The Republic of Ireland became independent in 1921. The island country is 175 miles wide and 300 miles long. Ireland is divided into four provinces: Ulster, Munster, Leinster, and Connaugh. Within the four provinces are 32 counties, 26 of which are in the Republic of Ireland with the remaining six in Northern Ireland. It is a country of horses, sheep, poets, writers and thousands of storytellers in a place where story telling is an art, and where elegance of speech is prized more than affluence. Ireland’s population is about 5.7 million with over 4 million living in the Republic. Over half of the country’s population is under 30 years old. There is a rich diversity of ethnic groups and cultures.
The Shannon River is Ireland’s longest.
The countryside is dotted with 900 castles in a country of breath-taking
scenery, quaint villages, picturesque harbors, jagged coastline, historic
castles, religious houses, museums, Celtic culture, a long history as well as
shamrocks, Guinness, and little people. Known for its friendly and hospitable
citizens, it also is a country of infinite charm where a relaxed air and
tranquility great the visitor.
During the occupation of Ireland when
the English banned bagpipes from being played the Irish adopted the harp as the
country’s symbol. It appears on bank notes, banners and the famous stout drink,
Guinness. Ireland’s currency now is the Euro.
The Irish flag has three even vertical
rectangles. The green, closest to the flagpole represents the Irish people,
most of whom are catholic. The orange on the far right represents the British
supporters of William of Orange who settled Northern Ireland in the 17th
century, and the white in the center represents peace between the two groups of
people. The flag was first used in 1848.
Nomad travelers, called Tinkers, have a rich and different
culture including their own language. Once 20,000 tinkers traveled in unique
vehicles called barrel top wagons. We saw none and were told that today they
travel in caravans of SUVs. They are adamant that they are not gypsies, but
nomads
A thin drum called a Bodhran, pronounced Bough-rawn, is used in traditional dances. The Irish Bodhran drum is
constructed from a laminated, shallow, round, wooden frame. In most cases the
frame is reinforced with a center wooden crossbar. Ireland is one of six Celtic
regions that utilize the Bodhran drum in varying styles and techniques. Skin of
goat, calf or even greyhound covers one side of the drum, and that side is
struck with the hand or a stick called a tipper.
The stick comes in many shapes and sizes, and varies based on the individual
style of the player, and the region from which the player comes. Since the
Bodhran drum is open-ended, various shifts of timbre and pitch can be achieved
by manipulating the hand, fingers, or arm on the inside of the skin. Music is central to Irish life and society.
I found the many dry-set stone walls
marking ancient boundaries across the country picturesque. Roads throughout the
country are very narrow and have no shoulders. The soil is often soft on the
roadsides because of the abundance of peat bog/soil.
