Irish Culture
The culture of Ireland is well known all across the world. From the infamous St. Patrick’s Day holiday to legendary “luck of the Irish”, even superstitions and myths about leprechauns. Traditional Irish music has been maintained for hundreds of years and is still written and performed to this day. Irish dancing has also become hugely popular worldwide, thanks in part to the feature film Riverdance.
Ireland is responsible for a very significant amount of English literature. Irish poetry actually represents the oldest vernacular poetry in all of Europe, with examples dating as far back as the 6th century. Irish author James Joyce is considered one of the most important writers of the 20th century. His 1922 novel, Ulysses, is considered to be one of the most significant works of Modernist literature.
Traditional Irish music has inspired musicians worldwide. Elements of it can be found in the music of artists such as U2, Flogging Molly, Sinéad O’Connor, Damien Rice and many more.
The biggest sports in Ireland are Gaelic Football and Association Football, followed by Hurling and Rugby. Association Football is identical to the sport of Soccer here in the United States. Gaelic Football appears somewhat similar to Association Football, with a few key differences, including a different goal as well as the player’s ability to use his hands. Boxing is also a popular sport in Ireland. Irish boxer Michael Carruth won a gold medal in the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona. Also widely popular in Ireland is golf. It brings in a significant amount of revenue from tourism, since the notoriously scenic and elaborate Irish golf courses are world renowned.
Aside from St. Patrick’s Day, other traditionally celebrated Irish holidays include Christmas and Easter. St. Stephen’s Day, also known as Boxing Day, is observed the day after Christmas. St. Stephen’s Day is celebrated as a day to give gifts to the people that are less fortunate.
Ireland is also world famous for its beer. By the end of the 19th century there were over 200 breweries in the country, and 55 of them alone were in the city of Dublin. They have since dwindled in numbers, but the demand for Irish beer worldwide is stronger than ever. The most popular Irish beer is Guinness, created by Arthur Guinness in the 1750s. Another very popular Irish beer is Harp Lager, particularly in Northern Ireland.
The culture and history of Ireland is vast and rich, and the people are just as eager to teach you about it as they are kind and hospitable.