Religion

The Catholic Church has four ecclesiastical provinces, which encompass the whole island, thus crossing the boundary with Northern Ireland. The Archbishop of Armagh in Northern Ireland is the Primate of All Ireland. The diocesan structure, in which thirteen hundred parishes are served by four thousand priests, dates to the twelfth century and does not coincide with political boundaries. There are approximately twenty thousand people serving in various Catholic religious orders, out of a combined Ireland and Northern Ireland Catholic population of 3.9 million. The Church of Ireland, which has twelve dioceses, is an autonomous church within the worldwide Anglican Communion. Its Primate of All Ireland is the Archbishop of Armagh, and its total membership is 380,000, 75 percent of whom are in Northern Ireland. There are 312,000 Presbyterians on the island (95 percent of whom are in Northern Ireland), grouped into 562 congregations and twenty-one presbyteries.

Etiquette and Customs

1) The basic greeting is a handshake and a hello or salutation appropriate for the time of day.
2) Eye contact denotes trust and is maintained during a greeting.
3) It is customary to shake hands with older children.
4) Greetings tend to be warm and friendly and often turn into conversations.

Famous People

 1. Mary Robinson.
2. Brian Boru (Brian Boroimhe).
3. Daniel OÕConnell.

Education
The levels of education in Ireland are primary, secondary and higher (often known as «third-level») education. In recent years further education has grown immensely. Education in Ireland is free at all levels, including college (university), but only for students applying from the European Union. For universities there are student service fees (up to €2,500 in 2013), which students are required to pay on registration, to cover examinations, insurance and registration costs.

Food
Irish cuisine is a style of cooking originating from Ireland or developed by Irish people. It evolved from centuries of social and political change. The cuisine takes its influence from the crops grown and animals farmed in its temperate climate. The introduction of the potato in the second half of the 16th century heavily influenced Ireland’s cuisine thereafter and, as a result, is often closely associated with Ireland. Representative Irish dishes include Irish stew, bacon and cabbage, boxty, coddle, and colcannon.

Βιβλιογραφία: wikipedia the free encyclopedia: Ireland

Συντάκτρια: Χρυσή Σιδηροπούλου