Introduction to Ireland

National Flag

1. Green represents Catholicism. 2. Orange represents Protestantism. 3. White symbolizes the peace between the Catholicism and Protestantism.

National Emblem

Harp Shield Emblem 1. Blue Background symbolizes the blue eyes of Irish, blue sea and sky. 2. Harp represents ode to calmness, peace and love. 3. Shield means the protection of Irish people.

In size，the island of Ireland is in total 84421 k㎡ In size，the island of Ireland is in total 84421 k㎡. Of this, Northern Ireland comprises a mere 14139 k㎡, whereas the Republic covers about five times its area at 70282 k㎡.

Geographically, Ireland is situated in the extreme northwest of Europe Geographically, Ireland is situated in the extreme northwest of Europe. Ireland is not very hot during summer, nor is it, despite its location in northern latitudes, very cold in winter. Seen from the air, the visitors’ first impression of Ireland is an intense green, or rather mixture of greens, which changes little between summer and winter.

Capital: Dublin

Politics Ireland is a representative democracy. In structure, like most former colonies of Great Britain, the Irish Republic has a Prime Minister or Taoiseach and a Deputy Prime Minister or Tanaiste. 2. Once elected, it is the Taoiseach who appoints a cambinet to execute the daily business of government.

President 1.Under the Constitution, the President (Uachtaran) is usually elected by the direct vote of people. 2.The President term or office is seven years. A President can be reelected once only. 3. The President acts as a symbolic Head of State and does not have executive functions.

Government 1.The executive powers of the state are exercised by, or on the authority of, the Government. The Government consists of the Taoiseach and the ministers that he or se appoints to the cabinet. 2. The Prime Minister is appointed by the President on the nomination of the Parliament.

Parliament The parliament of Ireland is comprised of two houses: the Dail and the Seanad or the Senate. 2. Government policy and administration may be examined and criticized in both Houses; but under the Constitution, the Government is responsible to the Dail alone.

Attitude to the English On the one hand, the English political domination of Ireland has left the Republic with a secure and workable administrative, educational, and judicial system. 2. On the other hand, the Irish are proud they do not have a monarchy: they think of themselves as citizens, not as sunjects.

Literature Jonathan Swift (1667-1745): Gulliver’s Travels

Oscar Wilde( 1856-1900): The Picture of Dorian Gray

James Joyce (1882-1941): The Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man

Four Winners of the Nobel Prize for Literature 1. Poet W. B. Yeats (1865-1929) 2. Poet Seamus Heaney (1939-) 3. Playwright George Bernard Shaw (1856-1950) 4. Playwright Samuel Beckett (1906-1989)