DLTK's Crafts for Kids
About Ireland

Well, once again, I'm Canadian and am trying to provide a bit of basic information about another country (remember that this is geared towards children).  Hopefully I've done ok!   If you have anything to add, please let me know!  (again, keeping in mind this is geared to the preschool, kindergarten and elementary school level)

• The capital city of Ireland is Dublin
    
• The Irish (Gaelic) word for Ireland is Éire.  The Irish (Gaelic) language evolved from Celtic immigrants around 600 BC.
    
• The first to bring the English language to Ireland were the Normans.  English was adopted as the main language from the latter years of the eighteenth century on. 
    
• In 432 AD St. Patrick arrived to help convert the pagan Gaelic Kings to Christianity.  Saint Patrick's Day (March 17th) is the national holiday of Ireland.  Read more about Saint Patrick.
    
• King Henry VIII (of England) declared himself King of Ireland in 1541 AD.  He was the first English monarch to do this. 
    
• The Irish Parliament was granted legislative independence from England in 1782 AD
    
• Ireland gained its independence in 1922.
    

The Irish flag has three vertical stripes in green, white and orange.  The green represents the older Gaelic people, the orange represents the Protestants (under William of Orange) and the white represents the peace between the two groups.

• The harp (cláirseach), and the small harp (cruit), were the main historical musical instruments of Ireland.  Dances include jigs, reels, hornpipes and sets.
   
• Legends and Irish tales are an essential part of the culture.  Oral story telling is such an important part of tradition that in Gaelic Ireland, the poet was considered the guardian of knowledge.
    
• One of our viewers (Declan) adds:
  • it has 32 counties
  • the largest county is Cork,
  • the smallest county is Louth
  • it has 4 provinces:  Connaught, Ulster, Munster, Leinster