Ireland: The Emerald Isle

Written by: Natalie Yao

Geography and Nature

Ireland is a big island on the very western part of Europe, with a land area of about 26 thousand square miles. In fact, Ireland is the second biggest island in Europe! The country borders the United Kingdom through Northern Ireland, and Ireland was a part of the United Kingdom until it gained independence in 1922. Since then, Ireland has become a member of the European Union, joining in the 1970s. Given the nickname Emerald Isle because of its landscape, Ireland has expansive green fields that are found all around the country. In addition to these fields, there are also large lakes in Ireland, formed when the glaciers on the island melted thousands of years ago, with Lough Derg and Lough Corrib being the most well known lakes. Ireland is also well known for its bogs, which is an area of wetland with spongy soil, and gets all of its water directly from rainwater. Since the nation is an island, it touches many bodies of water, such as the Irish Sea, the Atlantic Ocean, Celtic Sea, and St. Georges Channel. Some major cities include its capital Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Waterford, and Galway. 

The climate in Ireland is relatively cool, having mild summers and chilly winters. In the summer, temperatures reach to about 60 degrees Fahrenheit in its warmest month. It is also pretty rainy in Ireland, with the highest peaks receiving up to 100 inches of rain a year! Low pollution levels in the country have maintained much of its land, and is healthy. Some animals that can be found here are the hare, fox, badger, lizard, hedgehogs, and shrews.

People and Culture

Ireland has two official languages, English and Gaelic, and most people are ethnically Irish, meaning that they have Celtic roots. There is no official religion of Ireland, but a large majority of the population are Roman Catholic. 

Ireland also is famous for its writers, like Oscar Wilde, James Joyce, and Samuel Beckett. Additionally, Irish people are big fans of sports, and play Gaelic football and hurling. 

Irish cuisine is simple and is based on local ingredients. Common ingredients include potatoes, lamb, beef, dairy, and seafood.

Some popular dishes include:

• Irish Stew: stew with lamb, potatoes, onions, and carrots

• Shepherd's Pie: a minced meat pie topped with mashed potatoes

• Soda Bread: a simple and quickly made with baking soda, and is served with butter or smoked salmon

National Symbols

• National Tree: Sessile Oak

• National Colors: Green, White, and Orange

• National Flower: the Shamrock

• National Bird: Northern Lapwing