7/25/2019 Interesting Facts About Ireland and the Irish

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Interesting Facts About Ireland and the Irish

Did you know that.....

1. Ireland was the last country in Europe to permit divorce. It was approved by a 1995

referendum when only 50.28% voted in favour and the firstever divorce !ranted in Irelandwas in 199". Irish law allows couples to divorce only if they have been livin! apart for four 

years. In 2015# Ireland had the lowest divorce rate in Europe and the third lowest in the

world# behind $hile and e&ico.

2. 'he (ublin )pire *the onument of +i!ht, on -$onnell )treet# which is e&actly 121m */9

feet, tall and wei!hs 1/0 tonnes# too five months to manufacture# and has !raced the

capitals most wellnown street since anuary 200/. It cost 3 million euros and is e&pected

to survive for at least 120 years.

/. (esi!ned in 1838# the fla! of Ireland is a historical political statement. 'he !reen represents

Irish $atholics# the oran!e represents the islands 4rotestants# and the white represents the

hope that the two will live to!ether in peace.3. Irelands top visitor attraction is the uinness )torehouse in (ublin which welcome more

than 1.2 million visitors every year *ames oyce once described uinness as 6the wine of 

Ireland.6,. 'he Irish consume on avera!e 1/1.1 litres of beer per year the second hi!hest

 percapita consumption after the $7ech epublic.

5. Ireland is the only country in the world that has a musical instrument the harp as its

national symbol. 'he oldest nown harp in e&istence is housed in 'rinity $olle!e# (ublin. It

dates bac to at least 1/00.

. 'he :eolithic site of :ew!ran!e in $ounty eath was constructed around /200 ;$# main!

it more than 00 years older than the i7a 4yramids in E!ypt# and 1#000 years older than)tonehen!e.

". any Irish family names start with 6ac6 or 6-...6# which means respectively 6son of ...6

and 6!randson of ...6 in aelic.

8. <merican hitech companies have been investin! massively in Ireland. 25% of Europes

computers are now made in Ireland. Ireland is the worlds lar!est e&porter of software. 'he

European *or re!ional, head=uarters of oo!le# icrosoft# <pple# I;# (ell# Intel# -racle#

+otus# and ;oein! $omputer )ervices are all located in Ireland.

9. It is estimated that over 80 million people of Irish descent live outside Ireland# in countries

such as the >nited )tates# the >nited ?in!dom# $anada# <ustralia etc. 'his is 13 times more

than the population of Ireland *includin! :orthern Ireland, itself10. @hat do you now about Ireland and the IrishA