbury, not the archbishop of Armagh, to be the ecclesiastical authority.After the foundation of the monasteries by new orders from the continent, especially the Cistercians, a real revival of religious life began. the formation of four ecclesiastical metropolitanates (1152) led to the emergence of a truly strong national church, which included the Gaelic and Norman population and was independent of any external authority, with the exception of the papacy.In parallel with events in the political field, trade with other countries developed; church reform also led to the revival of science and education.

Irish.

Each nation is unique in its own way. However, some of them are surrounded by numerous myths. The classic example is the Irish. It is difficult to characterize them with some stereotypes. There is even a legendary expression attributed to Sigmund Freud: "This is a race of people in relation to whom psychoanalysis does not make sense." The image of the Irish is surrounded by myths, they should be debunked. This nationality is very interesting, but by no means as bright as is commonly believed.

The Irish are friendly people. It is believed that the Irish will gladly give you the last shirt. But often they will prefer not to share it, but to sue because of it. Especially often lawsuits happen in families because of inheritance. In general, the Irish are friendly, but a lot depends on who you are, where you are and what you do. Ireland is called the "land of a thousand greetings", but one has only to earn a bad reputation and the picture will change radically.

All Irish people are religious. When a time of crisis comes, or danger threatens, any Irishman, even an atheist, will call on all the saints for help. But this does not mean deep religiosity; rather, it is a reflex laid down from birth. It is believed that 90% of Irish citizens are Catholics. In fact, only 30% of them have ever been to church at all. They mention the name of the Lord when they fall or become dislocated, as do many of us.

The Irish can't sing. Ireland can be proud of its singers. Suffice it to recall the names of Ronan Keating, Chris de Burgh and Daniel O'Donnell. And the main musical export product is the group U2. However, one should not assume that any Irishman will be able to sing a rebellious national song at any time. Nevertheless, it is worth noting that local ballads can brighten up evenings perfectly. The Irish sing about love, about snowfall and gentle light, making listeners cry. This love of music is part of the national spirit.

The Irish are irreconcilable. In 1981, Bobby Sands, leader of the IRA, died as a result of a hunger strike. This attracted the attention of the entire world community to the problem of relations between England and Northern Ireland. To annoy London, the Irish government even decided to change the name of the street where the British embassy was located. It was decided to rename Churchill Boulevard as Bobby Sands Street. Then the British embassy was forced to change its address. Now all printed materials were sent to the side street and house. So the embassy was able to refuse to use the rebel's name. Yes, and the term "boycott" is of Irish origin, coming from the name of Captain James Boycott. The inhabitants of this country really have integrity and the spirit of the struggle for justice.

All Irish people are redheads with freckles. This is a common stereotype that all people of this nationality have red hair. But there are many natural blondes here, as well as black-haired men. Irish people often have brown or blue eyes. In our time, the country has become multicultural, only 9% of redheads by nature remain here.

All Irish people are pugnacious. It is believed that the Irish are so passionate that they are looking for a reason to fight. That's just those who run amok in public places are not approved, but simply considered a fool. And having received such recognition, there is a risk of maintaining the “stigma” for life.

All Irish people are drunkards. The catchphrase says: "God invented whiskey to protect the whole world from the power of the Irish."

Read Ireland online. History of the country" author Neville Peter - RuLit - Page 1

According to statistics, no more alcohol is drunk here than in any other European country. The myth appeared due to the fact that the Irish do not hide the pleasure they get from drinking. Dublin has one pub for every 100 inhabitants. And appearing drunk in public here is even considered a crime. Locals do not have to get drunk to be cheerful. The company may make more noise because of communication, and not because of alcohol.

The Irish are great storytellers and storytellers. There are those who will delight listeners interesting stories, while others do not. Interestingly, Amanda McKittrick (1869-1939) was born in Ireland. She was called the worst writer in history by English literary experts. She published her own series of novels, winning the attention of many fans. The woman believed in her talent, despite the attacks of critics. She called them donkey-headed ticks and corrupt crabs, people with the talents of a janitor. And today we remember her, not her critics.

All Irish people are stupid. The English have been teasing their islander neighbors for centuries, thinking they are dumb. Edmund Spenser was especially famous, who devoted a lot of space to attacks on the Irish in his poems. He argued that the neighbors are far from much more educated Englishmen. Do not forget that it was Ireland that gave the world James Joyce (he is considered the true heir of Shakespeare), as well as other prominent poets and writers.

The Irish are vindictive. Locals can easily flare up, but they just as quickly retreat. If the Irish remember your past mistakes, then as a joke. Here it is customary to treat life with humor and make fun of yourself, so you should not be offended. There is even a comic term "Irish Alzheimer". It refers to the fact that the Irish sometimes "forget" about the birthdays of their relatives, not wanting to congratulate them. But this is just a joke.

All Irish people love green. Following this statement, we can say that the Spaniards are fans of red, and the Dutch love orange. If the Irish wear all green on their main holiday, this does not mean a general obsession with color at other times. There are traditions according to which people choose green scarves and hats for public events. This is where the love for the “national” color ends. And with those on whom there is nothing green, they will still communicate.

The Irish speak Irish.

The national language is indeed Irish, but it is only spoken in a few secluded places in the west of the island. Most Irish people speak English.

The Irish live in Ireland. About 4 million people of this nationality live in Ireland itself. But people with Irish roots are scattered all over the world. It is believed that most of them in the United States - up to 36 million. They are found in Canada, Australia, Argentina and Mexico. And all these people have fun celebrating their national holiday - St. Patrick's Day. And the reason for the great migration was the "Great Famine", when people on the island died en masse due to a poor potato harvest. Then many poor people decided to emigrate to the United States. There are currently about 80 million Irish people in the world.

Count Dracula is of Irish descent. Surprisingly, it is. The writer Bram Stoker, who created the cult book, has never been to Eastern Europe at all. He was born in Dublin and raised in Ireland. It was here that he heard enough of local legends about mysterious creatures who drank human blood. And there is a very specific story about the leader Abhartach, who, according to historians, was the very king of vampires.

Popular myths.

Popular facts.

Ireland - General information about the country

Ireland, Republic of Ireland (irl. Éire, Poblacht na hÉireann; eng. Ireland, Republic of Ireland) is a state in Western Europe, occupying most of the island of Ireland. The area is 70.2 thousand km². The name of the country comes from Irish. Éire. The capital is the city of Dublin, which is home to approx. 1.4 million people Member of organizations: UN (since 1955), Council of Europe (since 1949), OECD (since 1960), EU (since 1973), Euratom (since 1973), European Monetary System (since 1979).

Etymology

The Irish constitution, adopted in 1937, states that "the name of the state is Éire, or, in English, Ireland". In 1949, the name Republic of Ireland was adopted as a description of the state (Description of the State); its name is still simply Ireland. This is due to the claims to the entire island stated in the Constitution: “The territory belonging to the people consists of the entire island of Ireland, the islands adjacent to it and the territorial sea” (Article 2; since 1998, as a result of the Belfast Agreement, the text has been replaced by a more neutral one). However, in various spheres, official and unofficial, the name Republic of Ireland is widely used to distinguish the state from British Northern Ireland and the island as a whole.

Physical and geographical characteristics

Geographical position

Ireland is located on the island of the same name (3rd largest in Europe) in the North Atlantic Ocean. It is the westernmost of the two largest British Isles. Located between 6° 20-10° 20 W. and 51° 25-55° 23 s. sh. (the northernmost point is Cape Malin Head). From the east it is washed by the Irish Sea, as well as the Straits of St. George and the North, from the west, north and south by the Atlantic Ocean. The length from west to east is about 300 km, from north to south - about 450 km. The highest point is Mount Carantuill (1041 m).

The total area of the territory is about 70.2 thousand km². The length of the border with Great Britain is 360 km.

Climate

The climate of Ireland is temperate maritime. Near the western coast of the island there is a warm North Atlantic Current, which, together with southwestern winds from the Atlantic Ocean, brings warm and humid air masses.

Winters are quite mild and summers are cool.

Republic of Ireland

The warmest month of the year is July with an average air temperature of 18-20 degrees. The coldest month is January, the temperature of which drops to 7-9 degrees.

On average, up to 1200 mm of precipitation falls per year, however, their distribution over the territory is not uniform.

The maximum values are typical for the western part of the island, due to the influence of the sea, their number can reach 1600 mm. While in the east and in the central part of the country there is about 80-100 mm.

Relief and landscapes

The coasts of Ireland (especially in the north, south and west) are rocky, strongly dissected by bays, the largest of which are Galway, Shannon, Dingle and Donegal in the west, Loch Foyle in the north. Off the coast of Ireland are many rocky islands.

The landscapes are mostly flat: the interior is occupied by the vast Central Lowland, which extends to the shores of the island in the west and east. On the outskirts of the island there are low mountains (the highest point is Mount Carantuill, 1041 m) and a plateau (the largest is Antrim in the northeast).

Vegetation

Ireland is classified by the World Wildlife Fund into two ecoregions, the Celtic Broadleaf Forests and the North Atlantic Mixed Forests, although forests actually cover no more than 10% of the island. A large proportion of the island's surface is occupied by meadows and heaths. There are both northern, alpine plants and species characteristic of southern Europe (usually in the west of the island).

Story

ancient time

The first people settled Ireland during the Mesolithic period, around 8000 BC, when its climate improved after the retreat of the glaciers. Gradually, the pre-Celtic population was assimilated, and its inhabitants from the middle of the 1st millennium BC. e. became part of the Celtic population and culture. The name of the island in Irish is "Erin" (Old Irish Ériu, Irish Éire). The ancient Irish lived in separate tribal clans under the control of hereditary leaders, jointly owned land and were engaged almost exclusively in cattle breeding. Ireland was not part of the Roman Empire, but it is mentioned by Roman historians (Ptolemy, Tacitus, Juvenal).

Adoption of Christianity

It is believed that from 432 St. Patrick, a native of Roman Britain, began to spread Christianity among the Irish. Ireland was not affected by the civil wars and invasions of the Germans that accompanied the collapse of the Roman Empire, which contributed to the development of written culture and education in the early Middle Ages. Soon after the baptism of the country, the first works in Latin appear, from the beginning of the 7th century. there is literature in Old Irish. Already in the 6th century, Ireland became the center of Western learning, preachers of Christianity on the mainland came out of its monastic schools. One of the main cultural centers was the monastery on the island of Iona. Irish monks made a significant contribution to the preservation of Latin culture during the early Middle Ages. Ireland of this period was famous for its arts - illustrations for manuscript books (see Book of Kells), metalwork and sculpture (see Book of Kells).

Celtic cross).

Significant damage to Irish culture and the economic and political stability of the island as a whole was caused by Viking raids. Soon they began to establish settlements on the shores of the island (in particular, Dublin, Limerick, Waterford). Only at the beginning of the XI century, the Irish, led by the Munster king Brian Boru, defeated the Vikings. Brian Boru died at the decisive Battle of Clontarf in 1014.

Ruled by England

At the end of the XII century, part of the territory of Ireland was conquered by the British under King Henry II. The English barons took over the lands of the Irish clans and introduced English laws and government. The conquered area was called the outskirts (English the Pale) and both in management and in its further development differed sharply from the not yet conquered, the so-called Wild Ireland, in which the British constantly sought to make new conquests.

When Robert the Bruce took possession of the Scottish crown and successfully led the war with England, the Irish leaders turned to him for help against a common enemy. His brother Edward arrived with an army in 1315 and was proclaimed king by the Irish, but after a three-year war that terribly devastated the island, he died in battle with the British. However, in 1348, the "Black Death" came to Ireland, exterminating almost all the English who lived in cities where the death rate was especially high. After the plague, English power extended no further than Dublin.

During the English Reformation, the Irish remained Catholic, which created a rift between the two islands that has survived to this day. In 1536, Henry VIII crushed the rebellion of Silk Thomas Fitzgerald, an English protege in Ireland, and decided to reconquer the island. In 1541, Henry proclaimed Ireland a kingdom and himself its king. Over the next hundred years, under Elizabeth and James I, the English consolidated control of Ireland, although they failed to make the Irish Protestant. However, the entire English administration consisted only of Protestant Anglicans.

During the civil war in England, English control over the island was greatly weakened, and the Catholic Irish rebelled against the Protestants, temporarily creating Confederate Ireland, but already in 1649 Oliver Cromwell arrived in Ireland with a large and experienced army, took the city of Drogheda near Dublin by storm and Wexford. In Drogheda, Cromwell ordered the massacre of the entire garrison and Catholic priests, and in Wexford the army carried out a massacre already without permission. Within nine months, Cromwell conquered almost the entire island, and then handed over the leadership to his son-in-law Ayrton, who continued the work he had begun. Cromwell's goal was to put an end to the unrest on the island by driving out the Irish Catholics, who were forced to either leave the country or move west to Connaught, while their lands were distributed to the English colonists, mostly Cromwell's soldiers. In 1641, over 1.5 million people lived in Ireland, and in 1652 only 850,000 remained, of which 150,000 were English and Scottish new settlers.

In 1689, during the Glorious Revolution, the Irish supported the English King James II, deposed by William of Orange, for which they again paid the price.

In 1801 Ireland became part of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. The Irish language began to be replaced by English.

At the beginning of the XIX century.

about 86% of the population of Ireland was employed in agriculture, which was dominated by indentured forms of exploitation. Ireland served as one of the sources of the accumulation of English capital and the development of industry in England.

"Great Famine"

Since the mid 40s. 19th century the agricultural revolution began. The fall in the price of bread (after the abolition of the "Corn Laws" in England in 1846) prompted the landowners to begin an intensive transition from the system of small peasant leases to large-scale pastoral farming. The process of driving small tenants off the land (the so-called cleansing of estates) intensified.

The repeal of the "Corn Laws" and the disease of the potato, which was the main crop of the small landed Irish peasants, led to the terrible famine of 1845-1849. About 1 million people died as a result of the famine.

Emigration increased significantly (from 1846 to 1851, 1.5 million people left), which became a constant feature of the historical development of Ireland.

As a result, in 1841-1851. Ireland's population has declined by 30%.

And in the future, Ireland was rapidly losing its population: if in 1841 the population was 8 million 178 thousand people, then in 1901 it was only 4 million 459 thousand.

Irish independence

In 1919, the Irish Republican Army (IRA) launched active hostilities against British troops and police. On April 15-27, 1919, the Republic of Limerick Council exists on the territory of the county of the same name. In December 1921, a peace treaty was signed between Great Britain and Ireland. Ireland received the status of a dominion (the so-called Irish Free State), with the exception of the 6 most industrialized north-eastern counties (Northern Ireland) with a predominance of Protestants, which remained part of the United Kingdom. However, Great Britain retained military bases in Ireland, the right to receive "redemption" payments for the former possessions of English landlords. In 1937, the country adopted the official name "Éire" (Éire).

In 1949 Ireland was proclaimed an independent republic. The republic's withdrawal from the British Commonwealth was announced. It was not until the 1960s that emigration from Ireland ceased and population growth was noted. In 1973 Ireland became a member of the European Union. In the 90s. In the 20th century, Ireland entered a period of rapid economic growth.

Political structure

Ireland is a parliamentary republic.

The current constitution was adopted as a result of a plebiscite on July 1, 1937, and entered into force on December 29, 1937.

The President of Ireland (Irl. Uachtarán; mostly a ceremonial post) is elected by the population for a 7-year term. The president has the right to convene and dissolve the lower house of parliament at the initiative of the government, he promulgates laws, appoints judges and other senior officials, and leads the armed forces.

The actual head of the executive branch is the Prime Minister (Taoiseach), nominated by the House of Representatives and confirmed by the President.

The highest legislative body is the Parliament (Irl. Tithe An Oireachtais), which consists of the President and 2 chambers: the House of Representatives and the Senate.

The House of Representatives has 160 to 170 members elected by the people on the basis of universal, direct and secret suffrage under the proportional representation system.

The Senate consists of 60 members, of which 11 are appointed by the Prime Minister, 6 are elected by the National and Dublin universities, 43 are elected through indirect elections on special lists (candidates for these lists are put forward by various organizations and associations). The electoral college for elections to the Senate consists of approximately 900 members, including members of the House of Representatives, members of county and municipal councils. The term of office of both chambers is up to 7 years.

Political parties in Ireland: Labor Party (LP, founded in 1912), Fianna Fáil (FF, Soldiers of Fortune, founded in 1926), Fine Gael (FG, United Ireland, founded in 1933) , Sinn Féin (CF, "We ourselves", formed in 1905), the Green Party (founded in 1981), the Socialist Party (SP, founded in 1996), the Workers' Party of Ireland (FIR, founded in 1982) , Socialist Workers' Party (SWP, founded in 1971).

The Labor Party, Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael, Sinn Féin and the Green Party are represented in Doyle Eren and the Ehren Senate.

The Labor Party, Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael, Sinn Féin and the Socialist Party are represented in the European Parliament.

Administrative division

Administratively, the Republic of Ireland is divided into four provinces with 26 counties in them.

County Tipperary is divided and administered as two sub-entities: Tipperary North Reading and Tipperary South Reading.

Population

The population of Ireland is mostly of Celtic origin. According to the 2006 general census, it is 4.24 million people. National minorities make up 420,000, that is, 10 percent. 275.8 thousand are immigrants from the EU countries (Poland, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania), the rest are from Russia, China, Ukraine, Pakistan, Philippines, Nigeria.

From the 1840s, when the population of the regions that are now part of the Republic of Ireland, was about 6.5 million, and until the 1970s, there was a constant decline in population - mainly due to high levels of emigration. The annual population growth in the 1980s was only 0.5%, and by 2000 the increase had slowed to 0.41%.

Approximately 58% of the population lives in cities.

Economy

Advantages: the average annual increase in real GDP of the "Celtic tiger" for 1996-2000. amounted to 9% - one of the largest in Europe (however, in recent years, growth has not exceeded 3%). Trade surplus. Efficient agriculture and food industry. Expansion of the high-tech sector; 25% of exports are electronics. The EU finances infrastructure projects. Highly skilled workforce.

Weaknesses: Many important industries are controlled by Western TNCs. Risk of conjunctural overheating. Housing shortage. Rapid growth is overloading infrastructure. Huge external debt (940% of GDP).

The Republic of Ireland's economic system is a modern, relatively small, trade-dependent economy that grew by 1995-2000. averaged 10%. The agricultural sector, once dominant in the system, is now being replaced by an industrial one; the industrial sector accounts for 46% of GDP, about 80% of exports, and 29% of the labor force. While exports remain the main driver of Ireland's economic growth, growth in consumer spending and a recovery in both construction and business investment are also helping. The annual inflation rate for 2005 was 2.3%, down from the recent 4-5%. One of the problems of the economy is inflation in real estate prices (the average price of a residential building in February 2005 was about 251 thousand euros). Unemployment is very low and incomes of the population are growing rapidly, along with the prices of services (utilities, insurance, healthcare, lawyers, etc.).

Dublin, Ireland's capital, ranked 16th in the global cost of living rankings in 2006 (up from 22nd in 2004 and 24th in 2003). There have been reports that Ireland has the second highest average per capita income of all EU countries after Luxembourg, and ranks 4th in the world in this indicator.

State and languages

The official languages of the Republic of Ireland are Irish and English.

The Irish government is taking steps to replace English with a revived Irish language. It is taught in schools and used on national television and radio (RTÉ, TG 4, Lá). In April 2005, a law was passed under which all English-language signs on the country's west coast were replaced with Irish ones. Under the new law, toponymic designations in the western district of Galtacht, in the district of Meath, located northwest of Dublin, and the district of Waterford in the southeast of Ireland, must be translated into Irish and cannot be dubbed into English names.

According to a survey in 2002, more than 1.57 million people aged 3 and over could speak Irish, up from 1.43 million in 1996. However, there is a significant reversal from 43.5% in 1996 to 42.8% in 2002. Women were more Irish speakers (45.9%) than men (39.7%).

Culture and art

Painting and sculpture

Irish art during the period of English domination was usually considered within the framework of the English school of painting. After the 17th century, many Irish painters and sculptors achieved prominence, with the result that we can talk about the formation of the Irish school of painting. The Irish painters George Barrett, James Barry, and Nathaniel Hawn Sr., along with Sir Joshua Reynolds, were co-founders of the Royal Academy in 1768. James Arthur O'Connor was a prominent landscape painter of the period, and Daniel Maclise created magnificent frescoes in the Royal Gallery of the House of Lords. Among the Irish painters of the 19th century, Nathaniel Hawn Jr. and Walter F. Osborne, as well as the impressionist Rodrik O'Conor, gained European fame. One of the leading masters of expressionism is now recognized as Jack Butler Yeats, brother of the poet William Butler Yeats. Recently, the work of the painter Manni Jellett and the master of stained glass painting Evi Khon has received recognition.

Music

Irish musicians were known throughout Europe by XII century. The most famous of these was the blind harpist Turlaf O'Carolan, who composed some 200 compositions, mostly for his patrons. Many of his compositions were published in Dublin in 1720. His music for harp is still performed throughout the world. Around this time, an annual folk festival called Feish was founded, dedicated to the preservation and promotion of the art of playing the flute.

Irish folk music is very diverse: from lullabies to drinking songs, from slow instrumental melodies to fast fiery dances, and in them the use of variations and nuances of rhythm and melody plays a huge role. At the Belfast Artists' Festival in 1792, Edward Banting produced the first collection of traditional Irish melodies and songs, which he published in 1796. Thomas Moore, the great Irish poet, made extensive use of Banting's work in his famous collection Irish Melodies, first published in 1807.

Classical forms of music were not widely known in Ireland until the 18th century. Pianist John Field, teacher of the Russian composer Mikhail Glinka, was the first Irish composer to achieve international fame with his nocturnes; he is considered a precursor to Chopin. Michael William Balfe is best known for his opera The Bohemian Girl. Among the most famous Irish soloists was concert and operatic tenor John McCormack.

In the 20th century, rock music developed widely in Ireland. The most famous rock bands in Ireland are My Bloody Valentine, U2, Thin Lizzy and The Cranberries. There was also a renewed interest in folk music and dance. A large number of folk musical groups appeared: Cruachan, Clannad, The Chieftains, The Dubliners, Planxty. Michael Flatley's Lord of the Dance and Feet of Flames dance performances are a great success. Irish representatives of popular and alternative music also pay attention to customs and culture: The Corrs, Sinead O'Connor, Enya (Etna Brennan), her sister Moya Brennan, Ronan Keating, Brendan Perry.

Kingdom of Ireland

During the English Reformation, the Irish remained Catholic, which created a rift between the two islands that has survived to this day. In 1536, Henry VIII crushed the rebellion of Silk Thomas Fitzgerald, an English protege in Ireland, and decided to reconquer the island. In 1541, Henry proclaimed Ireland a kingdom and himself its king. Over the next hundred years, under Elizabeth and James I, the English consolidated control of Ireland, although they failed to make the Irish Protestants. However, the entire English administration consisted only of Protestant Anglicans.

During the civil war in England, English control over the island was greatly weakened, and the Catholic Irish rebelled against the Protestants, temporarily creating Confederate Ireland, but already in 1649 Oliver Cromwell arrived in Ireland with a large and experienced army, took the city of Drogheda near Dublin by storm and Wexford. In Drogheda, Cromwell ordered the massacre of the entire garrison and Catholic priests, and in Wexford the army carried out a massacre already without permission. Within nine months, Cromwell conquered almost the entire island, and then handed over the leadership to his son-in-law Ayrton, who continued the work he had begun. Cromwell's goal was to put an end to the unrest on the island by driving out the Irish Catholics, who were forced to either leave the country or move west to Connaught, while their lands were distributed to English colonists, mostly Cromwell's soldiers. In 1641, over 1.5 million people lived in Ireland, and in 1652 only 850,000 remained, of which 150,000 were English and Scottish new settlers.

In 1689, during the Glorious Revolution, the Irish supported the English King James II, who was deposed by William of Orange, for which they paid again.

As a result of English colonization, the native Irish almost completely lost their land holdings; a new ruling stratum was formed, consisting of Protestants, immigrants from England and Scotland.

Part of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland

In 1801 Ireland became part of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland.

Description Ireland

The Irish language began to be replaced by English.

At the beginning of the XIX century. about 86% of the population of Ireland was employed in agriculture, which was dominated by indentured forms of exploitation. Ireland served as one of the sources of the accumulation of English capital and the development of industry in England.

Population

National composition

According to the Central Statistical Office, representatives of more than 40 nationalities live in Ireland, however, almost 88.6% are Irish themselves. The remaining national minorities are migrants from Europe, Asia, Africa: Poles (1.5%), Lithuanians (0.6%), Nigerians (0.4%), Latvians (0.3%), Americans (0.29 %), Chinese (0.27%), Germans (0.24%). The relatively large diaspora of the British (2.74%) stands apart.

general information

The population of Ireland is mostly of Celtic origin. According to the 2006 general census, it is 4.24 million people. National minorities make up 420,000, that is, 10 percent. 275.8 thousand - immigrants from the EU countries (Poland, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania), the rest from Russia, China, Ukraine, Belarus, Pakistan, Philippines, Nigeria.

Irish tribes.

Bregon laws.

Irish kingdoms.

Rise of the Irish Church.

At the beginning of the 5th c. most of the population continued to worship the gods of the druids. There were also a few Christians in the country, and in order to take care of them, Pope Celestine I sent the Roman Palladius to Ireland in 431 as a bishop. After the death of the latter the following year, a similar mission was entrusted to St. Patrick, who over the next 30 years converted almost the entire Irish people to Christianity and founded the Church of Ireland with an archiepiscopal seat at Armagh. The national church, although it served to further unify the country, developed primarily within the framework of clans and monasteries. Each clan had its own clergy, who lived in a monastery headed by an abbot. Often the direct heir of the clan became an abbot, and many abbots were ordained bishops, which reduced the influence of non-monastic bishops. Although the Church of Ireland differed for some period from the Roman in the matter of the day of the celebration of Easter and tonsure, in the 7th century. it nevertheless took on a Latin form in the 7th century; in matters of doctrine, there have never been differences of opinion between the churches. The most remarkable result of Ireland's conversion to Christianity was the widespread dissemination of religion and learning throughout the country through the activities of the monasteries. Intellectually, the Church of Ireland was replenished with theologians from the Continent fleeing the barbarian invasions, but the key figures of the Christian enlightenment were Irish. Until the end of the 8th c. Ireland was one of the main centers of Christian learning. The monastic schools not only contributed to the development of culture in the country and taught students from other countries, but also sent monks on missions to Scotland, England and the Continent. Outstanding monks in this respect were Saints Columba and Columban. In 563 St. Columba founded the monastery of Iona off the coast of Scotland, which became the center of Christianity in the north of Britain. Even more important were the acts of St. Columbanus, founder of the monastery of Luxeuil in Burgundy (590) and the monastery of Bobbio in northern Italy (613). At least 60 other monasteries descended from the Luxey monastery. Future priests from Ireland came to these centers, from here, over the next 500 years, missionaries dispersed to the countries of Western Europe.

Vikings.

national consolidation.

The territories of Ireland for a long time remained uninhabited because of the glacier that did not want to leave these places. In the 2nd century BC, the Celts settled here, who, although formally they were not pioneers in the development of the island, left behind an impressive cultural heritage.

In the 5th century, along with Saint Patrick, Christianity came to the Irish lands. True, the new religion did not succeed in completely ousting fairies and leprechauns from the island, but it was quite possible to force the population to reconsider their attitude towards pagan ideals. The Vikings also contributed to Irish culture, and since the 10th century they have been regularly celebrated in these territories. It was they who founded several port cities, including Dublin and Limerick.

200 years after the Scandinavian invasion, Ireland was mired in a series of internecine conflicts, which England was not slow to take advantage of. Under the guise of supporting one of the local leaders, the troops of Henry II invaded the island and recaptured its eastern part. In the future, an open confrontation was established between the UK and Erin. In different eras, the Irish king Robert the Bruce, the hereditary aristocrat Thomas Fitzgerald, the Earl of Tiron and other members of the elite fought against English oppression.

During the civil war in England, Ireland once again tried to restore its own independence, for which it paid dearly. Cromwell's troops that arrived on the island cut out all those who disagreed with the political regime, giving the survivors the opportunity to flee.

Despite the desperate struggle of Irish Catholics with British colonization, in 1801 the "birthplace of riverdance" officially became part of the Foggy Albion. And in the middle of the 19th century, crop failures and harsh agrarian reforms on the part of the British government provoked a mass famine in Ireland, as a result of which part of the population died, and part emigrated to more “bread” countries.

The long-awaited independence of the Emerald Isle was achieved in 1921, after a series of armed conflicts with British troops. However, this was not enough for the Irish authorities, and in 1949 the state left the Commonwealth of Nations, completely abandoning British influence, and in 1973 joined the European Union.

Population, religion, language barrier

The stereotypical cliches portraying the Irish as hospitable, a little irresponsible, but extremely curious and slightly contemptuous of the English patriot are partly true. Usually, when mentioning the descendants of the Celts, attention is focused on their cockiness. In fact, the Irish are not more aggressive than other peoples, but a sense of inconstancy is characteristic not only of the local climate, but also of the mood of the natives of the Emerald Isle. Hence - and love for heated debate, and a kind of humor (often black). By the way, the features of the national character are perfectly described by the Celtic sagas, whose heroes can fight for the most insignificant things, in particular, for the best piece of roast ("The Tale of the Pig Mac Dato").

Today Ireland is a completely secular state. However, until the mid-1950s, green Erin was considered perhaps the most religious country in the world, and confirmation of this is the constant strife between Catholics and Protestants who accepted the teachings of the Church of England. Moreover, the last skirmishes between fans of the faith took place not in the Middle Ages, but in the 20th century, in the era of hippies and the sexual revolution.

As true patriots who fought for independence for centuries, the Irish are enthusiastic about their own language. Irish Gaelic is studied in schools, foreign films and literature are translated into it, and more recently it can be seen on signs and road signs. However, if you try to communicate with the population of the island in English, you will get a clear answer in a slightly distorted, but still the language of Shakespeare.

Attractions and entertainment

Ireland is a country with epic, meditative landscapes, preserved in the same form as in the time of Swift and Wilde (both writers were born in the "land of the shamrock"). It's no surprise that Irish locations are featured more often than others in Game of Thrones and in at least a couple of Star Wars episodes.

Scattered around the island, castles and declining abbeys, devastated farmsteads, places of cosmic power inherited by the Irish from their Celtic ancestors are no less impressive than the infernal cliffs of the Moher cliffs, on which travel bloggers click their extreme selfies. So, if you want to delve deeper into the history of the unconquered Erin, buy wellington boots and a waterproof raincoat and get ready to travel and walk around the Irish counties - real "pearls" of architecture prefer to stay away from noisy cities.

Wander along the stone paths and touch the walls of the Newgrange megalithic complex, considered the Irish "answer" to the promoted Stonehenge. Despite the fact that religious buildings are not exact copies of each other, they are about the same age, as is the otherworldly atmosphere that prevails in these areas.

The routes most trampled by European tourists are the so-called "rings". For example, the famous Ring of Kerry, traveling along which you can see enough mountain and lake landscapes for years to come. Or a slightly less advertised, but the same looped route on the Bera Peninsula, encircling the Atlantic coast with its cozy villages and scenes of Celtic sagas. The most ambitious and indefatigable are recommended to take a ride along the Wild Atlantic Route - the journey is long and difficult, but it provides an opportunity to explore the relief and nature of the island "from and to".

A trip to County Antrim is a small immersion in the world of Celtic myths, since it is in its line that the Giant's Road is located. The complex of terraces with gigantic basalt steps that inspired Swift to write Gulliver's Travels is a completely natural formation, although it is difficult at first to believe in the miraculous origin of the object.

An excellent test of endurance and vestibular apparatus is a walk along the Carrick-a-Rede suspension bridge: the structure is solid, but the promenade does not become less extreme from this. Tours to neighboring islands are also a good change of scenery for cases when the locations of the main island have already been explored. On Skellig Michael guests are waiting for the gloomy ruins of an ancient monastery, on Garnish - wonders of landscape design that appeared here when a piece of land was private property, on the Aran Islands - the remains of ancient fortifications, on Achill - photogenic beaches and Karrikkildavna Castle.

Do it in Ireland!

Take a picture at the monument to the heroine of the song "Molly Malone", while memorizing this hit adored by Irish football fans.
Spend half your travel budget in the clubs of Dublin's Temple Bar district.
Take a trip to Galway - the most pirate and Celtic of the cities of Ireland, where you will be taught the reference Gaelic pronunciation.
Get into the habit of saying "pub" instead of "pub" - the Irish love it.
Buy a vampire mask and check in at the Bram Stoker Festival, or stop by Cross Haven, which hosts an enchanting red-haired fest every August that draws thousands of freckled participants.
Buy a ferry ticket to Rathlin Island to see the colorful puffin colonies.
Make your way to Northern Ireland and find the mystical Dark Hedges beech alley. Yes, yes, the very one along which Arya Stark ran away.

All sights of Ireland

Ireland architecture

After Saint Patrick converted Ireland to Catholicism, the locals had to be torn between love for everything mystical and loyalty to the church. To make it clearer how they succeeded: all pagan traditions and sagas were recorded and supplemented with “facts” by Irish monks. True, the Christian religion was also not deprived, erecting numerous monasteries and temples “for the glory of God”.

Irish cuisine

The Irish never had Slavic roots, but potatoes are respected here no less than anywhere else in Belarus. The second product necessary for a full meal is meat, which is generally understandable. In a country with such an unstable climate, extra protein and calories will not hurt. Recently, more and more Irish people eat outside the home walls, due to reasonable prices for street food and menus in local pubs (does not apply to tourist places).

To form your own opinion on the skill level of Irish chefs, be sure to order and try sausage puddings (black and white), shepherd's pie, boxy potato pancakes, Jonathan Swift's favorite dish - coddle, Irish stew, lamb stew and fish soup. By the way, mashed potatoes, which are familiar to every Russian, are also prepared in a special way here, so if you ordered champ or colcannon in local taverns, get ready to see not quite what you are used to.

Do not think that the Irish are fanatically promoting national culinary traditions - in cities it is easy to find establishments with Mediterranean and even Asian cuisine. But there is a special attitude to the products on the table - only the best, that is, grown by local farmers, should be eaten. It is easy to guess about this "fad" of the descendants of the Celts, having crossed the threshold of any supermarket. The inscription "irish" on the packaging of the product will catch the eye with its brightness and size.

With alcohol, the Irish have mutual love, it is not for nothing that the best friend and doctor on the Emerald Isle is not just anyone, but a bartender. In addition to the world-famous Bushmills and Tullamore Dew whiskeys, as well as Guinness beer, here you can drink ale, cider and delicious liquors, from dessert Baileys to premium Irish Mist, which is made according to medieval heather honey recipes. Tourists who are afraid of not passing the test of pure whiskey and strong liqueurs should stop for Irish coffee. There is less alcohol in it, and the taste is amazing.

Where to stay

Tourists praise hotels in Ireland for decent service and compliance with high European standards, while noting that the cost of living in them is often even higher than in English hotels. Fans of the optimal combination of basic comfort and economy are advised to take a closer look at the guesthouses that are available both in Dublin and in the rural outback. Usually these are inexpensive family hotels of the bed and breakfast type, the owners of which are friendly towards the guests and do not save on plentiful and tasty breakfasts. Moreover, some of these havens are located in historical buildings - former inns and taverns, and also have their own pub where you can taste the main Irish delicacies.

If your credit card account allows, you can relax in the Tudor style in Ireland by renting an apartment in a castle or tower. Such opportunities are provided by Ashford, Barberstone, Clontarf and other castle complexes. Adherents of eco-housing will be comfortable on Irish farms and in rural cottages, the owners of which undertake to regale the guests with their own grown products “without chemistry”. Furnished barns, treehouses, and former church buildings converted into bedrooms are options for the "extraordinary and at a modest cost" category.

Local hostels should not be discounted either, especially since among them there are not just comfortable, but sometimes very interesting options in a conceptual sense. For example, located in national parks (Letterfrack Lodge), with their own garden (Aras Owen) or even a livestock farm (Valley Lodge Farm).

The cost of housing is directly related to its location relative to "sightseeing" routes. For example, a room in a Dublin "treshka" is about 100-150 EUR per night. In Clifden, a similar option will cost from 85 EUR, in Limerick - from 60 EUR. Bed and breakfast rates start at 55 EUR and end at around 90 EUR per night. A separate double room in a hostel is approximately 40-60 EUR, a bed in a dormitory is 14-18 EUR.

Important nuance: Christmas holidays, St. Patrick's Day, Easter, Samhain - Irish hoteliers perceive all national celebrations as a reason to raise prices, so when you go to catch leprechauns on the eve of the next festival, get ready to book places at not the most pleasant cost.

Cellular and Internet

The main mobile operators in Ireland are Vodafone, Three, Air (former Meteor). Air has the most attractive prices. But if the purpose of your trip is tours along circular routes with a stop in remote villages, it is better to opt for Vodafone. It has the most extensive coverage area, with both 2, 3 and 4G. You can buy the necessary SIM card online, on the official websites of operators or at sales offices. Moreover, for travelers there are always a lot of prepaid tariffs, for registration of which a passport is not required.

An alternative to mobile phones is pay phones. It’s easier to look for them at train stations, although voluminous “boxes with buttons” are still found on the streets of the capital. It is more economical to pay for calls at automatic machines with a special card sold in newsstands and minimarkets. Wi-Fi in Ireland is available in any hotel (usually included in the total price of accommodation) and pubs, and there are plenty of free hotspots in the capital, including intercity buses.

Money

In 2002, the Irish pound officially ceased to exist and was replaced by the euro. Ideally, it is better to conquer the green Erin with a credit card of international payment systems, which you can cash out at any ATM. Bringing a supply of cash in euros is also a reasonable option, because any currency other than dollars is accepted in Irish banks without much enthusiasm. By the way, about American money: in some exchangers, 100-dollar bills may not be accepted from a tourist, and it will not work to convince the employees.

If you still need to convert foreign currency, keep in mind that the most unfavorable rates will be offered by hotel and Dublin airport exchangers; more acceptable - banks. In general, in cities you can completely rely on a credit card - it will not be difficult to pay it off in a pub, hotel and at a gas station.

shopping

In Ireland, you can buy an incredible amount of authentic souvenirs. If possible, start with the most expensive ones - for example, with Claddagh rings, in which ninety percent of Irish brides outdid them. Celtic-style jewelry - bracelets, pendants, earrings - will cost a little less. Not very budgetary, but natural and environmentally friendly - this is about Aran sweaters and Irish woolen plaids, which you can’t buy for less than 100 EUR. Waterford crystal and Irish lace are gifts designed for sophisticated aesthetes, so the prices for such beauty are appropriate.

An excellent option for those who walk through life with a song are national instruments, ranging from bagpipes to the bowran drum (it is better to practice upon arrival home, the Irish are unlikely to appreciate your musical exercises). Be sure to stock up on souvenirs with shamrocks and leprechauns, or, if you don’t feel like bothering, buy cookies and candies with images of these Irish “business cards”.

Baileys, whiskey, gin and beer are also available, as are a box of Butlers chocolates, as well as a couple of bags of delicious local potato chips. Beer pie, honey and whiskey jam, beer-based meat sauces are suitable as gastronomic curiosities.

The most seductive sales in Ireland are in January and July. So if you find yourself on the Emerald Isle these months, visit the Kildare Village Dublin outlet, Powerscourt Centre, Stephen’s Green (Dublin), William, Middle (Galway), SkyCourt Shopping Center (Shannon) malls. The traditional working hours of shopping centers: from 9:00 to 18:00. Only small private shops and supermarkets are open longer. By the way, you can also visit the latter on Sunday, but only between 12:00 and 18:00.

It is real to use the Tax free system in Ireland, and the VAT refund process is peculiar. So, for example, when making a purchase in stores supported by the FexCo system, instead of a standard tax-free check, the client is issued a red plastic card, on which the purchase has already been recorded. In the future, you can use it to go to other outlets with a FexCo sticker, “accumulating” new acquisitions to your virtual account.

The next step is to register the card, without which it will not be possible to return VAT. The easiest way to register is via the Internet, but if this method is not available, it makes sense to contact the company's offices. You can get your due tax-free at Dublin airportby contacting any FexCo counter (prepare your passport and credit card). An alternative to counters is self-service machines. They need to enter a card, fill in the empty fields, following the prompts on the screen, and enter information on a paper form, which then needs to be put in the company's mailbox (located at the airport).

Safety

Ireland is considered a tourist safe destination, unless your plans include visiting crime areas and urban backyards. In Dublin, these are Blanch, Finglas and Ballymun. Smoking in public places, and especially in pubs, is highly undesirable - this is both a monetary fine and the condemning views of others. By the way, about pubs: tipping the bartender in such places is not customary.

If during the tour you wanted to talk with the descendants of the Celts on British or Northern Irish topics, then it is completely in vain. No one will start a fight with a tourist because of uncomfortable questions, but a negative reaction and raised voices cannot be avoided.

Customs and visa information

A visa and health insurance are required to enter Ireland. True, the usual “Schengen” will not work here - the authorities of the Emerald Isle at one time did not want to sign the Schengen Agreement, which is why tourists now have to apply for a special Irish visa (type C). Another option is the British multivisa. You can get with her to the “land of green elves and epic cliffs” if the owner had previously checked in on the shores of Foggy Albion. At the same time, you can get acquainted with the beauties of Belfast and other Northern Irish cities with a British visa without any reservations or restrictions.

As for customs restrictions, they are the same as in other EU countries. Forbidden to import: narcotic and psychotropic substances, weapons, plants and their seeds, pornographic materials and products (an exception is made for baby food). Cosmetics and medicines can be taken if their total cost does not exceed the amount of 175 EUR, and a prescription is required for medicines. Duty-free import applies to strong and light alcohol in the amount of 1 and 5 liters, respectively, cigarettes (up to 200 units), tobacco (up to 250 g) and cigars (50 pieces).

It is possible to carry currency into Ireland without hindrance, but it is permissible to export it only in an amount not exceeding the amount indicated in the declaration. It is wiser to wrap all the "surplus" in traveler's checks, not forgetting to grab a receipt issued by an Irish exchange bank.

Transport

The island's public transport system has come a long way. And although travel gurus still do not recommend relying on local communication, if you wish, you can explore the main locations of the country without a personal car. If, for some reason, public transport is not available (they missed the bus or the flight was canceled due to bad weather), the good old hitchhiking comes to the rescue. Irish people in cars willingly pick up voters on the roads, which is what many backpackers use.

Until recently, the natives of Erin preferred to travel around the country by plane, since there were more than a dozen airports on the island, and this is without taking into account small-town airfields. Today, you can get by air, in addition to Dublin, to Galway, Donegal, Cork, Kerry, Shannon and a number of other cities.

You can also move between the counties by trains, which are all high-speed here. Another type of land travel is the bus. Double-decker buses of the Irish Bus and Bus Eireann networks run between cities and towns, and you can ride them by buying a ticket from the driver. Of the water transport, ferries are the most popular. On them you can sail not only to the mysterious islands of the western part of Ireland, but also to England and France.

Taxis in the country are quite expensive, but if you have neither the strength nor the desire to refuse a trip in an elegant black cab, prepare 3-4 EUR for landing and about a couple of euros for each kilometer of the way. A rented bike can also be a good helper for a tour of Dublin and rural roads. The island has a special Great Western Greenway route, which is recommended to be conquered exclusively on bikes.

There are plenty of bicycle rentals in Ireland, and some rail and bus companies even allow two-wheeled friends to be transported on public transport for free. The only caveat is parking. Leaving a mountaineer or highwayman in the wrong place, get ready for the fact that he is evacuated. Accordingly, before renting a vehicle, read the rules for its operation on the website of the rental company Dublinbikes.

Rent a Car

Ireland belongs to the type of countries in which all the most interesting and impressive is not in the cities, but outside them. Add to this the inconsistency of the nature of the local weather, which turns waiting for a bus at a bus stop into a hardening check, and the conclusion that without a car on the island is nowhere (well, almost nowhere) suggests itself.

You can rent a car at Dublin Airport - here is the largest selection of rental points. In the central regions of the Irish capital, there are also enough similar firms, but the tariffs are higher. As for the terms of the contract, no one has canceled the driving experience of one year and the availability of international driving licenses.

There are restrictions on the age of the client: most companies are happy to see people aged 25 to 79 among their tenants. Individual firms can rent a car to a younger client, but there are fewer such places. A credit card is also required. By the way, keep in mind that impressive amounts of collateral on electronic accounts are blocked, about 1000-3000 EUR. If you are going to travel to English possessions (Northern Ireland), warn the distributor about this, since traveling to another country is always an additional fee that must be paid to the company.

The situation with parking around the country is not bad, but parking in the center of Dublin is a pleasure strictly for the money. On the streets remote from the tourist center, it is easier to find a place for personal vehicles, although parking time is usually regulated. In smaller towns, the issue of parking is not so acute. And yet, when checking into a hotel even in a provincial town, do not be too lazy to clarify whether it has parking spaces for guests - many guesthouses save on such attributes.

Traffic in Ireland is left-handed, the roads are narrow, and there are cameras with radar and speed limit signs at every turn. Overtaking by the descendants of the Celts is allowed only on the right. The maximum permissible speed in built-up areas is 50 km/h, outside cities – 80 km/h, on highways – 100 km/h. They are fined for not wearing a seat belt and speeding quickly and seriously, but they look through their fingers at a missed pint of Guinness before the trip. The maximum permissible dose of alcohol in the blood, unless you are a novice driver, is 0.5 ppm.

How to get there

Aeroflot flies directly from Moscow to the capital of Ireland. One-stop flights are offered by Airbaltic, Finnair, Lufthansa, Swiss, Air France. If you wish, you can combine a trip to the Emerald Isle with a visit to the UK - there are daily flights from Foggy Albion to the Irish direction.

You can sail to the "land of" Guinness "and shamrocks" on ferries scurrying between the island and the ports of Liverpool, Fishguard and Holyhead. In addition, Ireland has a ferry service with France (the ports of Cherbourg, Roscoff). The only nuance that will have to be taken into account is the weather dependence of water transport. If storms and storms are coming, European carriers prefer to cancel flights.

The island position and proximity to Britain largely determined the history of Ireland. The island has been inhabited for approximately 7 thousand years.

The Mesolithic culture was brought with them by hunters from Britain, who were the first settlers on the island. Behind them, in the 3rd millennium BC, came the farmers and pastoralists of the Neolithic era. A wave of Celtic invasions swept the island in the 6th century. BC. The country was fragmented into more than 150 kingdoms, and although the Celts failed to unite politically, they laid the foundations of linguistic and cultural unity.

The introduction of Christianity in the 5th c. associated with the name of St. Patrick. Ireland did not know the barbarian invasions of the early Middle Ages, and this is partly why the 6th and 7th centuries. were marked by the flourishing of learning, art and culture, the centers of which were concentrated in monasteries.

In the 9th-10th centuries. the country was subjected to regular Viking raids, which, due to its fragmentation, could not resist. The Vikings imposed tribute throughout Ireland, but at the same time, being engaged in trade, they contributed to the development of urban life in Dublin, Cork and Waterford. The end of the domination of the Vikings was put by the victory of the High King ("Ardriage") Brian Boru at Clontarf in 1014, however, the emerging trend towards the creation of a single state was stopped in 1168 by the invasion of the "Normans" - English barons, descendants of the North French knights. It was they who placed almost 3/4 of Ireland under the political control of the English crown and for 400 years planted their own culture, introducing their own laws and institutions of power (including parliament). 1297 was marked by the opening of the session of the first Irish Parliament in Dublin. In 1315, Ireland was occupied by the Scots and Edward the Bruce proclaimed himself king, but soon died. In 1348, about 1/3 of the island's population died from the plague. In 1541, Henry VIII of England proclaimed himself King of Ireland. Since that time, the erosion of the Irish clan system has accelerated sharply. The religious changes that took place in England were reflected in Ireland, and although the descendants of the Normans, called the "old Englishmen", did not accept the Protestant Reformation, the Irish Anglican Church was formed in the country.

Revolts broke out in the country more than once, which had a national and religious background, but they all ended in defeat, and in 1603 the Gaelic resistance was finally broken, and the English crown for the first time managed to politically unite all of Ireland.

Another uprising in 1649 ended with the complete defeat of the Irish by the troops of Oliver Cromwell and massive land confiscations. In 1688, most Irish Catholics came out in support of the deposed English Catholic King James II, but they were defeated at the Battle of the Boyne (1690). Protestants belonging to the Anglican Church monopolized power and land ownership in the country.

In 1798, under the influence of the French Revolution, a new uprising broke out in Ireland, led by Wolf Tone, aimed at creating an independent republic. It was suppressed and Ireland lost the remnants of political autonomy.

In con. 1840s As a result of a poor potato harvest, famine struck Ireland: in 1846-56, the country's population decreased from 8 to 6 million people. (1 million people died and 1 million people emigrated). The Great Famine had significant political implications.

In 1921, the Anglo-Irish Treaty was signed, according to which 6 counties of northeastern Ulster were constructed as Northern Ireland, and the remaining 26 counties formed the Irish Free State with its capital in Dublin, which was part of the British Empire as a dominion. The first government of the new state was headed by William Cosgrave. In 1937 a new constitution was adopted.

Ireland remained neutral during World War II.

In 1948, the fully independent Republic of Ireland was proclaimed.