Ireland
What comes to mind when you hear the word “Ireland?” Undoubtedly it is the color green, reminiscent of the lush green meadows that are found on any map of Ireland. Perhaps you think of the fake Irish you encounter downtown on Saint Patrick’s Day when most everyone – even in the United States – can be seen wearing green plastic hats and drinking green beer. The term “Irish potato famine” is probably just as well known to you as the idea of Irish immigrants arriving in Ellis Island. Riverdance and Irish Spring may also enter your stream of consciousness as you contemplate Ireland, and all of these associations are well and good, but they greatly sell short this amazing island.

When you arrive in the Republic of Ireland you will be greeted by the Irish flag (as opposed to the British Union Jack when you land in Northern Ireland). The weather in Ireland is very moderate with a lot of moisture which makes everything grow wonderfully and gives the island the appropriate name of the “emerald isle.” When you listen to the haunting harmonies of Irish music or the otherworldly quality of some Irish baby names, the strong influences of the Gael, Celts and even Romans become tangible. The countryside is littered with Irish castles, stone aged tombs, and remnants of walls, reinforcements, and towers that all attest to the fact that this country did not just have a calm and benign history but indeed one fraught with wars, intrigue, and tribal warfare.

Ireland today has very little to do with the druids of yesteryear and up to recently was marred by the religious wars that threatened to tear apart the Ireland map and made Christmas in Ireland more of a travesty than an actual holy day. Fortunately, the religious war has been abandoned and once again the Irish culture is welcoming to visitors, who love to se the Blarney Castle, Cahir Castle, and of course the walled city of Derry.

Today the Ireland flag is proudly flown at governmental buildings and also some castles, and hearty Irish food is served around the tourist spots that once again woo the travelers. With the opening of the country to tourism, the people are also able to once again remember their roots and embrace their history. As a result, the traditional forms of dancing, painting, and even singing are once again blooming in Ireland, and many of these crafts are now being exported and find their entrance into the United States and to the European neighbors as well.