Ireland

The biggest event of the year in Cork takes place on Sunday, March 17th. Thousands are expected to attend the annual parade, which kicks off at 10am. There will be over 2500 community participation in the parade. Members of the Garda, including the regional ceremonial unit, retired members and present day garda staff will take part in the parade. There will be a big crowd along the streets of Cork city centre. This year's theme is "Heroes - Ordinary People in Extraordinary Times". A huge number of floats and marching bands will be participating in the parade. The parade route begins at O'Connell Bridge and ends at the City Hall. Here's everything you need to know about the parade... What time does it start? The parade starts at 10am.

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.

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.

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.