| General
Information
Éire or Ireland is divided into four provinces:
Leinster, Connaught,
Ulster and Munster.
Click here to explore
each province.
Climate:
The climate is mild with an annual temperature
of around 10 C. The coldest months are January and
February. During the summer, temperatures range from
14 to 20 C. The warmest months are July and August
with average temperature reaching 16 c. There are
about 18 hours of daylight during July and August
and you will find it only gets truly dark after 11
pm.
As a golden rule Irish weather is not predictable!
You could be wearing a t-shirt in March and need a
woolly jumper for August! Ireland gets a lot of rain,
so remember to pack a light coat.
The 32 Counties:
Ireland is often referred to as the 32 counties, with
its two states, Northern Ireland and the Republic
of Ireland, nicknamed respectively the Six Counties
and the 26 Counties. The counties were a creation
of British rule in Ireland and were set up in the
19th century to provide a framework for local government.
Subsequently adopted by sporting and cultural organisations
such as the Gaelic Athletic Association, which organises
its activities on county lines, today the county division
attracts strong loyalties, particularly in the sporting
field.
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Symbols:
Irish Flag:
The flag is twice as wide as it is tall. The green
side is by the flagpole. This flag was first used
in 1848. Colors in the flag represent the native population
and religious beliefs in Ireland. Green:
Signifies the native people of Ireland. Orange:
Represents the British supporters of William of Orange
who settled in Northern Ireland in the 17th century.
White: White occupies
the center of the flag and signifies peace between
these two groups of people.
Claddagh:
A symbol of Friendship, Love and Loyalty. The Claddagh
design is said to originate from the Galway Area,
and the Aran Islands. The Claddagh ring was originally
worn by men, but later used as a Marriage Ring for
Men and Women. The symbol is comprised of 2 hands,
a heart and a crown. The hands symbolize the parties
involved. The heart is the seat of affection or love
with the crown being perfection.
Harp Emblem:
The harp symbol has been recognized as the emblem
of Ireland since the 13th century. It was officially
adopted as Ireland’s national symbol when the
Irish Free State was created in 1922. The most famous
Harp of Ireland is the Brian Boru harp which is located
at the Trinity College in Dublin. The Boru harp is
the oldest surviving Irish harp, and is the model
used for the State emblem.
Trinity Symbol:
The Trinity Symbol is an ancient Celtic design. The
Trinity emblem is an ancient symbol for a high spiritual
dignity. In the Christian faith, it represents the
Holy Trinity: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The Trinity
symbol has been inscribed in stone, and also has been
colored. Red for power, faith, language and sacrifice.
Blue -represents faith and trust. Green –color
of the plants and trees, suggests hope of life eternal.
Celtic Cross:
The Celtic Cross is possibly the best known symbol
of Early Christianity in Ireland. The High Celtic
Cross is a self contained monument, and are as high
as 20 feet. They are generally made of sandstone,
and their main characteristic feature is a circle
connecting the arms. The rings around the high cross
may have been a symbol of the cosmos, and at the center
is the Crucifixion of Christ. Or, the ring may have
been a structural piece, to prevent the arms of the
cross from snapping off. There are many decorations
on the crosses many including scenes from the bible,
while others feature animal Interlace, and scroll
work. The crosses at Monasterboise and Cross of Scriptures,
Clonmacnoise are good examples for the traditional
Celtic Cross
For more information visit: http://www.irelandinformationguide.com/Republic_of_Ireland
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