Geography & Weather

Ireland is very popular for it's beautiful scenery. This consists of both rugged, coastal mountains and the beautiful countryside which is flat in some areas, and filled with bountiful in others. The city of Dublin is Ireland's capital, and is much different from the countryside in appearance. It has a much more fast-paced environment when compared to the countryside, which is typical of cities.

The weather in Ireland is very mild compared to that of America. It usually only snows a few times a year, and temperatures don't typically drop below 30 and rise above 65 degrees Fahrenheit, with the average temperature being 50 degrees Fahrenheit. When it comes to rainfall, the average amount is quite low when compared to other European countries. Overall, Ireland's climate is very comfortable and enjoyable during most of the year! 

SOURCES:

http://www.met.ie/climate/rainfall.asp

http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/travel/countries/ireland-facts/

http://www.ireland.com/en-us/about-ireland/discover-ireland/irelands-weather/

Ireland & the Catholic Curch

Saint Patrick's Cathedral

The Republic of Ireland has a very strong relationship with the Roman Catholic Church, but that doesn’t mean people of other religions are unwelcome by any means! Over 84% of Irish citizens identify as Roman Catholics, and many practices of this religion are engraved into the culture of the Irish. Throughout the years, Ireland has passed laws that relate to the morals and beliefs of this religion, but without enforcing its practice or denying anyone the freedom to practice whatever religion they desire. Most schools are run by the Catholic Church, but alternate schools and education programs are also available. However, the role of the Catholic Church in politics has declined over the years, making Ireland more accepting of other religions than ever before.

This pie-graph curtosey of faithsurvey.co.uk shows that slightly less than half of all Roman Catholic Irish Citizens attend church every week, which is significant in comparison to other countries. This chart uses data from the 2010 Irish Census.

SOURCES:

http://www.cso.ie/en/media/csoie/census/documents/census2011pdr/Census%202011%20Highlights%20Part%201%20web%2072dpi.pdf

http://www.ionainstitute.ie/assets/files/Attitudes%20to%20Church%20poll.pdf  
faithsurvey.co.uk

Food Culture

 


Because the Irish are often very hospitable and friendly, you may find yourself invited into the home of an Irish family for a delicious home-cooked meal! If you are invited into a family’s home, do your best to eat and drink any food that is offered and given to you. You don’t want to insult the cook who is nicely letting you into his/her home to eat your food! But despite this one rule, table manners are usually relaxed and casual conversation is encouraged. Most Irishmen will be able to keep you talking and laughing for hours on end, so just sit back and relax! Pubs are also hotspots in Ireland, so find the nearest one and enjoy some good food, drinks, and conversation. Seafood, such as salmon or oysters, is very popular to order at restaurants. But the most traditional Irish meal is said to simply be bacon and cabbage!

SOURCES:

http://Sheehan, 

Seán; Levy, Pat (2003). Dublin (2nd ed.). Footprint Travel Guides. p. 134. ISBN 1-903471-66-4. that most traditional of Irish workaday meals: bacon and cabbage                                                                             www.ireland.com/en-us/what-is-available/food-and-drink/articles/modern-irish-food/

http://www.kwintessential.co.uk/resources/global-etiquette/ireland.html

http://www.ediplomat.com/np/cultural_etiquette/ce_ie.htm

Welcome to Ireland!

Ireland is full of friendly, welcoming, and witty people that will surely make you feel comfortable and enjoy your stay in this wonderful country! Many Irish citizens are more than welcoming to visitors, and will make you feel right at home with their pleasant conversation and distinct sense of humour. While Irish-Gaelic is the official first language of Ireland, English is spoken by everyone and is much more commonly used. So if you have any background in English, then there is no need to worry about a language barrier. When meeting someone, just be sure to give them a firm handshake!

Sources:
http://www.kwintessential.co.uk/resources/global-etiquette/ireland.html
http://www.ediplomat.com/np/cultural_etiquette/ce_ie.htm
http://www.sjusd.org/leland/teachers/sgillis/geog/europe/culture_gram/Ireland.pdf