Irish culture and Irish customs - World Cultures European » 7 Irish Proverbs Adopted Into Pop Culture When Saint Patrick’s Day rolls around, everyone embraces a little Irish spirit. Sporting shamrocks and shillelaghs and wearing a bit o’ green, friends come together to celebrate this most Celtic tradition — and no one celebrates like the Irish! Given the enthusiasm with which America endorses this holiday, perhaps it’s no surprise that Irish culture has blended so happily with American pop culture. In honor of Saint Patrick’s Day, here are a few examples of Irish wisdom and sayings that have come to be part of modern culture. May the Road Rise Up to Meet You Chances are you’ve seen this famous blessing stitched on a pillow at your Irish granny’s house or emblazoned on a plaque hung near her door. It Is Often That a Person’s Mouth Broke His Nose Sure, this one plays into the stereotype of an Irishman’s passion for brawling, but this good advice applies to everyone equally. A Son Is a Son ‘Til He Takes Him a Wife. The Older the Fiddle, the Sweeter the Tune Slainte!
Ireland in the Movies Whether you are planning a holiday or just interested in Ireland in general, movies can be a great way to explore the country from your armchair. Here are my ten top picks of movies you should see ... but be aware that this a very personal list! Some classics such as "Ryan's Daughter" and "Man of Aran" are missing, as are "The Field" with the inimitable Richard Harris and the rather uneven "Patriot Games" based on Tom Clancy's novel. Michael Collins Liam Neeson stars as the "Big Fellow" himself while Alan Rickman delivers an icy performance as ally-turned-enemy de Valera. The Quiet Man John Wayne is the famed boxer returning from the USA to Connemara to live a quiet life - which local rivals try to hinder and the flame-haired Maureen O'Hara considerably complicates. Angela's Ashes Limerick still has the nickname "Stab City" due to numerous incidents involving sharp, pointed implements - but is has come a long way from the depressing greyness of Frank McCourt's childhood. Waking Ned Devive
Wales profile - Overview 15 January 2013Last updated at 06:19 ET Wales, a part of the United Kingdom, has retained its distinctive culture and has enjoyed a degree of autonomy since 1999. It includes a heavily industrialised south, a largely-Anglicised and prosperous farming east, and a Welsh-speaking, hill-farming North and West. Wales' devolved government - home rule - is now acquiring more powers and its economy is refocusing on light industry, tourism and financial services, but a small population and poor transport infrastructure continue to make development uneven. Welsh identity and the Welsh language have received a boost from an enlivened popular culture scene in the 1990s, and from the devolution of power from the central government in London to the Welsh National Assembly in Cardiff. Rugby is a national passion Continue reading the main story At a glance Country profiles compiled by BBC Monitoring Wales is a large peninsula in western Britain, divided from England by major rivers and mountain ranges.
Irish Customs, Food and Fun Folklore for Your Family Reunion - CustomInk Celebrating culture and heritage is plenty of fun for Irish families when they get together for a family reunion. Ireland has a rich history of arts, music, dance, mythology, and cuisine. By introducing some of these aspects in a family reunion, it is a wonderful way of passing down parts of one’s heritage to the next generation. Many people in the U.S. have Irish ancestry. Even if you have not been to Ireland, there is still plenty you can do to celebrate the culture. Irish Traditions Irish song and dance have become well-known in the last couple of decades thanks to the award-winning touring show, Riverdance. Irish Food Although potatoes have come to be a bit of an Irish stereotype, they are usually joined by several other foods. Irish Folklore Most people are familiar with the image of the Irish leprechaun.
Ireland Map / Geography of Ireland / Map of Ireland The last Ice Age melted away some 10,000 years ago, and that dramatic event created the English Channel, Irish Sea and hundreds of rivers and lakes. Great Britain and Ireland (long attached to the European continent) were now islands, and cultural history was about to change. The Celtic people occupied great stretches of land across central Europe by 500 BC. They first arrived in Ireland around 300 BC, subsequently controlling and influencing this land that the powerful Roman culture never reached. The Pope in Rome (Celestinus the First) sent the first Christian missionaries to Ireland in the 5th century, including St. This somewhat peaceful Celtic world was first invaded by the Vikings in the late 8th century. Localized fighting over land and property continued for decades, but over time, some Celtic family groups and Vikings reached alliances - sort of a workable, live together understanding. Understandably, the now angry and proud Celts rebelled, and bloody riots soon followed.
Burren National Park - Homepage 10 English jokes to make learning English fun. Laughter is the best medicine Jokes are an essential part of any language and culture and are a great way of understanding the target language through the play on words and a culture’s sense of humour. The English Language is filled with witty, clever jokes that illustrate the play on words such as homophones, double entendre and puns like this: Did you hear about the guy whose whole left side was cut off? He’s all right now. Every evening I share a joke on my Facebook Page under the title of Evening Fun. “I’m not sure that’s what they mean by now reduce the wine” 1. 2. Source: English is Fun 3. 4. Source: The Spectator 5. 6. 7. Source: Dawn French Fan Page 8. 9. Source: Woodward English 10. For more jokes, do take a look at the English Club. If you liked this post please share it. Have a great weekend, folks. Ciao for now Shanthi
How St. Patrick's Day Works" Regardless of your heritage, you're probably very aware of St. Patrick's Day. Celebrated each year on March 17, it's a day when people from all sorts of national and ethnic backgrounds dip a toe in Irish culture. Many observe the day by sporting a bright green shirt and meeting up with friends at a favorite local Irish pub. But there's a lot more to St. Patrick's Day than simply wearing green and knocking back a pint of Guinness. For instance, who was Saint Patrick? As the luck of the Irish would have it, we've got the answers to these questions as well as lots more information about this historic holiday. St Patrick North Ireland profile - Overview 17 January 2013Last updated at 11:40 ET Northern Ireland, a part of the United Kingdom, is emerging from a period of conflict known as "the Troubles" and is attempting to implement an historic peace deal. Security has returned - though not without occasional reminders of the bad old days - and Northern Ireland has begun to reap the economic and social benefits. But divisions persist, finding physical form in the barriers that separate some communities. Preferences in schooling, sport and culture often follow ethnic and religious fault lines. Northern Ireland is made up of six counties and forms part of the province of Ulster. Giant murals became one of the main symbols of Northern Ireland's divisions Continue reading the main story Politics: Efforts to overcome the long conflict between pro-UK Unionists and pro-Ireland Nationalists has led to a devolved power-sharing government involving both sides. Profiles compiled by BBC Monitoring Religious and cultural traditions meld with politics.
Taboos and Issues – Controversial Discussion Topics | ESL Docs TABOOS AND ISSUES is a photocopiable Teachers’ Resource Book. It covers many serious issues which are usually, and quite reasonably, considered unsuitable for inclusion in general coursebooks. It provides the opportunity for adults to discuss controversial issues. The book claims to cover ‘stimulating and relevant topics’ like ‘those we find in the newspapers everyday’ but are not covered in the usual ‘bland’ teaching materials ‘ devoid of the topics we discuss in our daily lives’, and with certain exceptions such as animal rights and ‘How honest are you?’ the topics are most certainly the most unusual and interesting part of the book. Read the full review @
Bobby Sands Biography Early Years A hero among Irish nationalists, Robert Gerard "Bobby" Sands was born in Belfast, Ireland on March 9, 1954. Bobby Sands was the oldest of four children born to John and Rosaleen Sands, and the couple's first son. At an early age, Sands's life was affected by the sharp divisions that shaped Northern Ireland. At the age of 10, he was forced to move with his family out of their neighborhood due to repeated intimidation by British loyalists. "I was only a working-class boy from a Nationalist ghetto," Sands later wrote about his childhood. Loyalist intimidation proved to be a theme in Sands's life. Activism The steady number of conflicts pushed Sands to join the Republican Movement in 1972. In late 1976, authorities arrested Sands again, this time in connection with a bombing that had taken place at a large furniture company, and an ensuing gun battle. As a prisoner, Sands's stature only grew. Death and Legacy
25 maps that explain the English language English is the language of Shakespeare and the language of Chaucer. It’s spoken in dozens of countries around the world, from the United States to a tiny island named Tristan da Cunha. It reflects the influences of centuries of international exchange, including conquest and colonization, from the Vikings through the 21st century. Here are 25 maps and charts that explain how English got started and evolved into the differently accented languages spoken today. The origins of English 1) Where English comes from English, like more than 400 other languages, is part of the Indo-European language family, sharing common roots not just with German and French but with Russian, Hindi, Punjabi, and Persian. 2) Where Indo-European languages are spoken in Europe today Saying that English is Indo-European, though, doesn’t really narrow it down much. 3) The Anglo-Saxon migration 4) The Danelaw The next source of English was Old Norse. 5)The Norman Conquest 6) The Great Vowel Shift The spread of English Credits