Homeland Art

The Irish Americans are citizens of United States whose ancestors were originated from Ireland. Ronald Reagan and John F. Kennedy are some of the popular Irish Americans.  The reasons why the Irish people immigrated to America are as follows: Economic hardships, social policies, famine and some religious intolerance were the major reasons for Irish immigrating to America.  The main reason for Irish migration to US was to escape the potato famine. People had to leave their land for survival. The potato was the important food crop in Ireland at the time. Yet they also grew oats, grains etc. But the poorest people could not afford to buy oats and thus they were increasingly dependant on the potato. The great famine attacked Ireland in the early 1800s and therefore 35% of Irish people depended on the potato as their main source of food. In 1830s the Government decided to tackle poverty. One such policy includes subsidized immigration to America.  There was little or no industry in Ireland. Hence the native Irish people wanted to go abroad o improve their life style. America became a destination for many Irish people.  Irish catholic people migrated to America to work as domestic servants or as a result of penal exile. Between 1820 and 1840 more catholic Irish immigrated to America. Most of the Irish immigrants settled in big cities of America like New York, Boston etc. they became the urbanized group in America while few of them settled a farmers. The Irish Catholic immigrants had high organization qualities and therefore they became the leaders of many Catholic Church in United States.

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Many people migrated from Ireland and settled in various parts of America due to famine and some other political reasons. Some of such Irish Americans supported and became leaders of union efforts. The Irish Americans are noted for their organization abilities. 

Mary Jones later known as Mother Jones, an Irish American sacrificed her 50 years of life in uniting the workers of various occupations in the country. She had faced many difficulties including imprisonment but she had earned lot of reputation. Irish Americans took active part in politics also. Richard Daley was elected as Chicago mayor. He played a vital role in the history of Democratic Party. He served as democratic Boss in

Chicago for 21 years. John F. Kennedy was elected as 35^th American President. He is the only president to have won the famous Pulitzer Prize. His foreign policies with Iran, Ireland, and Berlin etc were world famous. He showed interest in space programs also. The Irish Americans were changed by America as they changed America. Ronald Regan is an Irish American and he was the 40^th president of United States of America. He made lot of political and economic changes in the country. He was elected as US president two times from 1981 to 85 and 1985 to 89.
Francis O Neil is another famous Irish American who was noted for his career as police officer and collector of Irish traditional music. He devoted much of his life to collecting music, publishing and editing it in several volumes.

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The luxurious castle hotels in Ireland will make your vacation memorable for years. In fact, some Ireland castles had been transformed to deluxe hotels and hence you can enjoy your holiday like a king or queen by staying in any of these royal castles. Some exclusive castle hotels are listed below:

Clontarf castle hotel in Dublin is one of the oldest castles in Ireland, which was built in the year 1172. Now this castle is finely furnished with latest settings. This castle attracts lot of tourists due to its blend of ancient elegance and modern amenities.

Ballinalacken castle is located in County Clare and is one of the most historic and beautiful hotels in Clare. The hotel serves delicious food. You can also enjoy the coastal views of County Clare from your room.

Abbeyglan castle hotel is a luxurious hotel overlooking the Atlantic and the hotel is famous for its excellent service and cuisine. You will definitely enjoy the other facilities of this hotel like swimming pool, tennis court, snooker able etc.

Smarmore castle is located in a calm place and this is perfect for relaxation. This castle hotel stands with charm and elegance irrespective of its age. Actually it was built in 14th century. This hotel has some leisure features like indoor swimming pool and gym.

Glin castle is renowned for its majestic appearance. It is situated in County Limerick. It was built in 1780s and the allure of this castle remains as such. In the top floor you can see the fine paintings and Irish furniture. You can enjoy evening walk in the garden in this castle.

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Ireland is the best place to spend your vacation. There are number of scenic spots in Ireland that will make your vacation unforgettable.

Cavan is one of the counties in Ireland, which is famous for its natural treasures. You can get relief from your stressful life by exploring the peaceful regions of Cavan. You can enjoy the lakes, trekking in horse and playing in the wonderful golf ground. You can enjoy the beauty f Mother Nature by walking through the hilly regions.

Kilkenny is an ancient town where you can visit the Kilkenny castle and enjoy the evening walk through the ancient streets. This city also arranges for top comedy festivals. You can also visit the clean, unexplored countrysides around Kilkenny to enjoy the peaceful forest areas.

Mayo is the most beautiful scenic spot in Ireland. It is a coastal town and you can enjoy the scenic spots in and around Mayo. You can visit the Achill islands there which is a historic and eye inspiring spot. Apart from this, you can enjoy the delightful experience of traveling through the villages.

Clare is another charming city that will make your vacation experience memorable for years. The heart inspiring natural attractions in Clare will offer a picturesque background for your vacation photographs. You can enjoy the feast in local pubs. You can also have more fun in water sports, horse riding, golfing, surfing, walking and cycling.

Limerick is a wonderful spot where you can see charming countryside, glorious castles, historical sights etc. You can also visit the Ballyhoura Mountains. There are number of small villages in Limerick that are famous for their magical beauty.

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If you want to explore the unexplored spots in Ireland then cycling tour in Ireland is the best option. Go Ireland offers you two options of guided and self guided cycling vacation. You will surely enjoy the natural charm and the heritage of Ireland in this tour.

Ireland has wonderful spots that remain unspoilt. The small fishing villages, highest mountains and islands of Atlantic Ocean are some of the finest spots that you will enjoy in the cycling tour.  You can cycle around the mountains and can also view the early Christian ruins.

The guided cycling tour will cover almost all the scenic spots in Ireland. In self guiding tour you will have the freedom of choosing any of the open roads. If you want to shop or enjoy an Irish Cuisine then Galway Street is the best place. If you want to simply explore the country sides then you can select the country boreen in Dingle.

The cycling tour to Ring of Kerry will allow you to enjoy the most beautiful beaches, rivers and lakes. This coastal town is famous for pubs and restaurants. Glenbeigh is another beautiful spot in Ireland where you can view the ice carved valley of Glencar.

You will also enjoy the spectacular lakes in Killarney. If time permits you can also view the heritage town of Kenmare. Killarney is full of pubs and restaurants and if you stay there one day you can enjoy the traditional Irish music.

You need not worry about your luggage when you go for cycling tour in Ireland. The organizers will arrange for the safety of your luggage. You will be provided with the route maps and notes so that you can enjoy touring without any hurdle.

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Irish people are festival lovers. They celebrate both religious and secular festivals with joy.

Christmas is the main festival in Ireland. All the streets are decorated with lights and Christmas trees are mounted in front of the buildings. Food plays a vital role in celebration in Ireland. The traditional menu for Christmas in most of the families is a Goose or Turkey with stuffing and roasted potatoes. Christmas cakes and puddings will also be included in the menu.

St. Stephen’s day is a national holiday in Ireland. St. Patrick’ day is celebrated on March 17 in Ireland to honor the saint. Colorful parades pass through the towns and cities on this day. Special dinner will be arranged on that day. People will wear green dresses, batches, buttons etc. The tradition of drinking Patrick pot is also observed.

Ester is another important festival in Ireland. A large cake will be exhibited for all to see. Men will dance and the one who dances most will take the cake. Good Friday is observed as a day of fasting. The people will observe silence from noon to three in the after noon. Then they will visit the grave yards and in the evening they will take any sea food

Bonfire night will be celebrated on the shortest night of the year. People will dance and tell stories around the fire. Autumn Harvest festival is celebrated in Ireland when farmers bring their harvests to town. Meal is prepared with potatoes and this festival includes lot of dancing and singing.

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