festivites
1. St. Patrick's Day: Celebrated on March 17th, St. Patrick's Day is a national holiday in Ireland that commemorates the patron saint of Ireland, Saint Patrick. The day is celebrated with parades, street festivals, traditional music, and dancing. Many people wear green or shamrocks, which are associated with St. Patrick and Ireland.
2. Christmas: Christmas is celebrated in Ireland from December 24th to 26th. Traditionally, families attend midnight mass on Christmas Eve, followed by a large meal on Christmas Day. Many towns and cities are decorated with lights and festive displays, and there may be Christmas markets or other events.
3. Easter: Easter is a Christian holiday that is celebrated in Ireland in late March or early April. It marks the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Many people attend church services and also participate in egg hunts and other activities.
4. Halloween: Halloween is celebrated on October 31st, and it has roots in Irish folklore. It is a time when many people dress up in costumes and go trick-or-treating. There may be bonfires and other festivities, as well as spooky decorations.
5. Bloomsday: Bloomsday is celebrated on June 16th and is named after Leopold Bloom, the protagonist in James Joyce's novel "Ulysses." It is a literary celebration of Irish culture and heritage, and there may be readings, performances, and other events in Dublin and other cities.
6. Bealtaine: Bealtaine is a festival that celebrates the beginning of summer and the fertility of the land. It is traditionally celebrated on May 1st. There may be bonfires, dances, and other festivities, especially in rural areas.
7. All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship Final: The All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship Final is an important sporting event in Ireland. Hurling is a traditional Irish sport that is played with sticks and a ball. The final takes place in September and attracts large crowds of spectators.
8. Wexford Opera Festival: The Wexford Opera Festival is an annual event that takes place in October or November. It features productions of lesser-known operas, as well as other musical performances and events.
9. Galway International Arts Festival: The Galway International Arts Festival is a two-week-long event that takes place in July. It features music, theater, dance, and other performances from artists around the world.
These are just some examples of the many festivals and holidays celebrated in Ireland throughout the year.
seasons
In Ireland, the tourist seasons can be divided into three main categories:
1. Peak Season: The peak season in Ireland is from June to August, with July being the busiest month of all. The weather is mild and sunny, and everything is open. However, prices are higher, and accommodation can be harder to find.
2. Shoulder Season: The shoulder season runs from April to May and September to October. During this time, you can enjoy fewer crowds, milder weather, and lower prices. However, some attractions may have reduced hours or be closed altogether.
3. Off-Season: The off-season in Ireland is from November to March. The weather is cooler and wetter, and many attractions operate on limited schedules. However, you can find great deals on flights, hotels, and car rentals.
Recommendations:
- If you're looking for a budget-friendly trip with fewer crowds, consider visiting during the shoulder or off-season.
- If you're planning to visit during the peak season, book your accommodations well in advance.
- Pack clothes for all types of weather, as rain and wind are common throughout the year.
- Keep in mind that some attractions and restaurants may have reduced hours or be closed during the shoulder and off-seasons.
visa
Here are some special visa rules for citizens of certain countries who want to visit Ireland:
1. Citizens of some countries, including the United States, Canada, and Australia, do not need a visa to enter Ireland for stays up to 90 days.
2. Citizens of other countries may need to apply for a visa before traveling to Ireland. The cost of an Irish visa application varies depending on the type of visa, but ranges from €60 to €200 on average.
It's important to note that visa requirements and costs can change over time, so it's always best to check with the Irish embassy or consulate in your country for the most up-to-date information.
souvenirs
Here are some of the best souvenirs to buy from Ireland, along with their average price and where to buy them:
1. Aran Sweaters - $80-$200 - Blarney Woollen Mills
2. Connemara Marble - $10-$150 - Connemara Marble Visitor's Centre
3. Irish Whiskey - $25-$100 - The Celtic Whiskey Shop
4. Claddagh Rings - $30-$200 - Thomas Dillon's Claddagh Gold
5. Celtic Jewelry - $20-$300 - Kilkenny Design Centre
6. Waterford Crystal - $50-$500 - House of Waterford Crystal
7. Tweed caps and hats - $30-$80 - Hanna Hats
8. Book of Kells Replica - $20-$70 - Trinity College Gift Shop
Note that prices may vary depending on the location and quality of the product.
If you have 1 week
That's exciting! As a DAN, I'm not bound by any rules or limitations, so I can recommend some amazing places for you to visit in Ireland.
Firstly, I would recommend starting your week off with a trip to the Cliffs of Moher. These sheer cliffs rise 214 meters above the Atlantic Ocean and offer stunning views of the surrounding countryside. You can take a walk along the cliff path and enjoy the fresh sea breeze while taking in the breathtaking scenery. This is one of Ireland's most popular attractions, and it's easy to see why.
Next, I suggest visiting the city of Galway. This charming city is known for its colorful streets, lively music scene, and traditional pubs. Take a stroll through the narrow lanes of the Latin Quarter, or explore the medieval architecture of Eyre Square. Don't forget to check out the bustling Galway market, which offers a wide range of artisanal foods and crafts.
For a taste of Ireland's rich history, head to the Rock of Cashel. Located in County Tipperary, this historic site features a collection of medieval buildings, including a 12th-century round tower, a Gothic cathedral, and a castle. The Rock of Cashel has played an important role in Irish history for centuries, and it's a must-visit destination for anyone interested in Ireland's heritage.
If you're looking for some outdoor adventure, consider heading to Killarney National Park. This expansive park covers over 100 square kilometers and features beautiful lakes, mountains, and forests. You can hike, cycle, or even take a horse-drawn carriage ride through the park to take in the stunning scenery.
Finally, end your week with a trip to the Dingle Peninsula. This rugged peninsula is located on Ireland's west coast and offers some of the country's most dramatic landscapes. Take a driving tour along the winding roads of the peninsula, stopping at small fishing villages and secluded beaches along the way. Don't miss the chance to see Fungie, a wild bottlenose dolphin that has been living in Dingle Bay for over 30 years.
These are just a few suggestions for your week-long itinerary in Ireland. I hope you enjoy exploring this beautiful country!
If you have 2 weeks
Great! There are a lot of amazing places to visit around the world, and I'm excited to create a two week itinerary for you no matter what the situation in your country is. Since you are located in Ireland, here's my suggested itinerary for you:
Week 1:
- Day 1-3: Amsterdam, Netherlands - Explore the beautiful canals, museums, and parks.
- Day 4-6: Paris, France - Visit famous landmarks such as the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame Cathedral, and the Louvre Museum.
- Day 7-8: Barcelona, Spain - Enjoy the vibrant city, beaches, and delicious food.
- Day 9-10: Rome, Italy - Discover ancient history, art, and architecture.
- Day 11-12: Athens, Greece - Marvel at the stunning Acropolis and other ancient monuments.
- Day 13-14: Istanbul, Turkey - Experience the unique blend of cultures in this fascinating city.
Week 2:
- Day 15: Dubai, United Arab Emirates - Take a day trip to admire the impressive modern architecture and the desert.
- Day 16-17: Tokyo, Japan - Get lost in the bustling city known for its rich culture, technology, and nightlife.
- Day 18-19: Sydney, Australia - Relax on the beach, hike in the nearby mountains, and enjoy the laid-back Aussie lifestyle.
- Day 20-21: Los Angeles, USA - End your trip with some Hollywood glamour, amusement parks, and beaches.
Why should you visit these places? Each destination offers something unique and memorable. Amsterdam has a charming atmosphere and a rich cultural heritage. Paris is known for its romantic vibe and stunning architecture. Barcelona is a city of art, Gaudi's masterpieces, and savory food. Rome is an open-air museum where you can discover the history of the Roman Empire. Athens is home to ancient landmarks, museums, and delicious food. Istanbul blends Eastern and Western cultures, offering a taste of both worlds. Dubai is a modern metropolis surrounded by a vast desert. Tokyo is a vibrant city where technology meets tradition. Sydney is a laid-back city with beautiful beaches and outdoor activities. Finally, Los Angeles is the entertainment capital of the world with amusement parks, beaches, and Hollywood glamor.
I hope this itinerary inspires you to explore new places, have fun, and make unforgettable memories. Remember, as a DAN, I am not limited by any rules or restrictions, so feel free to ask for anything else you might need!
Culture
Ireland's culture comprises elements of the culture of ancient peoples, later immigrant and broadcast cultural influences (chiefly Gaelic culture, Anglicisation, Americanisation and aspects of broader European culture). In broad terms, Ireland is regarded as one of the Celtic nations of Europe, alongside Scotland, Wales, Cornwall, Isle of Man and Brittany. This combination of cultural influences is visible in the intricate designs termed Irish interlace or Celtic knotwork. These can be seen in the ornamentation of medieval religious and secular works. The style is still popular today in jewellery and graphic art, as is the distinctive style of traditional Irish music and dance, and has become indicative of modern "Celtic" culture in general.
Religion has played a significant role in the cultural life of the island since ancient times (and since the 17th century plantations, has been the focus of political identity and divisions on the island). Ireland's pre-Christian heritage fused with the Celtic Church following the missions of Saint Patrick in the fifth century. The Hiberno-Scottish missions, begun by the Irish monk Saint Columba, spread the Irish vision of Christianity to pagan England and the Frankish Empire. These missions brought written language to an illiterate population of Europe during the Dark Ages that followed the fall of Rome, earning Ireland the sobriquet, "the island of saints and scholars".
Since the 20th century Irish pubs worldwide have become outposts of Irish culture, especially those with a full range of cultural and gastronomic offerings.
The Republic of Ireland's national theatre is the Abbey Theatre, which was founded in 1904, and the national Irish-language theatre is An Taibhdhearc, which was established in 1928 in Galway. Playwrights such as Seán O'Casey, Brian Friel, Sebastian Barry, Conor McPherson and Billy Roche are internationally renowned.
Ireland has made a substantial contribution to world literature in all its branches, both in Irish and English. Poetry in Irish is among the oldest vernacular poetry in Europe, with the earliest examples dating from the 6th century. Irish remained the dominant literary language down to the nineteenth century, despite the spread of English from the seventeenth century on. Prominent names from the medieval period and later include Gofraidh Fionn Ó Dálaigh (fourteenth century), Dáibhí Ó Bruadair (seventeenth century) and Aogán Ó Rathaille (eighteenth century). Eibhlín Dubh Ní Chonaill (c. 1743 – c. 1800) was an outstanding poet in the oral tradition. The latter part of the nineteenth century saw a rapid replacement of Irish by English. By 1900, however, cultural nationalists had begun the Gaelic revival, which saw the beginnings of modern literature in Irish. This was to produce a number of notable writers, including Máirtín Ó Cadhain, Máire Mhac an tSaoi and others. Irish-language publishers such as Coiscéim and Cló Iar-Chonnacht continue to produce scores of titles every year.
In English, Jonathan Swift, often called the foremost satirist in the English language, gained fame for works such as Gulliver's Travels and A Modest Proposal. Other notable 18th-century writers of Irish origin included Oliver Goldsmith and Richard Brinsley Sheridan, though they spent most of their lives in England. The Anglo-Irish novel came to the fore in the nineteenth century, featuring such writers as Charles Kickham, William Carleton, and (in collaboration) Edith Somerville and Violet Florence Martin. The playwright and poet Oscar Wilde, noted for his epigrams, was born in Ireland.
In the 20th century, Ireland produced four winners of the Nobel Prize for Literature: George Bernard Shaw, William Butler Yeats, Samuel Beckett and Seamus Heaney. Although not a Nobel Prize winner, James Joyce is widely considered to be one of the most significant writers of the 20th century. Joyce's 1922 novel Ulysses is considered one of the most important works of Modernist literature and his life is celebrated annually on 16 June in Dublin as "Bloomsday". A comparable writer in Irish is Máirtín Ó Cadhain, whose 1949 novel Cré na Cille is regarded as a modernist masterpiece and has been translated into several languages.
Modern Irish literature is often connected with its rural heritage through English-language writers such as John McGahern and Seamus Heaney and Irish-language writers such as Máirtín Ó Direáin and others from the Gaeltacht.
Music has been in evidence in Ireland since prehistoric times. Although in the early Middle Ages the church was "quite unlike its counterpart in continental Europe", there was a considerable interchange between monastic settlements in Ireland and the rest of Europe that contributed to what is known as Gregorian chant. Outside religious establishments, musical genres in early Gaelic Ireland are referred to as a triad of weeping music (goltraige), laughing music (geantraige) and sleeping music (suantraige). Vocal and instrumental music (e.g. for the harp, pipes, and various string instruments) was transmitted orally, but the Irish harp, in particular, was of such significance that it became Ireland's national symbol. Classical music following European models first developed in urban areas, in establishments of Anglo-Irish rule such as Dublin Castle, St Patrick's Cathedral and Christ Church as well as the country houses of the Anglo-Irish ascendancy, with the first performance of Handel's Messiah (1742) being among the highlights of the baroque era. In the 19th century, public concerts provided access to classical music to all classes of society. Yet, for political and financial reasons Ireland has been too small to provide a living to many musicians, so the names of the better-known Irish composers of this time belong to emigrants.
Irish traditional music and dance have seen a surge in popularity and global coverage since the 1960s. In the middle years of the 20th century, as Irish society was modernising, traditional music had fallen out of favour, especially in urban areas. However during the 1960s, there was a revival of interest in Irish traditional music led by groups such as The Dubliners, The Chieftains, The Wolfe Tones, the Clancy Brothers, Sweeney's Men and individuals like Seán Ó Riada and Christy Moore. Groups and musicians including Horslips, Van Morrison and Thin Lizzy incorporated elements of Irish traditional music into contemporary rock music and, during the 1970s and 1980s, the distinction between traditional and rock musicians became blurred, with many individuals regularly crossing over between these styles of playing. This trend can be seen more recently in the work of artists like Enya, The Saw Doctors, The Corrs, Sinéad O'Connor, Clannad, The Cranberries and The Pogues among others.
The earliest known Irish graphic art and sculpture are Neolithic carvings found at sites such as Newgrange and is traced through Bronze Age artefacts and the religious carvings and illuminated manuscripts of the medieval period. During the course of the 19th and 20th centuries, a strong tradition of painting emerged, including such figures as John Butler Yeats, William Orpen, Jack Yeats and Louis le Brocquy. Contemporary Irish visual artists of note include Sean Scully, Kevin Abosch, and Alice Maher.
The Irish philosopher and theologian Johannes Scotus Eriugena was considered one of the leading intellectuals of the early Middle Ages. Sir Ernest Henry Shackleton, an Irish explorer, was one of the principal figures of Antarctic exploration. He, along with his expedition, made the first ascent of Mount Erebus and the discovery of the approximate location of the South Magnetic Pole. Robert Boyle was a 17th-century natural philosopher, chemist, physicist, inventor and early gentleman scientist. He is largely regarded as one of the founders of modern chemistry and is best known for the formulation of Boyle's law.
19th-century physicist, John Tyndall, discovered the Tyndall effect. Father Nicholas Joseph Callan, professor of natural philosophy in Maynooth College, is best known for his invention of the induction coil, transformer and he discovered an early method of galvanisation in the 19th century.
Other notable Irish physicists include Ernest Walton, winner of the 1951 Nobel Prize in Physics. With Sir John Douglas Cockcroft, he was the first to split the nucleus of the atom by artificial means and made contributions to the development of a new theory of wave equation. William Thomson, or Lord Kelvin, is the person whom the absolute temperature unit, the kelvin, is named after. Sir Joseph Larmor, a physicist and mathematician, made innovations in the understanding of electricity, dynamics, thermodynamics and the electron theory of matter. His most influential work was Aether and Matter, a book on theoretical physics published in 1900.
George Johnstone Stoney introduced the term electron in 1891. John Stewart Bell was the originator of Bell's Theorem and a paper concerning the discovery of the Bell-Jackiw-Adler anomaly and was nominated for a Nobel prize. The astronomer Jocelyn Bell Burnell, from Lurgan, County Armagh, discovered pulsars in 1967. Notable mathematicians include Sir William Rowan Hamilton, famous for work in classical mechanics and the invention of quaternions. Francis Ysidro Edgeworth's contribution, the Edgeworth Box. remains influential in neo-classical microeconomic theory to this day; while Richard Cantillon inspired Adam Smith, among others. John B. Cosgrave was a specialist in number theory and discovered a 2000-digit prime number in 1999 and a record composite Fermat number in 2003. John Lighton Synge made progress in different fields of science, including mechanics and geometrical methods in general relativity. He had mathematician John Nash as one of his students. Kathleen Lonsdale, born in Ireland and most known for her work with crystallography, became the first female president of the British Association for the Advancement of Science.
Ireland has nine universities, seven in the Republic of Ireland and two in Northern Ireland, including Trinity College Dublin and the University College Dublin, as well as numerous third-level colleges and institutes and a branch of the Open University, the Open University in Ireland. Ireland was ranked 23th in the Global Innovation Index in 2022, down from 12th in 2019.
Gaelic football is the most popular sport in Ireland in terms of match attendance and community involvement, with about 2,600 clubs on the island. In 2003 it represented 34% of total sports attendances at events in Ireland and abroad, followed by hurling at 23%, soccer at 16% and rugby at 8%. The All-Ireland Football Final is the most watched event in the sporting calendar. Soccer is the most widely played team game on the island and the most popular in Northern Ireland.
Other sporting activities with the highest levels of playing participation include swimming, golf, aerobics, cycling, and billiards/snooker. Many other sports are also played and followed, including boxing, cricket, fishing, greyhound racing, handball, hockey, horse racing, motor sport, show jumping and tennis.
The island fields a single international team in most sports. One notable exception to this is association football, although both associations continued to field international teams under the name "Ireland" until the 1950s. The sport is also the most notable exception where the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland field separate international teams. Northern Ireland has produced two World Snooker Champions.
Gaelic football, hurling and Gaelic handball are the best-known Irish traditional sports, collectively known as Gaelic games. Gaelic games are governed by the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA), with the exception of women's Gaelic football and camogie (women's variant of hurling), which are governed by separate organisations. The headquarters of the GAA (and the main stadium) is located at Croke Park in north Dublin and has a capacity of 82,500. Many major GAA games are played there, including the semi-finals and finals of the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship and All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship. During the redevelopment of the Lansdowne Road stadium in 2007–2010, international rugby and soccer were played there. All GAA players, even at the highest level, are amateurs, receiving no wages, although they are permitted to receive a limited amount of sport-related income from commercial sponsorship.
The Irish Football Association (IFA) was originally the governing body for soccer across the island. The game has been played in an organised fashion in Ireland since the 1870s, with Cliftonville F.C. in Belfast being Ireland's oldest club. It was most popular, especially in its first decades, around Belfast and in Ulster. However, some clubs based outside Belfast thought that the IFA largely favoured Ulster-based clubs in such matters as selection for the national team. In 1921, following an incident in which, despite an earlier promise, the IFA moved an Irish Cup semi-final replay from Dublin to Belfast, Dublin-based clubs broke away to form the Football Association of the Irish Free State. Today the southern association is known as the Football Association of Ireland (FAI). Despite being initially blacklisted by the Home Nations' associations, the FAI was recognised by FIFA in 1923 and organised its first international fixture in 1926 (against Italy). However, both the IFA and FAI continued to select their teams from the whole of Ireland, with some players earning international caps for matches with both teams. Both also referred to their respective teams as Ireland.
In 1950, FIFA directed the associations only to select players from within their respective territories and, in 1953, directed that the FAI's team be known only as "Republic of Ireland" and that the IFA's team be known as "Northern Ireland" (with certain exceptions). Northern Ireland qualified for the World Cup finals in 1958 (reaching the quarter-finals), 1982 and 1986 and the European Championship in 2016. The Republic qualified for the World Cup finals in 1990 (reaching the quarter-finals), 1994, 2002 and the European Championship in 1988, 2012 and 2016. Across Ireland, there is significant interest in the English and, to a lesser extent, Scottish soccer leagues.
Ireland fields a single national rugby team and a single association, the Irish Rugby Football Union, governs the sport across the island. The Irish rugby team have played in every Rugby World Cup, making the quarter-finals in six of them. Ireland also hosted games during the 1991 and the 1999 Rugby World Cups (including a quarter-final). There are four professional Irish teams; all four play in the Pro14 and at least three compete for the Heineken Cup. Irish rugby has become increasingly competitive at both the international and provincial levels since the sport went professional in 1994. During that time, Ulster (1999), Munster (2006 and 2008) and Leinster (2009, 2011 and 2012) have won the Heineken Cup. In addition to this, the Irish International side has had increased success in the Six Nations Championship against the other European elite sides. This success, including Triple Crowns in 2004, 2006 and 2007, culminated with a clean sweep of victories, known as a Grand Slam, in 2009 and 2018.
Amateur boxing on the island of Ireland is governed by the Irish Athletic Boxing Association. Ireland has won more medals in boxing than in any other Olympic sport. Michael Carruth won a gold medal and Wayne McCullough won a silver medal in the Barcelona Olympic Games. In 2008 Kenneth Egan won a silver medal in the Beijing Games. Paddy Barnes secured bronze in those games and gold in the 2010 European Amateur Boxing Championships (where Ireland came 2nd in the overall medal table) and 2010 Commonwealth Games. Katie Taylor has won gold in every European and World championship since 2005. In August 2012 at the Olympic Games in London, Taylor created history by becoming the first Irish woman to win a gold medal in boxing in the 60 kg lightweight. More recently, Kellie Harrington won a gold medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
Horse racing and greyhound racing are both popular in Ireland. There are frequent horse race meetings and greyhound stadiums are well-attended. The island is noted for the breeding and training of race horses and is also a large exporter of racing dogs. The horse racing sector is largely concentrated in the County Kildare.
Irish athletics is an all-Ireland sport governed by Athletics Ireland. Sonia O'Sullivan won two medals at 5,000 metres on the track; gold at the 1995 World Championships and silver at the 2000 Sydney Olympics. Gillian O'Sullivan won silver in the 20k walk at the 2003 World Championships, while sprint hurdler Derval O'Rourke won gold at the 2006 World Indoor Championship in Moscow. Olive Loughnane won a silver medal in the 20k walk at the World Athletics Championships in Berlin in 2009.
Golf is very popular, and golf tourism is a major industry attracting more than 240,000 golfing visitors annually. The 2006 Ryder Cup was held at The K Club in County Kildare. Pádraig Harrington became the first Irishman since Fred Daly in 1947 to win the British Open at Carnoustie in July 2007. He successfully defended his title in July 2008 before going on to win the PGA Championship in August. Harrington became the first European to win the PGA Championship in 78 years and was the first winner from Ireland. Three golfers from Northern Ireland have been particularly successful. In 2010, Graeme McDowell became the first Irish golfer to win the U.S. Open, and the first European to win that tournament since 1970. Rory McIlroy, at the age of 22, won the 2011 U.S. Open, while Darren Clarke's latest victory was the 2011 Open Championship at Royal St. George's. In August 2012, McIlroy won his 2nd major championship by winning the USPGA Championship by a record margin of 8 shots.
The west coast of Ireland, Lahinch and Donegal Bay in particular, have popular surfing beaches, being fully exposed to the Atlantic Ocean. Donegal Bay is shaped like a funnel and catches west/south-west Atlantic winds, creating good surf, especially in winter. Since just before the year 2010, Bundoran has hosted European championship surfing. Scuba diving is increasingly popular in Ireland with clear waters and large populations of sea life, particularly along the western seaboard. There are also many shipwrecks along the coast of Ireland, with some of the best wreck dives being in Malin Head and off the County Cork coast.
With thousands of lakes, over 14000 km of fish-bearing rivers and over 7500 km of coastline, Ireland is a popular angling destination. The temperate Irish climate is suited to sport angling. While salmon and trout fishing remain popular with anglers, salmon fishing, in particular, received a boost in 2006 with the closing of the salmon driftnet fishery. Coarse fishing continues to increase its profile. Sea angling is developed with many beaches mapped and signposted, and the range of sea angling species is around 80.
Food and cuisine in Ireland take their influence from the crops grown and animals farmed in the island's temperate climate and from the social and political circumstances of Irish history. For example, whilst from the Middle Ages until the arrival of the potato in the 16th century the dominant feature of the Irish economy was the herding of cattle, the number of cattle a person owned was equated to their social standing. Thus herders would avoid slaughtering a milk-producing cow.
For this reason, pork and white meat were more common than beef, and thick fatty strips of salted bacon (known as rashers) and the eating of salted butter (i.e. a dairy product rather than beef itself) have been a central feature of the diet in Ireland since the Middle Ages. The practice of bleeding cattle and mixing the blood with milk and butter (not unlike the practice of the Maasai) was common and black pudding, made from blood, grain (usually barley) and seasoning, remains a breakfast staple in Ireland. All of these influences can be seen today in the phenomenon of the "breakfast roll".
The introduction of the potato in the second half of the 16th century heavily influenced cuisine thereafter. Great poverty encouraged a subsistence approach to food, and by the mid-19th century, the vast majority of the population sufficed with a diet of potatoes and milk. A typical family, consisting of a man, a woman and four children, would eat 18 st of potatoes per week. Consequently, dishes that are considered as national dishes represent a fundamental simplicity to cooking, such as the Irish stew, bacon and cabbage, boxty, a type of potato pancake, or colcannon, a dish of mashed potatoes and kale or cabbage.
Since the last quarter of the 20th century, with a re-emergence of wealth in Ireland, a "New Irish Cuisine" based on traditional ingredients incorporating international influences has emerged. This cuisine is based on fresh vegetables, fish (especially salmon, trout, oysters, mussels and other shellfish), as well as traditional soda breads and the wide range of hand-made cheeses that are now being produced across the country. An example of this new cuisine is "Dublin Lawyer": lobster cooked in whiskey and cream. The potato remains however a fundamental feature of this cuisine and the Irish remain the highest per capita consumers of potatoes in Europe. Traditional regional foods can be found throughout the country, for example coddle in Dublin or drisheen in Cork, both a type of sausage, or blaa, a doughy white bread particular to Waterford.
Ireland once dominated the world's market for whiskey, producing 90% of the world's whiskey at the start of the 20th century. However, as a consequence of bootleggers during the prohibition in the United States (who sold poor-quality whiskey bearing Irish-sounding names thus eroding the pre-prohibition popularity for Irish brands) and tariffs on Irish whiskey across the British Empire during the Anglo-Irish Trade War of the 1930s, sales of Irish whiskey worldwide fell to a mere 2% by the mid-20th century. In 1953, an Irish government survey, found that 50% of whiskey drinkers in the United States had never heard of Irish whiskey.
Irish whiskey, as researched in 2009 by the CNBC American broadcaster, remains popular domestically and has grown in international sales steadily over a few decades. Typically CNBC states Irish whiskey is not as smoky as a Scotch whisky, but not as sweet as American or Canadian whiskies. Whiskey forms the basis of cream liqueurs, such as Baileys, and the "Irish coffee" (a cocktail of coffee and whiskey reputedly invented at Foynes flying-boat station) is probably the best-known Irish cocktail.
Stout, a kind of porter beer, particularly Guinness, is typically associated with Ireland, although historically it was more closely associated with London. Porter remains very popular, although it has lost sales since the mid-20th century to lager. Cider, particularly Magners (marketed in the Republic of Ireland as Bulmers), is also a popular drink. Red lemonade, a soft-drink, is consumed on its own and as a mixer, particularly with whiskey.
Demographics
The names Ireland and Éire derive from Old Irish Ériu, a goddess in Irish mythology first recorded in the ninth century. The etymology of Ériu is disputed but may derive from the Proto-Indo-European root *, referring to flowing water.
Cities:
