IRELAND

Location

Ireland is a european country placed at the north west coast. Ireland is divided in 4 provinces, and they are divided into 32 counties.

Languages

In Ireland english and gaelic are spoken

Climate

In Spring the normal temperature is between 8º and 12º and in Summer  is between 18º and 20º.
The average of day hours in this 2 terms is more or less 18 hours
In fall the normal temperature is between 16º and 18º and in winter is normally less than 8º.

National simbols

• The harp in many forms and styles has been used on the coat of arms of Ireland since medieval times.
• Flag of Ireland
• Shamrock.
• "Sworn to be free"

What to see?

• The giant causeway

MYTH: Finn is having trouble with someone across the water. The Scottish giant Benandonner is threatening Ireland. An enraged Finn grabs chunks of the Antrim coast and throws them into the sea. The rock forms a path for Finn to follow and teach Benandonner a lesson. Bad idea – Benandonner is terrifyingly massive. Finn beats a hasty retreat, followed by the giant, only to be saved by our hero’s quick-thinking wife who disguised him as a baby. The angry Scot saw the baby and decided if the child was that big, the daddy must be really huge.

SCIENCE:The Giant’s Causeway is the aftermath of volcanic crashing, burning and cooling 60-million-year-old legacy to lava. Over 40,000 basalt columns. Interlocked.

• Blackrock Castle

Cork's coat of arms said that the city was a safe port for boats.The Blackrock castle was built in the 16th century as a protection for the deepest ports in the world against piratery and naval attacks, and by the way to protect the nobility of the rebel county. Nowdays The Cork Institute of Technology is placed inside it.

• Friar's Bush Belfast

This underground tunnel that connects 2 wings of the University of Queens. It is located near Friar's Bush, one of the oldest graveyard in the city. Many students don't want to go through this tunnel alone, frightened by an intense and supernatural cold. On one occasion 3 men were going to cross it, two of them stopped refusing to go ahead, then  the first man felt someone holding his hand, but he did not look back until he reached the other end, when he realized he was alone.

Legends and Myths

• The fairies

It is said that they live in “cnocs” (hollow hills, in Irish), which are located in the “sidhe”. The “sidhe” are mounds where megalithic monuments are erected in many places on the island. There the fairies are ruled by a king or queen.One of the most famous legends about fairies is that referring to the “Lady of Death”, a fairy that appears during the night with hair loose and red eyes. According to it is said that she arrives at the home of a family to mourn for several days the death that will fall on one of its members.

• The mermaids

Although we always refer to them as female, the truth is that also exist male sirens. They differ from them in that they are uglier; have a pig face and sharp teeth.In Ireland, it is said that mermaids have a unique jewel, and if a man manages to keep the treasure, the mermaid will be forced to marry him. This will give a man a beautiful wife and great wealth; but if she recovers it, she will leave husband and children to return to the sea.

• The Banshees

The banshee is a female spirit and roams the countryside and can be heard wailing when she predicts a death.She can appear in a number of guises, as a young beautiful woman, a stately matron or as an ugly frightening hag. She is usually dressed in a grey or white hooded cloak. Her mourning cries can be heard usually at night when someone is about to die.It is believed by many that she only appears to select number of families, namely the main Irish families the O’ Neills, O’ Connors, O’ Briens,O’ Gradys and Kavanaghs.While the banshee will not harm the person she encounters. There is also good banshees: The Lianhan Sídhe is a beautiful woman who attracts men but this love will lead to their downfall.

• The Leprechauns

Fairy that is intelligent and sometimes deviousand also are either good or evil. They usually wear a variation of the same general outfit red pants buckled at the knee with a matching coat and shoes with buckles on the tops. Another part of the Leprechaun legend includes their pots of gold.

According to this story, the Danes invaded Ireland and left gold scattered all over Ireland. The leprechauns found it and have guarded it ever since. Regardless of which story is told, they all say that whoever catches one is a very lucky person. Catching them is difficult, but holding on to them is even trickier. Keeping them long enough to make sure that they follow through on their promise to deliver the gold or three wishes is the key to getting the reward. Leprechauns are certainly a fascinating piece of Irish legend.