Irish Culture

The People

The reputation of the "Friendly Irish" is not a myth and it is quite normal to see a friendly smile.

You will nearly always find a hand outstretched with the greeting "how are you?" Your answer to this could very well be the same "how are you ?"

The Pubs

Without any doubt pubs are the main places for socializing in Ireland especially in the small towns (which are numerous in Ireland).

You can drink there (a few pints...), eat there, dance there, join in a sing-song or listen to a group of musicians.

Food in pubs, known as "pub grub" is generally good and the prices are reasonable. It is a good place for meetings and conversations.

The young and not so young enjoy themselves in a relaxed atmosphere.

They are generally comfortable and cordial places. The official closing time for the pubs is midnight!

>Gaelic Football and Hurling

Gaelic Football and the sport of Hurling are very popular in Ireland. One might consider Gaelic football as a mixture of soccer, rugby and handball and it is played on a pitch similar in size to a rugby pitch with 15 players per team. The ball used for Gaelic Football is round and the goals are very similar to those of Rugby but you can score a goal as in soccer (worth 3 points) or a point by putting the ball over the bar. To score you can hit the ball with the foot, the hand or the fist.

Hurling is played with rules similar to Gaelic football, but the players use a narrow long stick called a hurley (approximately 1m) to strike a small leather ball.

Language

The National and Official language of Ireland is Gaelic...... as well as English. However, approximately 99% of the population speak English. Despite government efforts to rekindle interest in the Irish Language less than 5% of the population use it on a daily basis. Gaelic is obligatory in Irish schools and currently there is a renewed interest in the language.

Religion

Find out in conversation!!

Education

Ireland has a particularly efficient educational system. School is obligatory from six to fifteen years and the system is made up of 3 levels:

  • Primary education (5-12 years) - free
  • Secondary education (12-18 years) - free
  • Third level - college

 

Climate

The Irish climate is an oceanic climate, therefore rather soft (as they say in Ireland) with westerly winds prevailing. The temperatures do not vary much and range from on average between 4 and 7C in January and between 14 and 16C in July. The climate is generally wet explaining the dominant green colours of the landscape

Economic Development

The geographical situation of Ireland was always a significant barrier to development as the principal markets are subject to significant transport costs. However, with the help of the European Union there has been a great improvement in the infrastructures of the country. Another element which continues to aid the economic development is the tax advantages enjoyed by international companies setting up in Ireland.  

Political System

Head of State

  • The Head of State is the President - currently Mary McAleese. Presidential elections take place every seven years with a direct vote of the people. The President appoints the Taoiseach on the nomination of Dáil Éireann and appoints Government Ministers on the advice of the Taoiseach.

Parliament

  • The Republic of Ireland is a parliamentary democracy governed by the Oireachtas which consists of the President and the Legislature. The Legislature has two houses, Dáil Éireann, which is a house of representatives and Seanad Éireann, which is a senate or upper house.
  • The sole and exclusive power of making laws is vested in parliament.
  • The Dáil has exclusive responsibility for initiating Money Bills or Bills to amend the Constitution. The Seanad has only limited powers in amending Money Bills and any Bill passed by the Dáil.

Elections

  • General Elections must be held at least once every 5 years. One hundred and sixty-six Teachtaí Dála (members of the Dáil) are elected directly in 41 constituencies by Irish and British citizens resident in the Republic.
  • System - Proportional representation and a single transferrable vote.
  • Seanad Éireann has 60 Seanadoirí (Senators); 11 are nominated by the Taoiseach, 6 are elected by the graduates of Trinity College Dublin and the National University of Ireland and the remaining 43 are elected by 5 panels.

Main Political Parties

  • Fianna Fáil
    • Founded in 1926 by Éamon de Valera. Fianna Fáil was made up of anti-treaty Sinn Féin members, the party did not sit in the Oireachtas until 1927.
  • Fine Gael
    • Founded in 1933 following the amalgamation of Cumann na nGaedheal, the Centre Party and the Army Comrades Association.
  • Labour Party
    • Founded in 1912 by James Connolly, Jim Larkin and William O'Brien as political wing of Irish Trade Union Congress, the party merged with Democratic Left in 1999
  • Progressive Democrats
    • Formed in 1985 by Des O'Malley, Mary Harney and other former members of Fianna Fáil.
  • The Green Party
    • Founded in 1981 as the Ecology Party of Ireland, renamed The Green Party in 1986.
  • Sinn Féin
    • Founded in 1905 as Sinn Féin League, 1970 as Provisional Sinn Féin.