IRELANDIRELAND

Mrs. CoxwellMrs. Coxwell

Ireland’s LandscapeIreland’s Landscape

Ireland is known as the “Emerald Isle” Ireland is known as the “Emerald Isle” because of its green meadows and tree because of its green meadows and tree covered hills.covered hills.

Bogs-Low Swampy landsBogs-Low Swampy lands Peat-Wet ground that has decaying Peat-Wet ground that has decaying

plants (that can be used for fuel.)plants (that can be used for fuel.) Coast of Ireland: Rocky highlands.Coast of Ireland: Rocky highlands.

Ireland’s ClimateIreland’s Climate

Mild Climate: Mild Climate: Warmed by moist Warmed by moist wind that blows from wind that blows from the North Atlantic the North Atlantic Current.Current.

Climate allows Climate allows Ireland to stay green Ireland to stay green all year.all year.

Ireland’s EconomyIreland’s Economy

Few natural Few natural resources. Ireland resources. Ireland has rich soil and has rich soil and relies on farming relies on farming (Potatoes)(Potatoes)

Industry is growing-Industry is growing-Machinery and Machinery and transportation transportation equipment.equipment.

Ireland’s PeopleIreland’s People

Trace their ancestors Trace their ancestors to Celts and Englishto Celts and English

Official languages Official languages are Gaelic and are Gaelic and English.English.

What about the Celts…What about the Celts…

Native people of Native people of IrelandIreland

Lived in tribesLived in tribes Warrior type people.Warrior type people. Believed in many Believed in many

Gods.Gods. Druids were chief Druids were chief

religious leaders.religious leaders.

And the DruidsAnd the Druids

Druids were the Celts Druids were the Celts priests, teachers, and priests, teachers, and judges.judges.

They instructed young They instructed young men and oversaw men and oversaw sacrifices.sacrifices.

Helped warriors in battle.Helped warriors in battle. Lost their function as Lost their function as

priests when Christianity priests when Christianity came to Ireland.came to Ireland.

Saint PatrickSaint Patrick

Born in Wales AD 385.Born in Wales AD 385. Considered himself a pagan until the age of 16.Considered himself a pagan until the age of 16. At 16 he was sold as a slave. He escaped after At 16 he was sold as a slave. He escaped after

6 years. Went to Gaul (France)6 years. Went to Gaul (France) He studied in a monastery under Bishop He studied in a monastery under Bishop

Germaine (Who later became a Saint)Germaine (Who later became a Saint) Patrick wanted to go back to Ireland to convert Patrick wanted to go back to Ireland to convert

Celts to Christianity.Celts to Christianity.

Saint Patrick continued…Saint Patrick continued…

Patrick was actually the second bishop to Patrick was actually the second bishop to go to Ireland (1go to Ireland (1stst, Saint Palladius who , Saint Palladius who was transferred to Scotland)was transferred to Scotland)

He was very successful in winning He was very successful in winning converts. This made the Druids upset.converts. This made the Druids upset.

His mission lasted thirty years. He retired His mission lasted thirty years. He retired to the County of Down.to the County of Down.

He died on March 17, 461.He died on March 17, 461.

Truth and Fiction about Truth and Fiction about Saint PatrickSaint Patrick

Legend has it that Legend has it that Saint Patrick gave a Saint Patrick gave a sermon on a hillside sermon on a hillside that got rid of all of that got rid of all of the snakes of the snakes of Ireland.Ireland.

Scientist say that this Scientist say that this is false because is false because snakes were never a snakes were never a native to Ireland.native to Ireland.

Shamrocks?Shamrocks?

Patrick did use Patrick did use Shamrocks in his Shamrocks in his teachings to show the teachings to show the Holy Trinity.Holy Trinity.

He taught that each leaf He taught that each leaf of the shamrock of the shamrock represented the Father, represented the Father, the Son, and the Holy the Son, and the Holy Ghost. All are separate Ghost. All are separate and yet they make up and yet they make up one.one.

LeprechaunsLeprechauns

Leprechauns are the Leprechauns are the fairies of Ireland.fairies of Ireland.

Their name comes from Their name comes from an Irish word meaning an Irish word meaning “shoemaker.”“shoemaker.”

They are mischievous.They are mischievous. They have a pot of gold They have a pot of gold

that mortals can have if that mortals can have if they are lucky enough to they are lucky enough to catch them catch them (Leprechauns).(Leprechauns).

Ireland TodayIreland Today

It is part of the European It is part of the European Union.Union.

1990 elected 11990 elected 1stst female female presidentpresident

56% of population lives 56% of population lives in cities.in cities.

1/3 of population lives in 1/3 of population lives in Dublin (capital)Dublin (capital)

Favorite sports: Soccer Favorite sports: Soccer and Hurling (Field and Hurling (Field hockey)hockey)