Introducing Ireland
WORDS: Jessica Gaughran ::
Ireland is situated in the north-west of Europe. The modern state has occupied five-sixths of the island since 1921 and is bordered by Northern Ireland (part of the UK) to the north, by the Atlantic Ocean to the west and by the Irish Sea to the east.
The island extends over 84,421 Square kilometers, of which 70,280 belongs to the Republic. 10% of the island is forest. The west-coast mostly consists of cliffs, hills and low mountains (the highest point being Carrauntoohil at 1,038 m or 3,406 feet).
The interior of the country is relatively flat land, traversed by rivers such as the River Shannon and several large lakes or loughs. The centre of the country is part of the River Shannon watershed, containing large areas of bogland, used for peat extraction and production. The major cites are the capital Dublin on the east coast, Cork in the south, Limerick in the mid-west, Galway on the west coast, and Waterford on the south east coast.
The population of the whole of Ireland is under 6 million and the population of the Republic is 4.3 million. These figures are lower than 160 years ago. Prior to the 1845-51 famine, the population was around 8 million. Death and emigration reduced the population to around 5 million, and emigration continued to a high level for the next 100 years.
Since the 1990s there has been less emigration than immigration, which mostly consists of returning Irish but also immigrants from Britain, other EU countries and North America. Ireland's population is predominately young: 41% are aged under 25 and in fact Ireland has the highest population of 15 to 24-year-olds and second highest of under 15-year-olds in Europe.
For centuries, along with political struggles, Ireland's economy was weak and lived under Britain's shadow until the last century when it gained independence and in the 1990s, the economy achieved unprecedented economic growth, famously named The Celtic Tiger. The success was mainly thanks to an injection of investment funds from the EU which helped renovate the country's infrastructure, foreign investment, low corporation taxes and the increase of qualified labour. It brought the country from an agricultural economy to a post-industrial one, as large computer and telecommunications firms moved in, bringing jobs and investment as unemployment was low and the public debt.
The economy slowed down between 2000 and 2003, when unemployment grew and the already high cost of living continued to rise. But the twice re-elected (most recently in May 2007) coalition government led by Taoiseach (Prime Minister) Bertie Ahern has steered the nation back to one of the healthiest in the EU. Economic growth has created challenges such as increased immigration and pressure on Ireland's welfare and transport infrastructure.
As well as being a friendly race, the Irish are quite outward-looking and proud to be a significant member of the EU. Almost two centuries of emigration have given the Irish a sense that they are truly an international race who can influence world affairs. Roman Catholicism is steadily losing its grip on everyday life. Church attendance has been falling from around 85% in 1990 to less than 50% in 2005, and the church has been forced to import priests from abroad (in 2004, only six priests were ordained in the whole of Ireland). Nevertheless, the church's views still influence the people especially in relation to sex and relationships: in 1995, Divorce became legal for the first time and abortion is more or less illegal in the country.
Drinking is Ireland's single most popular pastime and as a result, the Irish Bar is the country's most well-known export. Up until the 1990's, large families of up to 13 children were common but now, two or three children is the norm as contraceptives are now readily available and both parents tend to work.
Even though Ireland is known as a nation of complainers, the Irish are more famous for their hospitality and came first last year in Lonely Planet's survey of the friendliest country in the world. Lonely Planet said that the Irish people have 'a deliciously dark sense of humour' and 'a welcoming attitude towards strangers' and can find craic (Irish for fun) in boom or bust eras and now 'a cautious optimism reigns supreme, infecting the land once again with the sense that anything's possible'.
In light of the recent economic success that has transformed the country in many ways, Ireland has seen a once homogenous nation become a melting pot of multiculturalism and modern Irish culture has grown in worldliness and self confidence. There are problems however with the structure and efficiency of the National Health Service and with high alcohol consumption and drug use. English is the most spoken language, followed by Mandarin Chinese even though Irish is the official language of the country.
Ireland is known for gaelic football, hurling, rugby, soccer, film actors and rock band U2 may be Ireland's biggest musical export but when people talk about Irish music they are generally referring to an older, more intimate style of traditional or folk music. The biggest names may play the same major venues as the rock stars, but almost every town and village seems to have a pub renowned for its music where you can show up and find a session in progress, or join in if you feel inclined.
Traditionally, music was performed as a background to dancing, so the 17th-century penal laws did nothing to help by banning all expressions of traditional culture, including dancing. Music was forced underground, which explains why much Irish music has a homely feel about it today.
Famous traditional artists and bands include Christy Moore, The Chieftans, The Horslips, The Dubliners, Altan and Kila. Internationally famous groups and artists of other genres include Thin Lizzy, The Pogues
My name is Jessica. I am 23 years old and I come from a seaside village called Malahide which is a 20 minute train ride from Dublin city centre. I am single and have recently graduated from University College of Dublin (UCD) with an international degree in Italian and English. I lived in Vancouver in Canada for a summer in 2004 and I studied in Italy for a year as part of the Erasmus programme. I am like most young Irish people in that I travel a lot.
I am very privileged to have a varied lifestyle. 20 years ago, it was not like that. Since joining the EU in 1973, things have changed dramatically in Ireland. Since then, we have not looked back. I remember growing up in the 1980s and the early 1990s when people had little money and the war in the North was still taking place. Prospects were bleak for Ireland at the time, the morale was low and many people emigrated to other countries in hope of a brighter future.
In 2004, Ireland was the holder of the EU Presidency. On May 1st, Ireland hosted the enlargement of the Union to 25 member states, including Slovenia. I remember watching the leader of each country raising the flag at the emotional ceremony. It makes me happy to see how far my country has come since joining the EU 35 years ago and I am glad that the newly joined countries have these wonderful opportunities that catapulted Ireland from poverty to prosperity. When I visit beautiful places like Paris, Rome and Prague, it feels wonderful to be a part of these places and I hope that other nationalities of the EU feel the same when they visit Ireland.
Jessica Gaughran
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