Ireland

Ireland - land of lore and myth has been populated for many millennia and its history could be described as anything but placid. During the ice-age, sea levels dropped and Ireland was joined to Britain and mainland Europe. During that time, the ice sheet came from the north-east and covered most of of the land. When the ice finally melted it left a scoured landscape of rounded mountains with deep rounded valleys and lowlands covered with drift material. Vegetation and animals came across the land bridge and began a sequence of colonisation. As the ice across Europe melted at the end of the ise age, 14, 000 years ago, sea levels rose by up to 50 metres, to the level that they are now, turning Ireland back into an island again. The land itself, depressed by the weight of the ice, also began to rise and this rise is continuing to this day, albeit at a slow rate of roughly 2mm per year.

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The first humans to set foot in Ireland crossed the sea in wooden boats from Scotland to what is now County Antrim (Northern Ireland) around 8000BC. This made it one of the last places in Europe to be settled by humans. These Mesolithic settlers were hunter/gatherers and dwelt mainly on the shores of lakes, rivers or the sea. They were a nomadic people, living in skin huts which they packed up and moved with them. The Mesolithic settlers hunted animals, birds and fish with spears, harpoons and bows-and-arrows, using flint tools mined in north-east of the island. The native population was low at this time, and the interior of the island remained forested with practically no human influence.

The Neolithic age was characterised by the invention of farming, as well as the use of porcellanite - a more effective cutting stone than flint. The Mesolithic residents of Ireland did not invent this Neolithic technology. Instead, they were assimilated from new Neolithic settlers who arrived from Britain bringing these new technologies. This process began to happen around 4000BC and took several hundred years. They set about clearing upland forest (which was easier to fell) to build their farms. They also introduced grain crops, cattle, sheep and goats to Ireland. Because they were living on permanent farms, the Neolithic farmers were able to build larger houses, made from wood and thatched with reeds. They also made simple coiled-clay pots which they fired in kilns.

These Neolithic farmers are most famous for the megaliths (large stone and earthen tombs) that they constructed across Ireland. These are not unique to Ireland, being found also in Spain, Portugal, France, Denmark and Britain. Most megaliths are found in the north of Ireland, and there are three distinct types. Court tombs consist of a stone chamber covered in earth with a courtyard in front of it. Portal tombs, or dolmens, consist of three or more vertical stones with a large capstone on top. Passage tombs consist of a stone passage into the centre of a large earthen mound. The most famous passage tombs in Ireland are Newgrange and Knowth which predate the Pyramids in Egypt by a 1, 000 years. Newgrange is the oldest megalithic structure in Europe. While definitely used for burials, there is plenty evidence to suggest that these monuments and tombs had an astronomical or calendrical significance.

The Monk Who Vanished: A Mystery of Ancient Ireland

The Bronze Age in Ireland lasted from about 2000BC to 500BC. Knowledge of how to make bronze, an alloy of tin and copper, also came to Ireland from Europe. The copper was mined in Ireland, chiefly in County Kerry, while the tin was imported from Britain. Initially, items were made by pouring melted bronze into a hollowed-out stone but as technology improved, this gave way to two-part moulds and eventually to fully three-dimensional clay moulds. Items produced in this way included axes, daggers and awls - some of which appear to have been designed with human targets in mind. By the end of the Bronze Age, cauldrons and horns were being made from beaten sheet bronze. Gold items were also produced, although mainly for ceremonial or decorative purposes.

Act of Mercy: A Mystery of Ancient Ireland

The Celts, Iron Age warriors from eastern Europe, reached Ireland around 300 BC. They controlled the country for 1, 000 years and left a legacy of language and culture that survives today, especially in Galway, Cork, Kerry and Waterford. The Romans don't appear to have reached Ireland, and when the rest of Europe sank into the decline of the Dark Ages after the fall of the Roman Empire, the Emerald Isle became an outpost of European civilisation, particularly after the arrival of Christianity, between the 3rd and 5th centuries. Scholars and monks brought learning back to Europe and St. Brendan is reputed to have sailed to America in the early 6th century, predating Columbus by nearly 1, 000 years.

Invasions by the Vikings that began in the late 8th century were finally ended when King Brian Boru defeated the Danes in 1014. English invasions began in the 12th century and set off more than seven centuries of Anglo-Irish struggle marked by fierce rebellions and harsh repressions.

A failed 1916 Easter Monday Rebellion touched off several years of guerrilla warfare that in 1921 resulted in independence from the United Kingdom for the 26 southern counties; six northern (Ulster) counties remained part of the United Kingdom (and still do). In 1948 Ireland withdrew from the British Commonwealth; it joined the European Community in 1973.

Irish governments have sought the peaceful unification of Ireland and have cooperated with Britain against terrorist groups. A peace settlement for Northern Ireland, known as the Good Friday Agreement and approved in 1998, is being implemented with some difficulties. It's on ongoing process but there has been a cessation of hostilites between the various paramilitary groups for several years now.

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Use this site if you want to know more about Ireland, its music, culture, mythology and news in general.

Immigrate to Ireland: Best job to get work permit: nanny, service sector etc ?
I live in Canada, and I want to immigrate to Ireland (crazy i know with the recession, but its just something i feel i need to do). What woudl be the best way to get in on a work permit/apply for citizenship? My cousins wife immigrated from the phillipines (her and some friends). She was a nanny, and then home cae aide. Before finally getting access to canadian funding to go to school. Would there be much call for nanny/service sector work in ireland? My background is bachelor of arts - with teaching ESL overseas roughtly 2 years . From looking online it seems theres job vacancies /postings in business/IT/engeinnering and health care. But as I dont have that background i'm wondering if some service sector jobs/nanny positions might exist. As i have known many people over the years that came to Canada and started in those posoitions on work permits from phillipines.

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When Ireland is united in around 20 years time will the Irish army need to patrol Belfast?
All the statistics are showing that Northern Ireland will have a safe enough catholic majority and economic circumstance North and south of Ireland for the north of Ireland to vote YES on the unification of Ireland in 20 years time, the south of Ireland will also vote YES. Will the Irish army need to patrol protestant area's of the Shankill and loyalist east Belfast to secure Irish rule and Irish law and protect the wishes of the vast majority in north and south of Ireland just like the English army and loyalist Ulster Defence Regiment had to patrol Andersonstown and South Armagh in the past.. All signs are that a united Ireland will happen, catholics are becoming the majority in Northern Ireland and will be the majority in Northern Ireland soon and will invetibly vote for the re-unification of their country. The Irish government in a united Ireland will need to enforce Irish rule and law in place like the Shankill, East Belfast and other protestant loyalist area's in the north and would likely need to use Irish security forces to do this.

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what's the worst school in dublin,ireland?
and whats the worst in blackrock? 2) state your reaons

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