Homeland Art

Ireland is a land of rich art and culture. English is the main language spoken in Ireland although Irish language is also prevalent in some parts of Ireland. Art has flourished well in Ireland and the artists are highly respected here. Most of the art works of various artists can be found in museums and art galleries. These galleries are opened to all.

The art galleries usually conduct exhibitions of many artists every year and some special exhibitions will be held on festival seasons. These exhibitions are preserving the art works and are offering for sale also.

Ireland is famous for its fairy tales. They have a wide range of beliefs and practices relating to death and burial. The waking of dead was an important social ritual which involved praying and singing. There are lots of folklores about Irish saints. These saints were renowned for their sacred powers and they helped people in curing illness. The most celebrated saint is St. Patrick and St. Patrick’s Day is one of the important festivals in Ireland.

Irish art normally consists of carvings and they used bright primary colors. Decorative arts such as goldsmithery plaster work and glass works established well in Ireland in the 17th century. Contemporary Irish paintings and sculptures started to flourish from 18th century.

Later the Irish artists began to work on abstract expressionism mode. Contemporary sculptures are more abstract and clever and most of thee contemporary artists are greatly respected by the art lovers all over the world. Ireland art and culture is famous in whole world.

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Europe was ruled over by the Celts some thousands of years ago. The celts had a heritage of artwork which included celtic tattoos, knot work, lettering and names. They did not keep any written records of their artwork and they remembered everything and thus propagated their art. It is a huge culture consisting of pictures, designs, extensive metal work.  

The various art forms of the celts can be enumerated as below:

Cross art:  The celtic cross was believed to be the most powerful cross and there were interpretations and legends attached to it. It became an emblem which gave identity to the Irish and the Scottish people. This cross is also used in celtic designs, clip arts, jewellery etc.       

Knot art: In celtic art celtic knots are the main pattern. Since early Medieval times, ringed cross has been celtic symbol in Ireland, Scotland, Wales and the parts of Britain under influence of earlyCelticChurch. 

Clip art: The celtic clip art consisted of various information providing images. It is a collection of crosses, knots, weapons, rings, birds, buttons, shapes, shield devices, borders, lines, letters, symbols and much more.  

Tattoo art: The celts surely knew how to dye and paint their bodies and from there evolved the ideas of tattooing. They tattooed various celtic symbols, animal figures, celtic cross and knot tattoos which came to know as celtic body art.  

Irish celtic art: It is mainly a combination of celtic knots, crosses and tattoos. Various pictures had different meanings and are beautifully made. For example, the hound of Cuchulainn was supposed to protect people and the celtic territory. 

Thus the celtic art is a massive and a beautiful historical collection which greatly contributed to European history.

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The most famous Irish castle is situated in Blarney Village. The castle is the world famous Blarney Castle and is probably the most well known of all of Ireland’s ancient catles. 

Blarney Castle is the third to have been erected on this site. The first building, in the 10th century, was a wooden structure. In 1210 this was replaced with a stone structure. In 1446, the third castle was built by Dermot McCarthy, a Munster king. In the battle of the Boyne, McCarthy had to surrender his powers on the castle. Later on, the castle was sold to governor of Cork Sir James Jefferyes in 1703. Still standing peacefully, revealing all the history, the castle is taken care by trustees of theIreland castle Estate. 

Blarney stone: In the ramparts of the castle, the famous Blarney stone is located. The staircase of it leads you at the height from where you can have a beautiful view of the countryside. The woodland walks and Arboretum: On the land of estate of blarney castle, the River Martin flows through a number of woodland walks on the surrounding countryside.
Accessibility to the castle:As the Ireland castle is situated in the Blarney village, theairports nearest to it are Shannon, 112 kms from the castle and Cork which is just 18 kms.  Accommodation: -You can have a stay in the Blarney village itself. Another convenient place to visit would be Cork city which is just 9 km South West via the N20 (by car). You can also stay in one of the oldest Ireland towns called Kinsale which is about 36kms by car, driving on the N20 and the R600.

Other famous places like The Rock Close nearby do add to the beauty of already ancient castle. The visit to the old Castles really makes your trip to Ireland complete.

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The islands surrounding Ireland are magnificient. Walking along the quiet shores, lanes and trails will offer you a wonderful experience. Before planning the walking trip to Ireland, understand the routes for the locations you want to visit. 

Achill Island in County Mayo is an excellent place renowned for its stunning beauty. Summer or spring is the best time to visit Achill, particularly at a festival time to enjoy traditional music, food and culture. You could plan to visit the craft shops and art galleries here. Hill walking in Achill Island is another wonderful experience. It is perfect for nature lovers.

The Aran Islands are beautiful islands situated in Galway Bay. The narrow winding roads, grassy lanes and rocky shores are predominant features of these islands. The Aran Island is peaceful and free from the hurry of modern life. You will enjoy walking down the narrow grassy lanes and relish the serenity.

Clare Island is often referred to as Walker’s paradise. Clare’s scenic beauty, rare species of trees and plants and less explored beaches are ideal destinations for walkers. You will enjoy the calm peak of Knockmore and sea cliffs. The mild weather and clear water beaches will really fascinate you, when you are lucky enough to see it. The wild and powerful weather will invigorate you too!

Heir Island, off the west coast of Cork, is one of Carbery’s Hundred Isles that lie scattered throughout Roaringwater Bay. The island is beautifully located, surrounded by a panorama of Sherkin Island, Cape Clear, the Calf Islands, the East and West Skeams, and Mount Gabriel to the North.

The island is easily walked and cycled and there are lots of safe sandy beaches ideal for sailing, windsurfing, swimming and diving. The centre of the island has an extensive marsh with a vibrant reed bed where you’ll find many unusual birds as well as over 200 varieties of wild flowers.

Heir is also home to many well known artists, who were drawn to the island because of its breathtaking landscape and peaceful atmosphere.

Inshort one should definitely plan a walking trip during the stay in Ireland.

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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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