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Temperate maritime; modified by North Atlantic Current; mild winters, cool summers; consistently humid; overcast about half the time

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The Euro replaced the Irish punt as Ireland's official currency in 2002.

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The Republic of Ireland is just that, a Republic, but also a parliamentary democracy. Their president is currently Michael D. Higgins (pictured), and their prime minister is Enda Kenny.  The government is headed by prime minister Enda Kenny, called the Taoiseach, while the deputy prime minister Joan Burton is referred to as the Tánaiste.

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7500 B.C.: The first known inhabitants settle in Ireland

600-150 B.C.: Celtic tribes arrive on the island

432 A.D.: St. Patrick arrives in Ireland, bringing Christianity (The Protestant faith did not yet exist)

1541: Britain's King Henry VIII is declared King of Ireland by Englishmen living in Ireland. He opposes the Catholic religion

1608: Britain's King James I sends thousands of Protestant English farmers to Ireland to take over land owned by Catholic farmers, mostly in the north

1692: New laws forbid Catholics to vote, own land or practice their religion. Such laws remain in effect until 1829

1845-1849: A potato blight kills Ireland's staple food crop. About a million people die from starvation and fever during the Great Potato Famine

1916: The Easter Rebellion. Armed Irish patriots rebel against British troops in Dublin, Ireland, on the Monday after Easter. The British execute rebel leaders

1919-1921: The Anglo-Irish War between the British and the Irish Republican Army. In a treaty, Britain finally gives up control of most of Ireland but tightens its grip on the six counties of Ulster (Northern Ireland)

1921-1923: Irish Civil War between those who accept the treaty with the English and the Irish Republican Army, which wants all of Ireland to be free of British rule. The Republicans lose

1949: Britain declares Ulster a permanent part of the British Empire. The lower 26 counties of Ireland declare themselves the Irish Republic, totally free of British control

1972: January 30, 13 unarmed marchers are killed by British troops, an event now known as Bloody Sunday. Britain imposes direct rule on Ulster. A more intense era of bloodshed begins. The Irish call this violence the Troubles

1990: Mary Robinson becomes the first woman president of Ireland

1998: Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland adopt on The Good Friday Agreement, an important step in the peace process

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Ireland is situated in the Atlantic Ocean and separated from Great Britain by the Irish Sea. Half the size of Arkansas, it occupies the entire island except for the six counties that make up Northern Ireland. Ireland resembles a basin—a central plain rimmed with mountains, except in the Dublin region. The mountains are low, with the highest peak, Carrantuohill in County Kerry, rising to 3,415 ft . The principal river is the Shannon, which begins in the north-central area, flows south and southwest for about 240 mi, and empties into the Atlantic. It is mostly level but has occasional rolling interior plains surrounded by rugged hills and low lying mountains. It has sea cliffs on the West coast.

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Dublin, Ireland

Population: 1.1 Million

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English and Irish (Gaelic) are both official languages in Ireland as the country pushes for bilingualism in both.

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Roman Catholic, Church of Ireland, other Christian, Muslim, other, unspecified, none.

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The major cities in Ireland in terms of population size are the following:

1. Dublin

2. Cork

3. Dun Laoghaire

4. Limerick

5. Galway

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There are roughly 4.8 million people in Ireland.

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70% of married Irish women would consider having an affair while on a foreign holiday without their spouse or children, and 90% of men would do the same.

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Raymond O'Brien was the shortest person in Irish history. The dwarf, who died in 1795, was one foot eleven inches tall.

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Only 9% of the Irish population are natural redheads

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Irish marriages last an average of 13 years, although the majority do not end in divorce. Irish couples prefer to separate and live in sin with their new partners rather than go through costly legal proceedings.

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As pictured as the wallpaper, the Cliffs of Moher are located in County Clare.

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Cliffs of Moher Wild Atlantic Way & Galway City

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Cliffs of Moher, Ireland: 7 Wonders of Nature

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New 7 Wonders Get behind Ireland - Get behind the Cliffs of Moher The Cliffs of Moher are listed in the top 28 in the global online campaign for the New 7 Wonders of Nature. The third and final phase of voting is now underway with people again able to vote for the Cliffs from the selection of 28 official finalist candidates.

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The Giant's Causeway is an area of about 40,000 interlocking basalt columns, the result of an ancient volcanic eruption. It is one of the country's most popular excursions, with visitors taking the unique opportunity to walk one of nature's most peculiar pathways.

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The most richly decorated medieval manuscript on the planet, The Book of Kells remains one of Ireland’s most popular attractions. Housed at Trinity College in Dublin, people willingly stand in long queues  just to glimpse a portion of this masterpiece from the early medieval Celtic world. The manuscript of the Book of Kells is filled with intricately detailed medieval art. The text is written in flowing Celtic script filled with skilled calligraphy and embellished with human and animal characters. The drawings are rich in symbolism, which scholars have spent years interpreting. Portraits of each of the evangelists precede their gospels. Analysis of the dyes used to add colour to these impressive works of art has determined that they came from as far away as the Middle East.

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For the most part Irish people are relaxed and laid back and welcome all visitors warmly. But it's useful when visiting a foreign country to have some idea of how things are normally done - it helps to avoid misunderstandings and to smooth social interaction.
People on Dublin Street by Jody Art
Meeting & Greeting: Talking to People

Keep it casual is the best advice when meeting people in Ireland. Irish people are naturally gregarious and talkative and will happily chat with total strangers, falling easily into conversation while waiting for a bus, standing in line in a store or traveling on a train.

The preferred topic of conversation in such situations is often the weather - there is always plenty to discuss when it comes to Ireland's weather!

Unless you are prepared to be disagreed with and to engage in lively debate, it's probably best to avoid politics. This is especially true if you are American and want to talk US politics - Irish people not only have strong views about domestic politics but are generally well informed and up for a good argument about US politics too.

Avoid being overly critical of anything in the local area. People are very proud of their place and don't like to hear it criticised by 'outsiders' - even if they will happily moan about the very same things among themselves! The upside is that most people are pleased to be asked for recommendations about things to do and see in the locality, giving good advice about places to eat or to find entertainment, and will often go out of their way to ensure you get the best from your visit to their home town.

People will frequently say "hello" or "nice day" or just nod and smile a greeting when passing a stranger on the street, though obviously not so much in more crowded places! This should not be seen as an attempt to start a conversation - just smile back, return the greeting and carry on.

Handshake or Kiss?

When first meeting someone or on encountering an acquaintance, people may shake hands or not even do that on informal occasions - a friendly greeting is often enough.

Relatives and close friends often kiss each other on one or both cheeks, continental style, a habit that is becoming more widespread in recent years, but this would not be the norm when greeting strangers.

The Finger Twitch

When driving on narrow country roads, where cars are few and speeds are low, drivers meeting an oncoming vehicle will acknowledge the other motorist by raising a hand or a finger from the steering wheel in salutation. It doesn't necessarily mean they know the driver of the other car, they'll greet everyone this way and a response in kind is expected.

In the Pub: Observing Custom

The pub in Ireland is more than somewhere you go to drink, it's a meeting place and there will generally be regular customers present who know each other well, even if this isn't immediately evident to someone walking in for the first time.

This is particularly the case in rural pubs, less so in very large pubs in towns and cities. However people in pubs are there for the social occasion and are so are happy to talk to visitors and to include them in conversation.

How to Order & Pay

Most pubs do not have table service. You go to the bar, order and pay for your drinks and can then chose to remain at the bar to drink them or take them to a table. In larger pubs, especially in cities and at busy times, and in pubs where food is served, table service may be available, but you can still choose to go to the bar and order yourself.

There is no tab system in Irish bars. You are expected to pay for your drinks as and when they are ordered. The exception is in a hotel where you are resident, where you can add them to your room bill.

Where to sit?

As a general rule of thumb if you sit (or stand) at the counter other customers are likely to strike up a conversation with you, if you take your drinks to a quiet table in the corner they will leave you alone.

Standing Your Round

When in the company of a group of people in a pub, a system of 'rounds' is traditionally used, whereby each person in turn will buy, or offer to buy, a drink for all others in the company.

It is not the done thing to just buy yourself a drink without making the offer to buy one for everyone else - those who fail to do so risk being looked upon as mean and unsociable. Possibly the most damning thing an Irish person can say about someone is that they 'never stand their round'.

While it is quite acceptable to turn down the offer of a drink when someone else is buying a round - just say 'I'm alright, thanks' - you don't get to skip your turn just because you are not thirsty!

The best advice for dealing with the rounds system is to get in with your offer to buy as early as you possibly can - come in with your offer ("Can I get you a drink?") just before the fastest drinker in the party has emptied their glass. Otherwise you can end up drinking a lot more than you intended to while waiting for your turn to come - and you daren't leave before it does unless you want to earn an instant reputation for meanness!

Tipping in Ireland: When & How Much

Tipping is not as universal a practice in Ireland as it is elsewhere. Most restaurants apply a service charge which theoretically replaces the tip, but if service has been good an additional tip of about 10-15% is about right.

Some more casual restaurants have a plate or bowl at the cash desk where you can leave a tip to be distributed among all the staff. Unlike the situation in the USA, wait staff do not depend on tips for their income, though they certainly appreciate acknowledgment of a job well done.

Taxi drivers, hairdressers, spa staff and others are generally tipped about 10%. Hotel porters and room service staff will usually expect something round €2-€5 depending on the extent of the service provided.

Drivers/guides on tour buses are usually tipped at the end of a trip, sometimes with a communal tip collected from all of those on the tour. The amount is up to the individual, and will depend on the length of the tour and the quality of the service.

Owners of B&Bs do not expect to be tipped, nor do they expect gifts.

Tipping in Pubs

Tipping staff in pubs is a special case. While staff who bring drinks to a table may be given a small tip, those serving from behind the counter don't expect tips and if you leave money on the counter will probably assume you have forgotten to pick up your change and return it to you.

If you do want to give a tip to bar staff, the polite way is to hand over a sum of money approximately equal to the price of a pint of beer while saying something like "Have one for yourself later" - theoretically you are not giving a tip, you are buying a drink at some future time, which is far more acceptable.

Smoking in Public Places

Since March 2004 it has been illegal to smoke in any enclosed public space, which includes bars, restaurants, shops, offices, public transport, cinemas - pretty much all indoor places except your home or a designated smoking bedroom in a hotel.

The ban on smoking brought with it a massive increase in sales of awnings and patio heaters as pubs made arrangements for their smoking customers to enjoy an outdoor cigarette in some level of comfort - many pubs, hotels and restaurants how have designated areas for this purpose.

Don't be tempted to try to beat the smoking ban by lighting up indoors and pleading ignorance, it will not be tolerated by those around you and there are hefty fines for transgressors.

Religious Customs

Irish people are not as observant of religious practice today as they were in the past and regular attendance at church services have been falling for quite a few years. Many people now attend primarily for 'hatches, matches and dispatches', rarely entering a church at other times.

However you will still commonly see people make the sign of the cross when passing a church or a graveyard, and hear people say things like "God bless" for "Goodbye", or "God speed" for "bon voyage". A few will sprinkle holy water on departing cars, or even people, to keep them safe on their journey!

Funerals in Ireland are very public occasions and you may come across one in your travels. It is traditional for people to walk behind the hearse as it goes to the church or graveyard and there can be hundreds, occasionally even thousands, of people walking in procession in this way when a funeral is taking place.

It is expected that anyone walking or driving on the street at the time will stop and remain stationary while the funeral procession passes, shops may turn out their lights or temporarily close their doors and bystanders will bless themselves or say a quiet prayer.

Dress Code in Churches

No special dress code is required for entering churches, such as applies in some parts of continental Europe, but you are expected to be quiet and respectful and particularly so if a service is taking place during your visit.

Cursing & Swearing

Many visitors are a little shocked to hear how often Irish people say "Jesus" or "God" in everyday conversation, not in a prayerful way but as an expression of surprise, frustration or annoyance. However it sounds this isn't intended in a blasphemous way, it's just a sort of verbal tick that has become habitual for many.

The use of "the F word" is also very common in public, it's even, strange though it may seem, often used in a friendly way. Just ignore it, for the most part it isn't meant to shock or to be interpreted as an aggressive thing, it's just a very unfortunate national habit.

A Final Plea...

Please, I am begging you, do not greet people with "Top of the morning" or say goodbye to them with "May the road rise to meet you"!

Irish outside of a bad movie has ever said any of these things, or used any of dozens of other so-called 'Irish sayings' in normal conversation, and they make our teeth curl.

Thank you.

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People in Ireland are generally pretty laid back and casual but it is useful for visitors to know how a little about to behave in social situations. There is info here about meeting and greeting, how to behave in pubs, tipping in Ireland and a little about both religion and profanity.

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Some sites to visit

http://www.ireland.com

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Top 11 tourist spots to visit in Ireland

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Top tourist attractions in Ireland no visit to the Emerald Isle would be complete without. There are several tourist attractions in Ireland you just have to see when you travel the Emerald Isle - from the windswept Cliffs of Moher to the rain-soaked Aran Islands.