| Ireland Features
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| | Patrick, Dun Aengus, Glendalough, Hill of
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| 05th January 2006
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| | Tara, Lough Derg, Skellig Michael, Rock
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| Author: Bridget Regan
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| | of Cashel.
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| Features of Ireland Ireland:
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| | Bru na Boinne "Boyne Palace": Ireland's
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| Map and Location Island Location: Ireland
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| | Stonehenge One of Ireland's most
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| is an island off western Europe in the
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| | spectacular archaeological sites is
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| Northern Atlantic Ocean. Ireland is a
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| | located in the Boyne Valley in County
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| divided country, with independent
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| | Meath. Newgrange, Dowth and Knowth were
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| governments.
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| | built around the same time that
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| The Republic of Ireland (also called
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| | Stonehenge was erected in England. These
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| Ireland or Eire) occupies 5/6th of the
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| | tombs were built around 3200 B.C.,
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| island of Ireland Northern Ireland
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| | several centuries before the great
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| occupies 1/6th of the island and is a
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| | pyramids of Egypt. The exact reason these
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| part of the United Kingdom. Capital(s)
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| | sites were built is unknown, but one of
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| Republic of Ireland: Dublin. Northern
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| | their features, is that they may have
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| Ireland: Belfast Official languages:
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| | been used as an ancient form of solar
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| English and Gaelic. Size: The Republic of
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| | calendar. The Newgrange site was designed
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| Ireland covers 27,135 square miles
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| | to catch the sun during the winter
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| (70,280 sq km).Population: The population
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| | solstice (December 19-23), the rising sun
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| of Ireland is about 3,689,000 (as of
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| | shines thru a slit over the entrance, and
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| 2000). Climate: Ireland has a cool,
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| | lights up the burial chamber for 17
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| often-cloudy climate.
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| | minutes. At Dowth, the light of the
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| Flag of Ireland The Republic of Ireland's
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| | setting sun of the solstice illuminates
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| flag is tricolor, and is made of three
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| | one of the chambers. At Knowth, the
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| equal-sized rectangles of orange, white,
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| | rising sun of the spring and autumn
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| and green. The flag is twice as wide as
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| | equinoxes lights the eastern passage,
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| it is tall. The green side is by the
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| | while the setting sun may have caught the
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| flagpole. This flag was first used in
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| | western passage those days.
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| 1848. Colors in the flag represent the
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| | Clonmacnoise (Offaly) An early Christian
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| native population and religious beliefs
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| | monastic site founded by Saint Ciaran in
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| in Ireland.Green: Signifies the native
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| | the 6th century on the banks of the River
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| people of Ireland (most of whom are Roman
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| | Shannon at the crossroads of Ireland in
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| Catholic). Orange: Represents the British
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| | County Offaly. The Clonmacnoise location
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| supporters of William of Orange who
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| | borders the three provinces of Connaught,
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| settled in Northern Ireland in the 17th
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| | Munster and Leinster. The monastery is on
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| century (most of whom are Protestant).
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| | the east side of the River Shannon, in
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| White: White occupies the center of the
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| | what was then the Kingdom of Meath, but
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| flag and signifies peace between these
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| | occupying a position so central it was
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| two groups of people.
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| | the burial-place of many of the kings of
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| Irish Provinces: Commonly known as the
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| | Connaught as well as those of Tara. The
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| Four Green Fields of Ireland. Irelands 4
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| | site includes the ruins of a cathedral,
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| provinces. Connacht is the north-western
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| | eight churches (10th-13th century), two
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| province of Ireland, comprising the
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| | round towers, three high crosses and a
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| counties of Galway, Mayo, Sligo, Leitrim
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| | large collection of early Christian grave
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| and Roscommon. Leinster is the eastern
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| | slabs. The original high crosses and
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| province of Ireland, comprising the
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| | grave slabs are on display in the Visitor
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| counties of Louth, Meath, Dublin,
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| | Centre.
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| Wicklow, Wexford, Kilkenny, Carlow,
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| | Hill of Tara (Meath) Though best known as
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| Laois, Offaly, Kildare, Westmeath and
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| | the seat of the High Kings of Ireland.
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| Longford. Munster is the southernmost
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| | 142 kings are said to have reigned there
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| province of Ireland, comprising the
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| | in prehistoric and historic times. The
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| counties of Claire, Cork, Kerry,
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| | Hill of Tara has been an important site
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| Limerick, Tipperrary, and Waterford.
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| | since the late Stone Age when a
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| Ulster forms one of the historical
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| | passage-tomb was constructed there. Tara
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| provinces of Ireland. Six of its Nine
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| | was at the height of its power as a
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| counties Antrim, Armagh, Derry, Down,
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| | political and religious centre in the
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| Fermanagh, and Tyrone, are known together
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| | early centuries after Christ. Features of
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| as Northern Ireland. Three counties
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| | the Hill of Tara include the Mound of the
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| Cavan, Donegal, and Monaghan, are part of
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| | Hostages, the Stone of Destiny, and
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| the Republic of Ireland.
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| | Ancient Standing Stones Rock of Cashel
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| Irish Identifiable:
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| | (Tipperary) This was the seat of kings
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| Claddagh: The Friendship, Lovea and
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| | and mediaeval bishops for 900 years and
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| Loyalty Symbol or Ireland The Claddagh
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| | flourished until the early 17th century.
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| design is said to originate from the
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| | A spectacular group of stone fort
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| Galway Area, and the Aran Islands. The
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| | Medieval buildings set on an outcrop of
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| Claddagh ring was originally worn by men,
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| | limestone in the Golden Vale. Features
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| but later used as a Marriage Ring for Men
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| | include 12th century round tower, High
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| and Women. The symbol is comprised of 2
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| | Cross and Romanesque Chapel, 13th century
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| hands, a heart and a crown.The hands
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| | Gothic cathedral, 15th century Castle and
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| symbolize the 2 parties involved. The
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| | the restored Hall of the Vicars Choral.
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| heart is the seat of affection or love.
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| | The original forbidding fortification of
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| And the crown perfection. So, a perfect
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| | the Eoghanachta, kings of Munster. Brian
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| union of love between 2 parties. Common
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| | Ború was crowned King of Munster here in
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| word translations to the Claddagh are:
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| | 977 and he became High King of Ireland in
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| Friendship (hands), Love (heart) and
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| | 1002. He was the first high king to exact
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| Loyalty (crown).
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| | universal and effective tribute from the
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| Harp Emblem: Its Importance in Irish
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| | other kings of Ireland.
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| History The harp symbol has been
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| | Dun Aengus: Dún Aonghasa (Dun Aengus -
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| recognized as the emblem of Ireland since
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| | Angus' Fort) The mysterious structure of
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| the 13th century. It was officially
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| | Dun Aengus is situated on the western
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| adopted as Ireland's national symbol when
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| | side of Inish Mór, one of the three Aran
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| the Irish Free State was created in 1922.
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| | Islands (Oileáin Árainn), stone
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| The most famous Harp of Ireland is the
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| | outcrops, in the Atlantic thirty miles
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| Brian Boru harp which is located at the
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| | (48 kms) west of Galway City. The
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| Trinity College in Dublin. The Boru harp
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| | islands, Inish Mór, Inishmann and
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| is the oldest surviving Irish harp, and
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| | Inisheer have some of Europe's finest
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| is the model used for the State emblem.
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| | examples of pre-historic and early
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| Trinity Symbol: The Trinity Symbol is an
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| | Christian antiquities.Dun Aengus is a
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| ancient Celtic design. The Trinity emblem
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| | vast fortification perched on the summit
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| is an ancient symbol for a high spiritual
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| | of a hill that rises precipitously from
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| dignity. In the Christian faith, it
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| | the ocean to a height of 300 feet (100
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| represents the Holy Trinity: Father, Son,
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| | meters). Half the site, consisting of
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| and Holy Spirit. The Trinity symbol has
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| | three concentric enclosures, has fallen
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| been inscribed in stone, and also has
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| | into the sea, but what is left makes a
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| been colored. Red for power, faith,
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| | fascinating sight. The cliff edge at
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| language and sacrifice. Blue -represents
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| | Cahercommoun in the Burren is Early
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| faith and trust. Green -color of the
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| | Christian and Dún Aonghasa is believed
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| plants and trees, suggests hope of life
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| | to be much older. Dun Aengus has been
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| eternal.
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| | estimated to have been built anywhere
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| Celtic Cross: The Celtic Cross is
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| | from 900BC to 500C.
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| possibly the best known symbol of Early
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| | Glendalough (Wicklow) This early
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| Christianity in Ireland. The High Celtic
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| | Christian monastic site was founded by
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| Cross is a self contained monument, and
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| | St. Kevin in the 6th century. Set in a
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| are as high as 20 feet. They are
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| | glaciated valley with two lakes, the
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| generally made of sandstone, and their
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| | monastic remains include a superb round
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| main characteristic feature is a circle
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| | tower, stone churches and decorated
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| connecting the arms. The rings around the
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| | crosses.In the 6th centaury St. Kevin
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| high cross may have been a symbol of the
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| | founded a monastery and from this grew a
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| cosmos, and at the center is the
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| | monastic city, which became famous as a
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| Crucificition of Christ. Or, the ring may
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| | centre of learning throughout Europe. The
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| have been a structural piece, to prevent
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| | spectacular Round Tower in the Monastic
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| the arms of the cross from snapping off.
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| | City stands an impressive 34m high and
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| There are many decorations on the crosses
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| | 16m in circumference.The tower was
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| many including scenes from the bible,
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| | originally built as a bell tower and a
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| while others feature animal Interlace,
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| | place of refuge when the monastery was
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| and scroll work. The crosses at
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| | attacked. There are many stone crosses
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| Monasterboise and Cross of Scriptures,
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| | and churches to see. As well as these
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| Clonmacnoise are good examples for the
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| | magnificent remains, there is the
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| traditional Celtic Cross.
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| | breathtaking scenery of the valley to
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| Irish Famous:
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| | enjoy.
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| Brian Boru Harp Brian Boru (c. 940-1014)
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| | Croagh Patrick (Mayo) Is a holy mountain
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| The last of the High King's to lift
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| | in Ireland, located in south Mayo, 5
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| Ireland out of the ruins of the Norse
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| | miles from Westport, and on Clew Bay. It
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| Age. He rebuilt ruined churches, built
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| | is a conical mountain that is said to be
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| others, he sent overseas to replace lost
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| | the place where St. Patrick banished the
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| books and artifacts and all that he
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| | snakes from Ireland. Today it is a
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| possibly could to heal the wounds of the
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| | pilgrimage spot, where visitors from all
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| past two centuries of Norse pillage. One
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| | over the world. It is said that St.
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| of the symbols most associated with
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| | Patrick fasted for 40 days at the summit
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| Irieand is the Brian Boru Harp. This Harp
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| | of the mountain. Croagh Patrick is also
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| is now located in the Long room, at the
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| | known as the "Reek", and on "Reek
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| Trinity College Library, in Dublin. The
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| | Sunday", the last Sunday in July,
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| harp is the national symbol of Ireland.
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| | thousands come to follow the steps of
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| Short Irish History:
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| | Patrick. Today, a church sits on the top
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| Irelands Areas of Historical Interest:
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| | of the "Reek". It is said, that if you
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| Interesting sites in Ireland include: Bru
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| | climb Croagh Patrick three times, you
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| na Boinne (Newgrange), Boyne Valley,
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| | will have earned yourself a place in
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| Ceide Fields, Clonmacnoise, Croagh
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| | heaven.
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