Ireland Economy, People, Culture and Flag

PEOPLE OF IRELAND

Occupied for the last 9,000 years, the area of Ireland does not leave behind any inscription about the Paleolithic or Neolithic residents residing here in ancient times. Several group of people existed here like Érainn, Cruithne, Eóganachta, Attacotti, Conmaicne, Soghain and many others. Belonging to the Celtic origin, the region seems to have been persuaded by the Vikings that expanded in huge numbers. About 70 % of the island is constituted with Roman Catholic Church and the rest with the Protestants. There are other groups existing here like the Anglican Church of Ireland, the Irish Muslim population, the Jewish group of people, along with others belonging to Lithuania, the Czech Republic and Latvia. The Irish belong to the European ethnic group of the northwest region share common similarities with the western countries, especially with those of the Anglosphere region. Personal names came into existence from the conventional Irish names, British names, anglicised Irish names, and American names. The present population is comprised of Catholic Church, Anglican, and Presbyterian. The minority religions that survive here are Methodists, along with Baptists, Brethren, Quakers and much more.

ARTS, CULTURE AND MUSIC OF IRELAND

Art: Watch out for primitive visual art through early spiritual carvings, Bronze Age artifacts, attractive gold substance, and enlightened manuscripts that can be seen in the Newgrange area. Some of the important painters of this region include John Butler Yeats, William Orpen, Jack Yeats and Louis le Brocquy.

Culture: The local natives of Ireland resort to festivals and fairs that are celebrated in full frenzy. Enchant yourself in the gastronomic pleasures, that one can take part in the Kinsale Gourmet Festival held within the region along with participating in the Dublin Theatre Festival. And if you are a bachelor then don't miss out going to the Lisdoonvarna Matchmaking Festival, which is supposedly the prime event in the region. Visit fairs like the Puck Fair held in the region of Kerry, wherein a local goat is considered as a king and is crowned majestically. Last but not the least travel to the Ould Lammas Fair celebrated in the North Antrim that attracts thousands of visitors.

Music: Then native music of the Irish seems to have retained their traditional characteristic and showed its inclination towards the root music of USA, thereby influencing it further. The music owes its fusion with different class of harmony like the rock and roll, punk rock and other varieties.

Apart from folk music, the contemporary classical music made its origin within the region though it had limited impact and less exposure within the region. The native music of the region followed certain traditional ethics, which was accompanied with dance and musical instruments. Guitars and bouzoukis are a part of the conventional rhythm while bodhrán named as tambourine, emerged in the region during the 19th century. New approaches were made within the traditional music, which had an impact on its style and performances that was carried through the bands that originated within the area. But the melody and harmony still maintained its simplicity and elegance.

The native music was usually performed during a particular celebration like the wedding and festivals. Some of the original dance and compositions includes names like reels, hornpipes, jigs, mazurkas, polkas and many others.

Set dancing was popular in the region, which was performed by "sets" of four couples making merry while dancing hand in hand. Stepdancing, a fashionable dance of the region related to the Munster or southern location seems to have gained wide acceptance after the boom in Broadway-style musical rhythm. Sean-nós dancing is yet another conventional dance where props were applied for dancing though resorted to in a limited way.

The musical instruments comprises of Fiddle, Flute and whistle, Uilleann pipes, Harp, Accordion and concertina, Banjo, Guitar, Bouzouki, Mandolin, Bodhrán, Harmonica and many others.

FLAG OF IRELAND

The flag of Ireland was officially accepted in the month of January 21, 1919. The flag is designed with Tricolor mainly with green, orange, and white. The flag is based on the French Tri color where each color represents the religious faith prevalent within the region. The color Green denotes the Catholic community; the Orange color stands for Protestants, while the color white shows the unity that binds the two religions.

The flag came into existence as it was been selected as the national flag of the Irish Free State in 1922. The tri color gained its constitutional rights within the 1937 Constitution of Ireland during the time when the Republic of Ireland succeeded the Free State.

ECONOMY OF IRELAND

The economic growth of Ireland is dependent mainly on the trade industry next to agriculture. It is this industry that adds value to about 46% of the GDP growth while 80% pertaining to the export, and 29% relates to engaging the labor force.

The growth of the country is based on its export that relates to the consumer expenditure, construction, and business ventures.

The Irish Government has made constant efforts in adding value to the national economy through policies like limiting the wage inflation, decreasing the government expenditure, enhancing the labor force skills, and endorsing overseas investment within the country.

It was during the year 1920s and early 1930s; the Republic of Ireland issued a policy based on low-tax that was issued by the government thinking mainly about the agriculture and livestock farming industry.

Construction plays a significant role within the country that adds value to the economic development of the province. Just during the World War II, the Northern Ireland faced considerable amount of support from the British while the Republic faced considerable set back during this period. It was just after that the country joined hands with the join the European Economic Community, with Britain during the year 1973.

But it was during the year 1990 when the country gained its stable condition, and was known as the period of "The Celtic Tiger". Quite recently the Republic of Ireland stood in the second position as far as the wealthiest nation is concerned after UK, while the first position is taken by Japan.

The goods that are exported from this region are machinery and equipment, computers, chemicals, pharmaceuticals; live animals, animal products.

The goods that are imported are data processing equipment, other machinery and equipment, chemicals, petroleum and petroleum products, textiles, clothing and many others.

The prevalent industries within the area are steel, aluminum, lead, zinc, silver, barite, and gypsum mining processing; food products, textiles, brewing, clothing; pharmaceuticals, chemicals; machinery, rail transportation equipment, passenger and commercial vehicles, ship construction and refurbishment; glass and crystal; software, tourism.

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