Monday, March 1, 2010

We Are Learning About Ireland, in Preparation for St Patricks Day

  • The capital city of Ireland is Dublin
      
  • The Irish (Gaelic) word for Ireland is Éire.  The Irish (Gaelic) language evolved from Celtic immigrants around 600 BC.
      
  • The first to bring the English language to Ireland were the Normans.  English was adopted as the main language from the latter years of the eighteenth century on.
      
  • In 432 AD St. Patrick arrived to help convert the pagan Gaelic Kings to Christianity.  Saint Patrick's Day (March 17th) is the national holiday of Ireland. 
      
  • King Henry VIII (of England) declared himself King of Ireland in 1541 AD.  He was the first English monarch to do this.
      
  • The Irish Parliament was granted legislative independence from England in 1782 AD
      
  • Ireland gained its independence in 1922.
  • The Irish flag has three vertical stripes in green, white and orange.  The green represents the older Gaelic people, the orange represents the Protestants (under William of Orange) and the white represents the peace between the two groups.
 
  • The harp (cláirseach), and the small harp (cruit), were the main historical musical instruments of Ireland.  Dances include jigs, reels, hornpipes and sets.
     
  • Legends and Irish tales are an essential part of the culture.  Oral story telling is such an important part of tradition that in Gaelic Ireland, the poet was considered the guardian of knowledge.
      
  • Other Facts:
    • it has 32 counties
    • the largest county is Cork,
    • the smallest county is Louth
    • it has 4 provinces:  Connaught, Ulster, Munster, Leinster
Some Interesting Links:
All About Ireland (very good site): http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/Places/Find/Ireland

Travel Ireland: http://www.discoverireland.ie/
St Patrick's Day Activities: http://www.dltk-holidays.com/patrick/index.html
St Patrick's Day Information:: http://www.dltk-holidays.com/patrick/about.htm
A school founded in 1856

3 comments:

  1. WOW, looks like such a beautiful green place! I want to visit there!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Hi,
    The pupils have enjoyed reading your information about St Patrick's Day. Did you know that Scotland also has a patron saint? We celebrate St Andrew's Day with dancing, singing and piping. Here is another school's website that will tell you about it. (This school site if FABULOUS!)
    http://www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/months/andrew.html

    ReplyDelete
  3. MT-S: Thank you. I did know that, and I'm sure we'll do more research on it closer to St Andrew's Day.

    Student: Miss Tyler-Smith is actually Scottish/Cornish herself. (and part pirate, she tells us!) :o)

    ReplyDelete

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