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10 Fun Facts About Ireland

10 FUN FACTS ABOUT IRELAND


Author | Raphael Adewusi

The Republic of Ireland, also known as Éire in Irish, is a small but vibrant country located in the northwestern part of Europe. It is a land of stunning natural beauty, rich culture, and fascinating history. Here are some fun facts about the Republic of Ireland that you might not know.

  1. Ireland is the only country in the world with a musical instrument as its national symbol. The harp, which has been played in Ireland for over 1,000 years, is a symbol of Irish culture and is also featured on the country's official coat of arms. 

    Brown large Irish harping a massive library room
    Image source: My Irish Jeweler

  2. The Cliffs of Moher are one of Ireland's most popular tourist attractions, with over one million visitors each year. These stunning cliffs rise over 700 feet above the Atlantic Ocean and offer breathtaking views of the surrounding coastline. 

    Cliffs of moher with a visible beach and seabed at the bottom
    Image source: Cliffs of Moher

  3. The world-famous Guinness Brewery in Dublin produces over 10 million pints of beer each day. The brewery also features a museum where visitors can learn about the history of Guinness and how it's made. 

    Large open space, painted bright yellow with large brown alcohol casks stacked on top of each other in rows.
    Image source: Business Insider

  4. Ireland has produced many famous writers over the years, including James Joyce, Samuel Beckett, and W.B. Yeats. In fact, Ireland has more Nobel Prize winners for literature per capita than any other country in the world. 

    Black and white photo of Oscar Wilde dressed in a suit and fur coat
    Image source: Ireland Before You Die

  5. The Irish language, also known as Gaelic, is still spoken by a small percentage of the population. However, English is the most widely spoken language in the country.

  6. St. Patrick's Day, which is celebrated on March 17th, is a national holiday in Ireland. It is also celebrated around the world, with parades and festivals taking place in cities such as New York, Chicago, and Sydney.

    Picture of Paddy's day festival celebration
    Image source: Visit Dublin

  7. Ireland is famous for its ancient castles, many of which date back to the Middle Ages. Some of the most popular castles include Blarney Castle, Bunratty Castle, and Dublin Castle.

    Dublin castle with large grey walls and tall circular tower with wide green lawns at its foot
    Image source:Big Bus Tours

  8. The Irish are known for their love of storytelling and folklore. The country is home to many myths and legends, including the legend of the leprechaun, a mischievous fairy who is said to guard a pot of gold at the end of a rainbow.

    :eprechaun with red hair and beard wearing bright green suit with large green tophat
    Image source: New Jersey 101.5

  9. The Giant's Causeway, located on the northern coast of Ireland, is a natural wonder that features over 40,000 basalt columns. Legend has it that the causeway was built by a giant named Finn MacCool. 

    Large stones of Giant's Causeway with tall green hills and mountains in the background and little river at the bottom right
    Image source: Giant's Causeway

  10. Ireland is a country of great natural beauty, with lush green landscapes, rugged coastlines, and beautiful beaches. Some of the most popular natural attractions include the Ring of Kerry, the Cliffs of Moher, and the Wicklow Mountains.

In conclusion, the Republic of Ireland is a small country with a rich history and culture that has produced many famous writers, artists, and musicians over the years. From the stunning Cliffs of Moher to the ancient castles and legends of the leprechaun, there is no shortage of fun and interesting facts about this fascinating country. Whether you're planning a trip to Ireland or simply want to learn more about this beautiful country, these fun facts are sure to impress.


References

The 40,000-odd basalt formations at the giant's causeway in Northern Ireland (no date) The Economic Times. Available at: https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/magazines/panache/the-40000-odd-basalt-formations-at-the-giants-causeway-in-northern-ireland/articleshow/65454173.cms?from=mdr (Accessed: March 30, 2023).

Karsten, A.M. (2022) Cliffs of moher: How to visit Ireland's famous attraction, Expert Vagabond. Available at: https://expertvagabond.com/cliffs-of-moher/ (Accessed: March 30, 2023).

Malone, B. (2018) Top ten little-known facts about Ireland (video), IrishCentral.com. Available at: https://www.irishcentral.com/culture/craic/top-ten-little-known-facts-about-ireland-ahead-of-the-gathering-2013-173265331-237761001 (Accessed: March 30, 2023).

Top 10 facts about Guinness we bet you didn't know (no date) Go City®. Available at: https://gocity.com/dublin/en-us/blog/top-facts-about-guinness (Accessed: March 30, 2023).

#ireland #funfacts #information

Comments

  1. As a Non-EU citizens, its great to know about this beautiful country Ireland.

    ReplyDelete
  2. It's great to know more Ireland! It's fascinating to think that it is the only country with a harp for its symbol. And now that I think about it, I see it so often, on Guinness, Ryan Air.... I'll be keeping an eye out for it 👀 seems like it started being used as a symbol in 1922. Also, crazy to think that in IRELAND, Gaelic is only spoken by a small percentage of the population. The Journal did an article last year and seems like less than 2% speak it on a daily 🤯🤯 - Julio Costa

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  3. I loved reading your blog post about 10 Fun Facts About Ireland! It was so interesting to learn about the different cultural aspects and quirks that make Ireland unique.

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  4. Raphael Adewusi2 April 2023 at 04:07

    So much cool info!

    ReplyDelete
  5. I love knowing the curiosities of the country I visit or live in, especially the ones that are not popularly known, that’s a great way to start a conversation with someone 🤣. It’s incredible to think that Ireland is the only one out of 196 countries that has a musical instrument as a symbol. 😱
    Another curiosity: Do you know that to educate future Dubliners about living in the twenty-first century, a time capsule was buried beneath the Spire in 2003? It contains a newspaper, an Argos catalogue, a pack of cigarettes, and meal menus 🤩 – Dayane Torres

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  6. Raphael Adewusi2 April 2023 at 10:33

    Love this post! Such fascinating information here about Ireland that I might never have otherwise have known. Also worth considering: Halloween was actually invented Ireland, originally a Celtic celebration named Samhain that evolved into what we now know as Halloween or All Hallow’s Eve.

    ReplyDelete

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