THE EMERALD ISLE

 THE ISLAND OF IRELAND IS SITUATED IN THE EXTREME NORTH-WEST OF EUROPE. THE ISLAND´S GEOGRAPHY COMPRISES OF RELATIVELY LOW-LYING MOUNTAINS SURROUNDING A CENTRAL PLAIN. THE IRISH CLIMATE AND THE COUNTRY´S HIGH ANNUAL RAINFALL ACCOUNT FOR ITS LUSH GREEN VEGETATION, AND FOR IT BEING KNOWN AS THE EMERALD ISLE. AS WELL AS ITS FORTY SHADES OF GREEN, IRELAND IS ALSO FAMOUS FOR ITS STUNNING LANDSCAPES.

IT IS BELIEVED THAT IRELAND HAS BEEN INHABITED SINCE THE STONE AGE. AROUND 300 B.C., IRON AGE WARRIORS KNOWN AS THE CELTS CAME TO IRELAND, ITS HISTORY, LANGUAGE AND CULTURE.

IRELAND HAS TWO OFFICIAL LANGUAGES, GAELIC (OR IRISH) WHICH STEMS FROM THE LANGUAGE OF THE CELTS AND ENGLISH. ALL OFFICIAL DOCUMENTS AND SIGNPOSTS IN THE REPUBLIC OF IRELAND ARE WRITTEN IN BOTH GAELIC AND ENGLISH. HOWEVER, WHILE GAELIC IS THE FIRST OFFICIAL LANGUAGE OF THE COUNTRY, ITS IS ONLY USED ON A DAILY BASIS BY A SMALL NUMBER OF THE ISLAND´S INHABITANTS. ENGLISH IS THE EVERYDAY LANGUAGE OF THE VAST MAJORITY OF THE IRISH.

THE POPULATION OF THE ISLAND OF IRELAND IS ONLY ABOUT 6,5 MILLION. HOWEVER, DOWN THROUGH THE CENTURIES MILLIONS OF IRISH PEOPLE LEFT THEIR NATIVE LAND TO ESCAPE POLITICAL AND RELIGIOUS PERSECUTION. SEVERE POVERTY ALSO FORCED MANY TO EMIGRATE IN SEARCH OF A NEW LIFE IN OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD. TODAY IT IS ESTIMATED THAT MORE THAN 80 MILLION PEOPLE WORLDWIDE CLAIM SOME IRISH DESCENT. THIS PROBABLY HELPS EXPLAIN WHY ST.PATRICK´S DAY, MARCH 17, A DAY DEDICATED TO THE PATRON SAINT OF THE EMERALD ISLE, IS CELEBRATED IN SO MANY PARTS OF THE GLOBE.