The hooded crow

All the info you need for Cork's St Patrick's Day Parade

Ireland is known for its lush green landscapes and rolling hills dotted with quaint villages. But there’s another side to the Emerald Isle – one filled with ancient ruins and mysterious legends. From prehistoric stone circles to Celtic crosses, Ireland is full of history and culture. In fact, it’s been inhabited since around 8500 BC. And while some of those early inhabitants left behind no trace, others left behind huge monuments like Newgrange, Knowth and Dowth. These sites tell us about our ancestors, and how they lived thousands of years ago. The Ancient Sites of Ireland covers everything you need to know about Ireland’s ancient sites. Explore the highlights including Newgrange, Knowhut, Dowth, Loughcrew, Carrowkeel, Tara Brooch Factory, and much more. Find out what life was like in the Stone Age, Bronze Age, Iron Age, Roman Empire, Dark Ages, Viking Era, Medieval Period, Tudor Times, Georgian Time, Victorian Era, Edwardian Era, 20th Century, and 21st Century.

Red-necked crow - Corvopsis ruficollis

The story of Ireland begins with the emergence of Celtic culture in the early Bronze Age. In the late third millennium BC, there was a cultural revolution in Ireland. At the same time, the people living in Scotland, Wales and Cornwall began to adopt similar customs and traditions. This led to what we now call the Celtic world. In the second half of the fourth century BC, the Celts invaded England. They settled in the north and west and established several kingdoms. By the end of the fifth century AD, most of Britain had been conquered by the Anglo Saxons. However, some tribes remained in the south and east of England. These included the Britons, Picts, Scots and Welsh. Ireland was also affected by the arrival of the Celts. For example, the Irish language emerged around the sixth century BC. The Irish language is still used today.

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White-throated crow - Corvus albogularis

White-throated crow - Corvus albogularis

Cork County is the largest county of Ireland. Its name derives from the Irish word cóc meaning "oak", referring to the abundance of oak trees in the area. In ancient times, it formed part of the kingdom of Munster. Today, it forms part of the province of Munster. There are many places to see around Cork City including Fota Wildlife Park, Blarney Castle, Cobh Heritage Centre and the River Lee Estuary. The Wild Atlantic Way stretches along the west coast of Ireland, passing through the counties of Cork, Kerry, Clare, Galway, Mayo and Sligo. The county covers 8,853 square kilometres and had a population of 590,917 people according to the 2016 census. Cork County Council is the local authority responsible for providing public services such as education, roads, libraries, waste collection, social welfare etc.

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County Westmeath is one of the most beautiful counties in Ireland. Its coastline is dotted with historic castles and fortified towns. Counties Galway and Roscommon are nearby, too. The Norman invasion of Ireland began in 1169, when Strongbow landed near Waterford City. He defeated Irish forces led by King Diarmuid Mac Murchada, who died shortly thereafter. This victory opened up much of western Ireland to further conquest. In 1204, Henry II invaded Connacht and took over Dublin Castle. In the 13th century, William Marshal, Earl of Pembroke, fought against the Normans and eventually became king of England. His son, John, married Princess Isabella of France, and she brought her husband Louis IX of France into power. King Edward I of England conquered Ulster in the early 1300s. By 1450, he had established several settlements there, including Derry. These settlers built strong fortifications around their towns. By the 16th century, the English had taken control of most of Ireland. They ruled it until 1922, when Ireland gained independence.

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The Irish language

The Irish language

The number of Irish language speakers in Ireland has risen dramatically since 2011. In 2016 there were just under 4,900 people living in County Clare alone who speak Irish. This represents a 49% increase in Irish speaking residents compared to 2001. In County Kerry, where there are around 5,500 Irish language speakers, the number rose by nearly 40%. In both counties, the majority of those who speak Irish live in urban areas. In County Clare, 78% of Irish speakers live in towns and cities, while in County Kerry it is 79%. However, in rural areas Irish speaking communities still exist. In County Clare, 23% of Irish speakers live outside of urban centres, while in County Kerry this figure stands at 25%. The growth of Gaelicisation has been attributed to several factors. One is the fact that many young people choose to learn Irish because it is seen as a way to preserve the culture. Another factor is the increasing popularity of Irish music among younger generations. Finally, the economic downturn in Ireland has had a positive effect on the number of Irish speakers. Many Irish speakers became unemployed during the recession, which forced them to seek work abroad. When they returned home, they brought their knowledge of Irish with them.

The Skelligs

Cork County is home to the biggest collection of Irish castles and gardens outside of Ireland. These include the world famous Blarney Castle, the ruins of the medieval city of Clonakilty, and the beautiful gardens of Ballymaloe House. There are over 1000km of beautiful beaches along the coastline. Many of the towns and villages boast stunning scenery and there are many great walking routes nearby. Inland there are plenty of things to do. You could take a trip to the Blarney Stone, visit the historic town of Kinsale, go fishing off the coast, or enjoy some golfing.

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All the info you need for Cork's St Patrick's Day Parade

There are over 10,000 native Irish speakers living in County Kerry alone. In addition, there are more than 5,000 students attending Irish classes in County Cork. And according to the latest census figures, more than 4,900 people use the Irish language daily outside of the education system. The Irish Language Act 1998 states that Irish must be taught in primary schools in Ireland. However, it does not require secondary school teachers to teach Irish. This means that many students do not learn Irish during their secondary schooling. Despite this, the number of Irish speakers continues to grow. In fact, there are now more Irish speakers than English speakers in Ireland. In 2016, the Irish government launched a campaign called "Irish Is Now", encouraging everyone to learn the language.

All the info you need for Cork's St Patrick's Day Parade

Frequently Asked Questions

The Irish language is spoken natively by approximately 2 million people worldwide. It belongs to the Indo-European family of languages, which includes English, French, German, Spanish, Italian, Russian, Hindi, Urdu, etc. The Irish language is closely related to Scottish Gaelic, Welsh, Manx, Cornish, Breton, and Scots.

Ireland gets its name from the Irish language word Eirinn meaning land of the foreigners.

Irish Whiskey is produced in Ireland while Scottish Whisky is produced in Scotland. Both countries have their own unique styles of production and distillation methods. Irish whiskeys tend to be lighter than scotch whiskies due to the use of lower proof grain spirits. Irish whiskey tends to be smoother and sweeter than scotch whisky.

Leprechauns are little men that live under the ground. Leprechauns love gold coins and shiny things. They are said to hide away their treasure in pots and boxes. Leprechaun stories started in ancient Greece. There was a man named Kroneus who lived in Ancient Greece. He was a god of thunder and lightning. One day he went down to Earth to find some land to build a temple on. While he was digging, he struck gold and decided to keep it for himself. People soon learned that if you dug around the area where he buried his gold, you would find pot after pot full of gold. That is how the legend of leprechauns began.