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Away with the Fairies- The Travel Diary of an Irish WebFairy

pointless info on Ireland

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by
Niamh
, 11-29-2007 at 05:13 PM (2094 Views)
So this is a bit of an inbetween blog, (am waiting on Nick to tell me what he wants to know regarding my time as an archaeologist) so i decided to fill you guys up with things about my country. Random Info basicly. So here Goes!

*Irelands Population is only half the size if the Population of London. 4 Million.

*Since Poland entered the EU, 300,000 polish citizens emegrated to Ireland.

*The Irish comsume the most tea in the world, Drinking more than the intire UK.(tea is our answer to everything! )

*Multiple births are highest in Ireland than Any other European country, twins being the most common.

*Any major construction being done in Ireland has to have an Archaeolgical assessment done before construction begins by law. If Archaeological remains are discovered the construction company has to pay for the excavations.

*Halloween Originate in Ireland.

*St Brigit, classed as the second patron saint of Ireland, was originally a celtic Goddess of fertility. The early Irish Christians adopted her as a St because the people of Ireland devoted her. Her feast is still on the 1st of February.

*Ireland Is Known as the Isle of Saints and Scholars for a good Reason. Back when Europe was going through the dark ages, Ireland was going through a golden age. Monastic cities came to life in quite valleys (glendalough for example). People once flocked there to be educated from all over the country. We Also have a lot of Saints. Alot of places originate from the original churches of these saints and are evident in the place names. In my part of Dublin alone there are the following saints;
St Berach
St Donagh
St Marnog
St Esra
St Fintain
St Columchill
St Assem

* Places names in Ireland can tell you how old a settlement possibly is.
Dun, Lis, Rath all indicate a fort and is therefore associated with the Iron age. Ie
Raheny (rath Enna) = The Fort of Enna
Cill means Church and indicates early christian. Ie Kilbarrack (Cill Berach) the church of St Berach. Many of these townlands still have the ruins of a later church from around 13th cent.
Ford in a place name is Viking. So Wexford, Waterford, carlingford etc are all originally Viking settlements.
Town in a name is usually from Norman up. Rolestown Bettystown, Courttown etc.

*There are more people around the globe claiming Irish heritage than there is in Ireland!

*Englands answer to helping the Irish durning the Famine was to give us american Maise which at the time was used as horse food.

*Ireland populated Scotland.

*Our lagandary hero Chuchullain chose his wife during a peeing competition. She was the one How peed the farthest!

*We have Mummies in St Michans Church.

*the Irish invented gurrilla Warfare. We only ever fought ourselves and England, and when we claimed our independence in 1932, we became neutral. Even today we dont fight but are peacekeepers working with th UN mainly in the Lebanon.

*Did i mention we like Tea?
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Comments

  1. Shalot's Avatar
    is it true that there are a lot red heads in Ireland?
  2. Lily Adams's Avatar
    That is all so interesting! And tea! Of course! Such a lovely drink. I didn't know much of this-this is great. Very nice post. Ireland is so beautiful, from what I've heard and seen. I can't wait to visit!
  3. Niamh's Avatar
    More brunettes than redheads. Readheads have Danish viking blood in them.
  4. Countess's Avatar
    So very interesting, esp the bit how all of Ireland has only 1/2 the pop of London. Wow! What kind of tea do you all prefer?
  5. Niamh's Avatar
    http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w...jinn/Lyons.jpg
    We drink lots of tea blends in tea bags. When we are abroad and we want to get a tea like the one we drink at home we have to ask for either an English or Irish breakfast tea. Oh and with milk. You would be surprised the amout of Irish people who get very disapointed in cafes and restaurants in the States when they have to use that weird Half and half stuff you guys have.(even with coffee) Thats just not good tea. Tea is our answer to everything. Someones upset, they get asked if they want a tea. The average irish person comsumes four cups of tea aday. Builders could drink at least ten. First thing we would have when we get up is a tea. Personally i could drink up to 10 cups a day. We love tea.
    http://store.barrys-tea.com/articles/ireland_tea.html
    Ireland really is a small country. And look at all the great Writers that came from here! It was almost double that figure though, but when the potato famine came in the 1840's most of the population died or emegrated in what were deemed coffin ships(because there was the risk you might not make your destination) to america, canada, australia and new zealand. That many people didnt have to vanish if the British government had only reacted better to the crisis.
  6. kiz_paws's Avatar
    Thank you for that informative Blog entry, Niamh! Interestingly enough, they have Irish Breakfast Tea at a teahouse that I enjoy going to out here. Very smooth brew if I do say so meself! Cheers
  7. Virgil's Avatar
    Yeah, my house guest Larry the Leprechaun, has been telling me all this these last couple of weeks. I'm Irelanded out.
  8. Niamh's Avatar
    Irelanded out? Never! I've plenty more where all that came from!