THE UNITED KINGDOM 

The British Isles is the geographical name for Great Britain, Ireland and all the small isleland off the coast (Channel Islands, The Isle of Man, the Orkney and the Hebrides)

Enlish is the officil language but Welsh and Gaelic are still spoken.

The United Kingdom is composed of England, Wales and Scotlandand Northern ireland (or Ulster in Gaelic)

Southern Ireland (or Eire) is an indipendent republic and it is not part of the United Kingdom.

The U.K. is a costitutional monarchy and a parliamentary democracy. The Head of State is the Queen. She represents the unity of the Nation but she has limited power. Infact the legislative power belongs to the Parliament. The Queen can only give her royal assent.

The British Parliament is composed of 2 Houses: th House of Commons and the House of Lords.

Even if the U.K. is not a big country, it is very important.

During the Second World War the U.K gave asylum to may polical and religiuos refugees.

 

In the 1950as and 1960s a lot of people moved to U.K. especially from countries which were part of the British Empire.

Later many people from all over the world moved to the U.K. to work. 

Today The U.K has a very cosmopolitan society

 

 

 

 

 

IRELAND

 

Ireland is a small but beautiful and charming country full of cultural riches to be discovered.

HISTORY:

Ireland hides quite a troubled history  both for religious and economic reasons:

 16 th century: Henry VIII ( King of England and Lord of Ireland from 1485 to 1509) and his daughter Elisabeth I ( Queen of england and Ireland from 1558 to 1603) tried to impose Anglicanism upon Ireland which was instead a Catholic country.

17th century: English kings sent a remarkable number of Protestant settlers to Northern Ireland (Ulster province). They were given the best lands thus provoking discontent among the Irish population.

The Catholic King James II (king of England, Scotland and Ireland from 1685 to 1688) was supported by the Catholic Irish even during the so called  Glorious Revolution, when James II was deposed by the Parliament and replaced by the protestant William of Orange.

1690: William of Orange and James II clashed at the Battle of the Boyne (ireland). William of Orange won and his victory is still celebrated by the Protestants of Ireland (Orangemen).

1922: A few years later the Easter Rising (Dublin 1916) Ireland was divided into two differnt countries:

Republic of Ireland in the South ( Eire) mainly Catholic

Northern Ireland (Ulster) mainly Protestant. It is part of the United Kingdom

The Troubles ( the ethno-nationalist conflict in Northern Ireland) continued until 1998 with many attempts by the I.R.A (Irish Republican Army) to free Ulster from the UK.

 

Geography:

Although this recent past of violence and strife (conflict) Ireland still remains a charming green emerald warmed by kind people and mild weather.

 

Economy:

During the 19th century Ireland underwent economic highs and lows.

A series of famines (carestie) hit its inhabitants. The most severe took place in 1845 and lasted until 1849. This is called  The Great Irish Famine. It was the result of a potato disease (blight, micosi)that caused the potato crop to fail.

As a consequence about one million people died and another million emigrated to the United States.

Nowadays Ireland is a modern, knowledge-based economy focusing on services, high tech industries  and trade.

Eire joined the Euro in 1999 while Norther Ireland still keeps the British pound.

 

Food and tradition

In Ireland you can find a very welcoming atmosphere. People like  socializing and hanging out with friends. Irish cities and towns are full of pubs, hotels, Bed and Breakfasts, country houses and manor houses where tourists and guests are always well received.

Ireland is steeped in legend: Irish people are very proud of their celtic origin and identity. The Celtic heritage has been kept alive in spite of time and change.

Irish people also love their own food and drink specialities such as : lamb, home-cured ham, bacon, potato bread, soda bread, brown bread, potato apple cake, lobster and oyster, Irish Whiskey, Irish Mist, Irish coffee and, above all, their dark heavy beer: Guinness.

 

 

Summary

Ireland is a beautiful and green island in north-western Europe. It is also called the Emerald Isle.

Irish history is very troubled for economic reasons and for the bloody religious struggle between Catholics and Protestants.

In 1922  it was divided into two different countries:

Republic of Ireland in the South ( Eire) mainly Catholic

Northern Ireland (Ulster) mainly Protestant. It is part of the United Kingdom

Eire joined the Euro in 1999 while Norther Ireland still keeps the British pound.

In Northern Ireland the conflict between Catholics and Protestants continued until 1998 with many attempts by IRA (Irish Republican Army) to free Ulster from the UK.

 

In the 19th century Ireland  was hit by famines, The worst famine was The Great Irish Famine (1845- 1849) it was the result of a potato disease.  About one million people died and another million emigrated to the U.S.A.

Nowadays Ireland is a modern and  high tech country.

Irish people are very welcoming and proud of their Celtic origin.

 

Irish people also love their own food and drink. Irish specialities are : lamb, home-cured ham, bacon, potato bread, soda bread, brown bread, potato apple cake, lobster and oyster, Irish Whiskey, Irish Mist, Irish coffee and especially their dark heavy beer: Guinness.