65 Remarkable Facts About Ireland Everyone Should Know

The country of Ireland on an island located in the North Atlantic Ocean, in Europe.

The North Channel, the Irish Sea, and St George's Channel divide it from the UK to the east. The island of Ireland is The British Isles' second-largest island and Europe's third-largest.

Ireland is split geographically into two parts: Northern Ireland, which is part of the United Kingdom, and the Republic of Ireland (called Ireland prior to the split), which makes up five-sixths of the island's land mass. Irish is one of Ireland's official languages, along with English. Despite the fact that around 39% of the populace can speak Irish, only 111,473 individuals do so on a weekly basis and 73,803 on a daily basis. Interestingly, at home, around 112,676 individuals speak Polish.

Unique Features Of Ireland

Northern Europe includes Ireland, which is situated in the northern hemisphere.

The two nations that make up the island are Northern Ireland and The Republic of Ireland.

Approximately 62% of Ireland's population lives in urban areas. Dublin, the capital city of the Republic Of Ireland is more heavily populated.

Irish people are often believed to possess distinguishing red-headed characteristics. The following are the most prominent characteristics linked with this stereotype: light eye color (gray, blue or green), pale skin and freckles.

The Irish flag is a rectangular flag with three equal vertical stripes. The stripes in the Irish flag are green, white, and orange.

Ireland is Europe's third-largest island, behind Great Britain and Iceland.

Ireland is divided into four provinces, one of which is Ulster, which includes Northern Ireland.

Northern Ireland has four counties, whereas the Republic of Ireland has 26.

Ireland has the record for most Eurovision Song Contest triumphs.

'Hello', or 'Dia dhuit' in Irish, pronounced jee-ah-gwitch, is one of the most Irish things to say, according to the Irish facts about Ireland.

No other nation in the world is as well-known for its beautiful green scenery as Ireland. The fact that Ireland is situated in the center of the Gulf Stream accounts for its lovely greenish landscapes and is referred to as the Emerald Isle.

Because the Gulf Stream carries warm water from the Caribbean and Central American coast to Ireland's beaches, the weather on the Emerald Isle is generally moderate.

One of the world's oldest books can be found in Dublin. The wonderfully designed Latin volume of the first four gospels, which dates from the 9th century, is on display at the Trinity's Library.

Saint Patrick, the renowned saint in whose honor St. Patrick's Day is celebrated, was not of Irish ancestry. Nevertheless, Ireland and many other countries share a day to honor Ireland's patron saint (St. Patrick's Day), although he was not from Ireland.

In reality, tradition has it that Saint Patrick was born in either Scotland or Wales about 385 AD and spent time as a slave in Ireland before becoming a revered priest.

The longest designated seaside driving route in the world' is in County Cork. The 1,553 mi (2,500 km) course takes in nine counties and three provinces.

The Rotunda Maternity Hospital on Parnell Street in Dublin is the world's oldest continually operational maternity hospital. The hospital first opened its doors in 1745, and over 300,000 infants are said to have been born there.

The Irish hare is the country's national animal. The Irish hair is a subspecies of the mountain hare, but is unique to Ireland.

Muckanaghederdauhaulia is the longest place name in Ireland, however, Sruffaunoughterluggatoora, with 25 letters, has also been claimed as the longest.

The green shamrock, the harp, and the Celtic cross are the three most renowned symbols of Ireland, with the harp being a national symbol.

Halloween has one of its origin in Samhain, the Gaelic festival which takes place on October 31 to commemorate the end of summer. From the early Middle Ages, Samhain was connected with All Saints Day (November 1), and the two gradually fused throughout the years, resulting in Halloween.

About 88% of Ireland's population is supposedly Roman Catholic. In the Western World, the Republic of Ireland boasts one of the highest percentages of church attendance by Roman Catholics (around 45% of regular Mass attendance by Irish citizens).

Irish Gaelic language is the ancestral language of the Irish people. Although 1.6 million individuals claim to be proficient in Irish, only 380,000 people are native speakers.

Many Irish surnames begin with 'Mac' or 'O-', which imply 'son of-' or 'grandson of-' in Gaelic, respectively.

Although few Irish houses have coffee machines, they all have numerous teapots, with Bewley's, Barry's, and Lyon's being the most popular brands in Ireland.

Tea is usually served hot from the pot, with milk and sugar added. Ice tea is accessible, but it's not something you'll find at a restaurant.

Surprisingly, almost everyone in Ireland swears, making it a common thing in the country.

The Pan Am Clipper III departed Botwood, Newfoundland, on July 6, 1937, and arrived at Foynes, County Limerick, the following day. It was the world's first commercial passenger trip between the United States and Europe.

On Achill Island, an island on Ireland's west coast, the Craoghaun Cliffs are the third tallest cliffs in Europe. They are 2,257 ft (688 m) above sea level.

The Woodenbridge Hotel in Wicklow is the country's oldest hotel. It first opened its doors in 1608.

Ireland is home to the world's second-longest-running talk show. In 1962, The Late Late Program (an Irish chat show) premiered. Since then, it's happened every Friday evening. The Tonight Program from America is the only other show that has lasted longer.

In 1961, the same year Ireland established its embassy in Lagos, Irish bishops in Nigeria selected St. Patrick, who is claimed to have died on March 17 in the year 461, as the nation's patron saint.

The Wild Atlantic Way is the longest established coastal driving route in the world, stretching from the cliffs of County Donegal in the extreme north of Ireland to the beaches of County Cork.

Irish Culture

Irish culture today is a mix of many different influences. Although primarily recorded as Irish Gaelic throughout the countries history, it has also been influenced by Anglo-Norman, English and Scottish immigration and transmitted culture. More recently, influences from other cultures, such as American and immigration from other European countries have also had an impact on the culture of Ireland.

Ireland, along with Scotland, Wales, Cornwall, the Isle of Man, and Brittany, is considered a Celtic country in Europe.

Elaborate motifs, known as Irish interlace or Celtic knotwork, reflect this mix of cultural influences. These can be found in the adornment of both sacred and secular works from the Middle Ages.

The cultural style, like the unique style of traditional Irish dance and music, is still popular in jewelry and graphic art today and has come to symbolize contemporary 'Celtic' culture in general.

Since medieval times, religion has played a crucial role in the island's cultural life. However, since the 17th-century, religion has been the center of political identity and division on the island.

Following the missions of the patron saint in the fifth century, Ireland's pre-Christian past merged with the Celtic Church. Beginning with the Irish monk Saint Columba, the Hiberno-Scottish missions carried the Irish concept of Christianity to pagan England and the Frankish Empire.

During the Dark Ages that succeeded the collapse of Rome, these missions introduced written language to an uneducated populace of Europe, giving Ireland the moniker 'island of saints and scholars'.

Since the turn of the century, Irish pubs across the globe have become strongholds of Irish culture, particularly those that provide a diverse variety of cultural and culinary attractions.

The Abbey Theatre, which opened in 1904, is the Republic of Ireland's national theater, while An Taibhdhearc, which opened in Galway in 1928, is the national Irish-language theater. Internationally acclaimed playwrights include Seán O'Casey, Brian Friel, Sebastian Barry, Conor McPherson, and Billy Roche.

Ireland has contributed much to international literature in all of its forms, both in Irish and English. Irish poetry is among Europe's oldest vernacular poetry, with the earliest instances reaching back to the sixth century.

Despite the growth of English from the 17th century onwards, Irish remained the dominant literary language until the 19th century.

Jonathan Swift, born in Dublin, known as the English language's finest satirist, is best known for works like 'Gulliver's Travels' and 'A Modest Proposal'.

Oliver Goldsmith and Richard Brinsley Sheridan were two more renowned 18th-century Irish authors, but they lived much of their life in England.

Ireland had four Nobel Prize winners for literature in the 20th century: George Bernard Shaw, William Butler Yeats, Samuel Beckett, and Seamus Heaney.

Despite the fact that he didn't receive the Nobel Prize, James Joyce is largely regarded as one of the 20th century's most prominent authors.

Joyce's book 'Ulysses', published in 1922, is widely regarded as one of the most significant works of Modernist literature, and June 16 is commemorated in Dublin as 'Bloomsday' to celebrate his life.

Through English-language authors like John McGahern and Seamus Heaney, as well as Irish-language writers like Máirtn Direáin, modern Irish writing is often linked to its rural history.

Since ancient times, music has been vital and celebrated in Ireland. Although the church was 'very unlike its counterpart in continental Europe' in the early Middle Ages, there was a significant exchange between monastic communities in ancient Ireland and the rest of the European Union, which led to the development of Gregorian chant.

Oral transmission of vocal and instrumental music (for example, for the harp, pipes, and other string instruments) was common, but the Irish harp was so important that it became Ireland's national symbol.

Classical music based on European patterns emerged initially in cities, in Anglo-Irish castles and buildings such as Dublin Castle, St Patrick Cathedral, and Christ Church, and in Irish-British Isles and ascendancy rural homes.

Since the '60s, Irish traditional dance and music have grown in popularity and received international attention.

Neolithic sculptures unearthed at sites such as Newgrange are the oldest known examples of Irish graphic art and sculpture. The site at Newgrange is believed to have been built around 3200 - 3100 BC.

During the 19th and 20th centuries, painters such as John Butler Yeats, William Orpen, Jack Yeats, and Louis le Brocquy established a rich legacy of painting.

Sean Scully, Kevin Abosch, and Alice Maher are notable contemporary Irish visual artists.

Common Irish Slang

Ireland has its own set of traditions, sayings, and terms for certain goods that are uniquely used in Ireland. Visiting Ireland for the first time? Whether you're with family or are a tourist, there are a few things you should know about the country. You'll find as many cultural distinctions as there are sayings and dialects, whether you're going to Northern Ireland or the Southern part. However, there are a few elements that both locations have in common. Some of these common Irish slangs are:

Term: Acting the maggot

Meaning: Stop playing the fool.

Example: Stop acting the maggot, will ya.

Term: Bad dose

Meaning: The term 'bad dose' refers to a serious illness.

Example: Didn't you have a bad dose of it?

Term: Bang on 

Meaning: Right, precise, and correct.

Example: Bang on, lad.

Term: Banjaxed

Meaning: Shattered.

Example: That chair right there is banjaxed.

Term: Boyo 

Meaning: Young male.

Example: Follow me, boyo!

Term: Craic

Meaning: Gossip, news, happenings, updates.

Example: What's the craic today?

Term: Bunk off

Meaning: To skip.

Example: Would ya like to bunk off tomorrow?

Term: Chancer

Meaning: Someone who will take a chance and exploit it.

Example: He's a true chancer, no?

Term: Chiseler

Meaning: Little kid.

Example: He was a chiseler at the time.

Term: Excira and Delira

Meaning: Overjoyed and ecstatic

Example: You are so delira and excira 'bout it!

Term: Donkey's years

Meaning: For a really long period.

Example: They've been hanging there for donkey's years!

Famous Things In Ireland

Ireland is a country that is famous for a lot of things. From Irish coffee to an Irish festival to Irish drinks, monuments, and Irish ancestry, the country offers more than you can imagine. Let's have a look at some of the most famous one:

Riverdance:

'Riverdance' is the king of the dance floor. Michael Flatley and Jean Butler presented this show to the public after their Eurovision performance in 1994.

People all around the world grew infatuated with Bill Whelan's act, and it swiftly became one of the most widely recognized theatrical presentations of all time.

Arts:

Another one of Ireland's major attractions is the arts. There are many talented Irish artists who have influenced the world with music, poetry, song, dance and other artistic works.

W.B. Yeats, Oscar Wilde, Seamus Heaney, George Bernard Shaw, and Francis Bacon, to mention a few, are good examples. Ireland is, without a doubt, a gifted country!

Hospitality:

Some people believe Ireland to be the nicest nation in the world. Anyone who has visited Ireland will almost certainly tell you a nice tale about someone who sought to assist them, or about someone who stopped to chat to them on the street or in the bar, or even about being welcomed into an Irish house.

Irish culture understands what it is like to be displaced from your home, as it is a country that has seen widespread emigration. This undertadning has been instilled in their culture, making them highly hospitable and kind people.

The beverages:

Ireland has earned a reputation for itself across the world as the manufacturer of world-class beverages, offering tourists a taste of Ireland.

Rugged, wild, and utterly enchanting landscapes:

Secluded beaches, steep cliffs, winding narrow roads, beautiful lakes, oceans and seas, waterfalls, mountains, and much more can all be found in Ireland.

Incredible history:

From the Celts through British empire colonization, famine, revolution, mass emigration, and so on, Ireland has an incredible history.

Whether it's a fort, a museum, or a wall painting, you'll discover relics of the past all around the nation. So, keep your eyes wide open for learning opportunities as you go.

Historical Monuments:

Historical monuments are one of Ireland's most well-known features. Amazing structures from various eras can be found all throughout Ireland, like Newgrange (which is older than the pyramids), the Giant's Causeway, the Blarney Stone, Dun Aonghasa Fort, and even the Céide Fields, each having its own narrative to tell.