"Éire go Brách" Ireland by Enzo

<center>Maps courtesy of <a href="http://www.theodora.com/maps">www.theodora.com/maps</a> used with permission.</center>



<center><font color=red>I am working on a total revamp of this page, so please visit again soon.</font></center>


<center><font color=green size=4><strong>My home, Éire, the Emerald Isle,
The Land of Saints and Scholars, Ireland. </strong></font></center>

Here is just a few basic things that surprisingly many people do not know about Ireland;
<ul>
<li>Yes we do have our own native language, it is called <font color=green><strong>Gaelic</strong></font> or more commonly known simply as <font color=green><strong>Irish</strong></font>. It is nothing like english! It is the oldest of the Celtic languages. And yes every Irish person can speak some Irish, although the number of really fluent speakers is quite low. Spoken by a true native-speaker it is quite a beautiful language. You will see this language on most sign posts throughout the country. There is also an Irish Language TV station and radio station where you can sample this.</li>
<li>The two most popular and important sports in Ireland are our two national sports <font color=green><strong>Gaelic Football</strong></font> and <font color=green><strong>Hurling</strong></font>. I will add info on these sports in a <a href="/m/.7645/article/166/6/4/?s=o">travelogue</a> for you sports buffs out there. There is another popular national sport called <strong>Handball</strong> which is played in almost every boys school in the country. But this is totally different to the Handball played in the rest of the world.</li>
</ul>

<font color=red>Did you know that although the Republic has a population of around 3.7 million people, approx. <b>80 million</b> people around the world can claim to be Irish, including in America approx. 40 million registered as Irish-Americam...and 35-40% of Australians can claim Irish ancestry...wow!!</font>

<center><hr size=1 width=60%></center>

<font color=green><strong>The Irish language</strong></font>...just a sample..
<p>Anyone interested in learning Irish?? Probably not, but anyway here are some useful phrases, i will add phonetics soon;
<font size="2">
<p>Dia duit; Good day;
Dia's Muire duit; Same to you.</p>
<p>Conas atá tú?; How are you?;
Táim go maith.; I am well.</p>
<p>Dia anseo isteach!; God save all here!
(This is said on entering a house or room...it's a group greeting)</P>
<P>Slán leat (said to one leaving); Goodbye
Slán agat (said by one leaving); Goodbye
Slán abhaile! (slawn aWALyuh); Safe home!<P/>
</font>

<font size="2">
<strong>Some other phrases...</strong>
<p>An bhfuil Béarla agat?; Can you speak English?
Is mise Éanna; I am Enda
C'ainm atá ort? or Cad is ainm duit?; What's your name?
Cá as tú?; Where are you from? Is as_____mé.; I'm from______.
Cá bhfuil tú i do chónaí?; Where do you live?
Tá mé i mo chónaí i(n)____ ; I live in (at)______.
An dtuigeann tú? ;Do you understand?
Tuigim; I understand. Ní thuigim; I don't understand.</p>
</font>

<center><hr size=1 width=60%></center>

<p>Do you want to know what your <font color=green><strong>country is called in Irish</strong></font>?? I've moved this to the travelogues, not all countries are there...just mail me if you want to know what it is..</p>

<center><a href="http://www.virtualtourist.com/m/.7645/article/166/3/?s=68237645">As Gaeilge</a></center>

<p><font color=green><strong>The Irish National anthem</strong></font>, in both Irish and English, is also included in that travelogue if you are interested...just click for the next chapter...</p>

<center><hr size=1 width=60%></center>

If you are really looking for good travel info on Ireland check out these Ireland pages, they are much better than mine.

<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.virtualtourist.com/m/.35275/166/?s=24117645"><strong>A</strong>n</strong>isha1</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.virtualtourist.com/m/.65870/166/?s=24117645"><strong>K</strong>athy Collins</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.virtualtourist.com/m/.11426/166/?s=24117645"><strong>J</strong>ber</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.virtualtourist.com/m/.91190/166/?s=24117645"><strong>R</strong>ichiecdisc</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.virtualtourist.com/m/.196/166/?s=24117645"><strong>A</strong>thena</a></li>
</ul>

Also worth checking out are;
<a href="http://www.virtualtourist.com/m/.54559/166/?s=15967645">Knoto</a>; <a href="http://www.virtualtourist.com/m/.63444/166/?s=15967645">Luciano</a>; <a href="http://www.virtualtourist.com/m/.46292/166/?s=15967645">Happyhourkid</a>; <a href="http://www.virtualtourist.com/m/.64943/166/?s=15967645">Celticbhoy07</a>.

Special Mention;
<a href="http://www.virtualtourist.com/m/.84041/166/?s=87317645">Sabs (sabine)</A>;
<a href="http://www.virtualtourist.com/m/.84220/1167/?s=18137645">Bigs' Dublin Page</A>; <a href="http://www.virtualtourist.com/m/.28141/166/?s=35097645">Bhodgson</A>; <a href="http://www.virtualtourist.com/m/.73965/166/?s=35097645">Lochlainn</A>; <a href="http://www.virtualtourist.com/m/.108352/?s=10027645">Lauriejeanne</a>.

<center><hr size=1 width=60%></center>