module 3 Ireland: the country Symbol: a shamrock Unit Patron Saint: Saint Patrick (17th March) BEFORE READING This blessing contains the essence of Ireland. What idea of the country do you get from this? ber May your blessings outnum w gro t the shamrocks tha And may trouble avoid you wherever you go. How many countries are there in Ireland? Politically, the island is divided into the Republic of Ireland, formerly Eire (the largest one), and Northern Ireland (made of six counties), a constituent part of the United Kingdom. The capital cities are respectively Dublin and Belfast. Sea, cliffs, bogs and more Ireland is the second largest island of the British Isles. It is in the North Atlantic Ocean, to the west of Britain, from which it is separated by Saint George s Channel, the Irish Sea and the North Channel. Ireland is a very special combination of hills, bogs, lakes, rivers and remote islands with much of the country in the fertile central and eastern plateau, almost completely surrounded by low mountains and coastal plains. The island is divided by eight mountain ranges, where you can find extensive forest lands. The west and north coasts are characterised by spectacular sea cliffs. The River Liffey, running through Dublin on the east coast, is one of the most important rivers in the country. The Shannon the longest river in Ireland runs through pastureland and fertile farmland in the south. When we think of Ireland we usually think of two contrasting religions: Catholicism and Protestantism. As a matter of fact Catholicism is the most professed religion in Eire, but in the north about 60% of the population are Protestant. Therefore there are two communities, separated by different religious beliefs and traditions, with a long history of troubles. The Protestants ancestors were the English and Scottish settlers who arrived in Ireland in the 17th century. The Unionists (as the Protestants are also called) have always refused to be part of the Irish Republic; the Catholics, the descendants of the native Irish people would like the whole of Ireland to be a united country, also because in the past they actually suffered from discrimination. A protest mural in Belfast. ACTIVITIES 1 2 Did your idea of this country correspond to its description? Fill in the chart which refers to Text 2. Countries Religions Capital cities Ancestors