According to countryaah, Ireland is located in the northwest of Europe on the island of Ireland that it shares with Northern Ireland which is part of Great Britain. Ireland has a long history that is still felt in the country. This is mainly because the country is dotted with castles, monasteries and other types of ruins.
Many of these medieval buildings are still in beautiful condition and in some cases can be visited. The first inhabitants of this island were English who had dared the crossing. Later came the Celts. Over the centuries they waged a bloody battle for Ireland with the Normans and the Scots.
In the 5th century AD, the missionary Patricius was sent to the country to convert it. This missionary, later known as Saint Patrick, initiated the ecclesiastical renewal here and is responsible for the construction of several monasteries. Every year, Saint Patrick Day is still exuberantly celebrated here on March 17. The Book of the Kells also dates from this period, which is considered one of the most important books in the world. From the 16Until the early 19th century, Ireland was a kingdom under the control of British kings.
After this, Ireland was added to the United Kingdom and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland was created. This period is characterized by the great poverty that existed in the country and a great famine in which many Irish people died. Millions of Irish have ventured across this period to the new world and settled in the United States of America. In 1918, the Easter Rising took place, which eventually led to the declaration of the Irish Free State a few years later. From 1949 we speak of the Irish Republic.
After strong economic growth in the 1990s, the country is now experiencing a serious economic crisis again.
Sights
There are many places of interest in Ireland, such as several beautiful monasteries and castles spread across the country. The finest examples of this are Glendalough Monastery in the Wicklow Mountains and Kylemore Abbey in Connemara. The islands that belong to the country are definitely worth a visit, it is not for nothing that part of the Skellig Islands is on the UNESCO World Heritage List, but the Aran Islands in Galway Bay are also very beautiful. One of the most famous landmarks in the country is the Book of Kells, which is kept in the Trinity College Library, which is just as beautiful itself. There are several beautiful museums such as the Irish Museum of Modern Art, the National Gallery of Ireland and the National Library of Ireland. The country is of course known for its beautiful nature. The country’s rugged landscape attracts many hikers to Ireland every year. The Cliffs of Moher in County Clare deserve a special mention for their special beauty. Then of course there are the big crowd pullers in Dublin that should certainly not be missing from this list, such as The Old Jameson Distillery, The Guinness storehouse and the Temple Bar district. It’s not much of a tourist attraction, but Saint Patrick’s Day is the biggest celebration in Ireland. On this national holiday, the whole country turns green, sometimes even the beer.
UNESCO
In total, Ireland has two inscriptions on the UNESCO World Heritage List:
Since 1993, the Archaeological Ensemble of the Bend of the Boyne (Brú na Bóinne) has been on the World Heritage List. The well-known archaeological site of Newgrange also belongs to this inscription.
Since 1996, the island of Skellig Michael is part of the Skellig Islands on the World Heritage List
Climate
Ireland has a temperate maritime climate influenced by the Atlantic Ocean. Due to the influence of this ocean, extremes are less likely to occur in Ireland and summer and winter temperatures are relatively close to each other. In the winter months the average daytime temperature is eight degrees Celsius above freezing and in the summer months it is just below 20 degrees Celsius. Although many people have the idea that it always rains in Ireland, the average precipitation on an annual basis is not that bad. The average is only a few percent higher than we are used to in the Netherlands. The western part of Ireland sees on average slightly more precipitation than the other parts of the country.
Geography
Ireland is an island west of Great Britain. The country of Ireland occupies most of this island. The northeastern part of the island is formed by Northern Ireland which is part of Great Britain. Ireland is surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean, Irish Sea, Celtic Sea and St George’s Canal. In the south east of Ireland in County Kerry is the 1038 m high Carrauntoohil which is the highest point in the country. In these seas and waterways around Ireland are several islands and island groups that also belong to Ireland. The islands are the Aran Islands, Achill Island, the Blasket Islands, Clear Island, Inishbofin, the Skellig Islands, and Valentia. The Shannonn River is the largest and most important river in the country at 386 kilometers. A large part of the river runs through the Northern Irish part of the island. Near Limerick city, the Shannon eventually flows into the Atlantic Ocean. The Liffey River flows from the Wicklow Mountains through Dublin to the sea. In Ireland there are some large lakes such as Lough Allen, Lough Gill, Lough Melvin (which is partly in Northern Ireland), Lough Ree and Lough Derg. Ireland is divided into the four provinces of Connacht, Leinster, Munster and Ulster which are further subdivided into 32 counties. Of these counties, 6 are in Northern Ireland. The country’s largest cities are Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Galway and Waterford. The Liffey River flows from the Wicklow Mountains through Dublin to the sea. In Ireland there are some large lakes such as Lough Allen, Lough Gill, Lough Melvin (which is partly in Northern Ireland), Lough Ree and Lough Derg. Ireland is divided into the four provinces of Connacht, Leinster, Munster and Ulster which are further subdivided into 32 counties. Of these counties, 6 are in Northern Ireland. The country’s largest cities are Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Galway and Waterford. The Liffey River flows from the Wicklow Mountains through Dublin to the sea. In Ireland there are some large lakes such as Lough Allen, Lough Gill, Lough Melvin (which is partly in Northern Ireland), Lough Ree and Lough Derg. Ireland is divided into the four provinces of Connacht, Leinster, Munster and Ulster which are further subdivided into 32 counties. Of these counties, 6 are in Northern Ireland. The country’s largest cities are Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Galway and Waterford. Of these counties, 6 are in Northern Ireland. The country’s largest cities are Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Galway and Waterford. Of these counties, 6 are in Northern Ireland. The country’s largest cities are Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Galway and Waterford.
Travel advice
There are no special travel advices for Ireland. It is forbidden to possess and trade drugs here. There are severe penalties for smuggling drugs and sexual acts with children. When walking in nature, it is wise to check for tick bites afterwards. These insects are carriers of Lyme disease.
Travel documents
All travelers must be in possession of a valid passport or European identity card, only British citizens are an exception. For travelers from the European Union and most other western countries, no visa is required. Travelers from all other countries must apply for a visa at the consulate.
Info table
Capital city | Dublin |
Phone (country code) | 353 |
Internet domain | .ie |
Language(s) (official) | English and Gealic |
Language(s) (colloquial) | English and Gealic |
Religion(s) | Roman Catholic |
Time zone(s) | UTC |
Time difference summer | in Ireland it is 1 hour earlier than in the Netherlands |
Time difference winter | in Ireland it is 1 hour earlier than in the Netherlands |
Daylight Saving Time Control | yes, this one runs parallel to the Netherlands |
Currencies | euros |