IRELAND

BACKGROUND Celtic tribes arrived on the island between 600-150 B.C. Invasions by Norsemen that began in the late 8th century were finally ended when King Brian BORU defeated the Danes in 1014. English invasions began in the 12th century and set off more than seven centuries of Anglo-Irish struggle marked by fierce rebellions and harsh repressions. A failed 1916 Easter Monday Rebellion touched off several years of guerrilla warfare that in 1921 resulted in independence from the UK for 26 southern counties; six northern (Ulster) counties remained part of the United Kingdom. In 1948 Ireland withdrew from the British Commonwealth; it joined the European Community in 1973. Irish governments have sought the peaceful unification of Ireland and have cooperated with Britain against terrorist groups. A peace settlement for Northern Ireland, known as the Good Friday Agreement and approved in 1998, is being implemented with some difficulties.

GEOGRAPHY Location: Western Europe, occupying five-sixths of the island of Ireland in the North Atlantic Ocean, west of Great Britain Climate: temperate maritime; modified by North Atlantic Current; mild winters, cool summers; consistently humid; overcast about half the time Terrain: mostly level to rolling interior plain surrounded by rugged hills and low mountains; sea cliffs on west coast

RIVERS Barrow. Boyne. Shannon. The longest river in Ireland (seen at right), at about 386 km (250 miles), its course forms an arc as before it joins the Atlantic Ocean at Limerick on Ireland's west coast. The river develops into three lakes along its course, Lough Allen, Lough Ree and Lough Dera Barrow. Ireland's second longest river, the Barrow is one of three rivers to meet the sea at Waterford. (The other two are the Nore and the Suir.) Boyne. Well-known as the place where William of Orange won victory over James, the Boyne is good fishing country. It passes Slane on its way to the Irish Sea at Drogheda.

RIVERS Lee There are modern reservoirs along the River Lee created by hydro-electric dams. It runs through the city of Cork, and joins the sea there. Liffey The River Liffey starts in Wicklow and flows past Dublin into Dublin Bay, where it meets the Irish Sea. O'Connell Bridge, seen at the left, is one of the more well-known that cross it.

LAKES Lough Neagh [lɒx neɪ]; situated in Northern Ireland, is the largest lake, or body of freshwater by surface area, in the British Isles, with an area of 388 square km. Approximately 30 km long and 15 km wide, the lake is situated some 30 km to the west of Belfast. The Lough is very shallow around the margins and the average depth of the lake is about 9 metres; at its deepest point 25 metres.

QUIZ 1.The longest river in Ireland is… a)River Lee b) River Barrow c) River Shannon 2. Celtic tribes arrives on the island between… a)600-150 BC b) 2000-1000 BC c) 17th-18th century 3. The largest lake Lough Neagh is situated… a) In the east of Dublin b) in the west of Belfast c) in the south of Cork 4. Ireland is an independent republic since … a) 1921 b) 1881 c) 1996 5. The Ireland’s climate is… a) Tropical b) continental and dry c) temperate maritime