History, Arts and Culture
By Victoria Kelly
Ireland is a land rich in culture and tradition. There
is much to see and do in the green isle of Ireland,
from beautiful landscapes to ancient ruins to the
fun and frolics of St. Patrick’s Day. Depending on
what time of year one comes to this country there is
always something to keep you entertained. Home to
traditional Irish dancing, the pint of Guinness and
the Irish language, writers, scholars and entertainers
have come from these shores for centuries, from
the ancient monks who made the beautiful Book
of Kells to writers such as James Joyce and Oscar
Wilde, renowned the world over for their literary
masterpieces. Ireland has a lot to offer to any
person, both tourist and native alike. If you’re a
visitor to these shores, Cead Míle Fáilte! Take the
time to get to know this remarkable country and
you will be surprised at what it has to offer.
History
The name Ireland is derived from the Gaelic word
Éire. The Latin form of the word Hibernia appears
in the works of Julius Caesar and may come from
the Latin word Hibernus which means ‘wintry’.
The Irish people of today are descendants of Celtic
people that inhabited Ireland since approximately
1,000 BC. Although the word Celtic is meant to
simply represent the languages spoken by peoples
across Europe, it has come to represent the group of
people who spoke those languages. Today there are
six living Celtic languages; these are Irish, Welsh,
Scots Gaelic, Cornish, Manx and Breton. Cornish
and Manx are extinct but are still classified as living
due to revival efforts. Irish is still spoken as the
first language in some parts of Ireland known as
Gaeltacht areas.