3. Ireland is west of the United Kingdom (England, Scotland, Wales). Northern Ireland is part of the United Kingdom. Ireland is across the Atlantic Ocean from the U. S.

4. It rains a lot in Ireland, making everything very green. It is often called “The Emerald Isle.” Photo by David Holmes: http://www.charm.net

5. The flag of Ireland is green, white and orange. The green represents Catholics, the orange is for Protestants, and the white symbolizes the hope for peace between the two groups.

6. The National Holiday is March 17, St. Patrick’s Day, named after the Patron Saint of Ireland.

7. Most people in Ireland speak English, but a few still speak Gaelic. You might hear someone say “Erin go bragh” on St. Patrick’s Day, which is Gaelic for “Ireland forever.”

8. The harp is a symbol of Ireland. It can be seen on the presidential flag and on the back of the Irish Euro coin. A Euro is worth about $1.32.

9. The shamrock is another symbol of Ireland. It is always worn on St. Patrick’s Day.

10. Castles and ruins are found all over Ireland.

11. The Giant’s Causeway is a mass of stone columns that extend from a cliff in Northern Ireland and disappear under the sea towards Scotland. They were formed by a volcanic eruption 60 million years ago. However, the ancients believed it to be the work of a giant named Fin M’Coul.