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Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland, also known as Ulster, is still a part of the United Kingdom. It is made up of six countries: Antrim, Armagh, Down, Fermanagh, Londonderry, Tyrone. One third of the population lives in and around the capital, Belfast. Belfast is also the most important port and commercial and industrial centre. Some parts of the territory, those that are not close to the capital, have remained mainly rural. The Irish population is divided into two groups: the Protestants and the Catholics. The Protestants are of British origin. They are descendants of British settlers who came to Ireland in the XVIth and XVIIth centuries, during and after the Reformation. The Catholics are mostly natives of Ireland. The Protestants were the majority and dominated the Catholics with strong discrimination. In 1968 the Catholics began the movement for equal civil rights. The fightings between the two groups of the population continue to this day. Northern Ireland has a strong cultural tradition: songs, dances, literature and festivals. It has its own Art Council, and there are orchestras, theatres, ballet and opera companies.
Questions: 1. How many countries are there in Northern Ireland? 2. What is the capital of Northern Ireland? 3. Into what parts is the Irish population divided? 4. Who are the Catholics? 5. Who are the Protestants? 6. Has the Catholics-Protestants problem been solved? 7. Does Northern Ireland have strong cultural traditions?
Ireland
Ireland is an island on the west side of Europe. The capital of Ireland is Dublin. There are about 5 million people in the Republic of Ireland. It is a small country but a lot of people know about it. In many countries there are Irish priests and nuns. People left Ireland to find work in those countries and they stayed there. All over the world there are people with Irish blood. The country is in two parts. The larger part, the Republic of Ireland, is in the south. The smaller part of Ireland, Northern Ireland, is part of the United Kingdom and its big city is Belfast. Like a lot of other countries, Ireland had sad and difficult times, but it had good times too. The Irish are kind and polite people, they welcome strangers. The Irish love to talk. Ireland is a beautiful country with fine lakes, tall mountains and attractive beaches. It has two great rivers. It is a very green country. It is green partly because it rains too much. Ireland is a country of good butter, good beer and good horses. People come from all over the world to buy Irish horses, from Europe, from America, from Arab countries and from the Far East. Ireland also has its manufacturing industry. Questions: 1. Where is Ireland situated? 2. What is the population of this country? 3. Why did people leave Ireland? 4. What parts does it consist of? 5. Ireland has its own manufacturing industry, hasn't it?
Dublin
Dublin is a fine city, with beautiful grey stone houses. It is situated on the east coast of Ireland. If you go to Dublin you must visit its parks. They have beautiful gardens with deer, and there are markets there on Sundays. Dublin has always been a city of music. A lot of rock and pop groups come to Ireland, because the Irish like music very much. The Irish people like an old song about a Dublin girl, Mollie Malone. She sold shellfish in the streets of Dublin, her father and mother did the same thing before her. When she was still young she became ill and died, but her ghost lived after her. The writer of the song doesn't use the word "love", but he calls her "sweet Mollie Malone", so probably he loved her. Because Dublin is near the sea you can sometimes feel the wind on your face in the middle of the city. But if you want to be warm you can drink coffee in one of the many cafes. Dublin has lots of bridges. Many people know about O'Connell Bridge. It's unusual because it is almost square (47 metres wide and 49 metres across). People know about the Dublin Post Office too. In 1916 there was fighting there between Irishmen and British soldiers.
Questions: 1. Where is Dublin situated? 2. Has Dublin always been a city of music? 3. What is the famous Irish song? 4. Tell something about O'Connell Bridge. 5. What other sights are there is Dublin?
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