Ireland: May 2012

Tuesday, May 22, 2012

Ireland's Physical Geography

Physical Geography:

~Galway Bay
~Shaped like a huge bowl

~Hills are along the coast line

~Middle is a plain that drains into the river Shannon

~Green vegetation

~1/6 of island is covered in peat(spongy-containing moss and plants)

~few forests

Ireland is considered a bowl also blocking prevailing winds from coming in keeping temperatures mild.

Monday, May 21, 2012

Climates

Climates

Ireland has a Marine West Coast Climate
On the west coast of Ireland, the tropical air permits the growth of palm trees in places that are usually cool
Temperature:Warm Summers (60F),cold winters (42)
Precipitation: Yearly: 45in.
The rocky shore line that come sup aound the island blocks winds from coming in keeping the temperature mild providing a good area for cropping.

Sunday, May 20, 2012

Ecosystem

Ecosystems:

Ireland consists of a Mid-latitude deciduous forest ecosystem
Their forests look dramatically different depending on the season
Ireland's leaves change colors and fall off because the dominant tree type in the mid-latitude area is deciduous
Very vibrant colored trees

Saturday, May 19, 2012

Natural Resources

Ireland's natural Resources include the following:

natural gas, peat, copper, lead,zinc, silver, barite, gypsum, limestone, dolomite

Peat is a spongy material containing waterlogged mosses and plants. Farmers will cut and dry blocks of peat for cooking and heating. Also the Republic of Ireland recently developed a strategy for using peat in power plants, which now produces nearly one quarter of the nation's electricity.

Cutting peat, Dublin, Ireland

Friday, May 18, 2012

Human Environment Interactions

Human Environment Interactions

Humans in the past used to build huge castles and buildings cutting down many trees and ruining environments for other animals. They have cut down trees to make huge farmlands to grow lots of vegetables like potatoes and onions. The people in Ireland also affect the environment by burning peat. The people remove peat from animals habitats because they lack trees and other natural resources. They then burn this peat for there own warmth and cooking needs but the peat affects enviroment's breathing air.

Thursday, May 17, 2012

Political Borders

Many Irish were still pressing for independence in the 19th century. Rebellions between 1916 and 1921 led the officials in the United Kingdom and Ireland to divide the island in two parts. Six of the northeastern countries remained part of the United Kingdom and the rest of the countries became a free state under Brittish supervision.

Wednesday, May 16, 2012

Irish Culture

Germanic and Celtic language - Irish
Divided between Protestants and Catholics
Divided between the descendants of native Celtic people and the descendants of English and scottish immagrants
Blight : plant disease; potatoe famine - Most of the people in Ireland relied on potatoes as thier main source of nutrients and as a reult one million irish died of starvation or disease. Crisis further inflamed anti brittish feelings because many Irish Catholics blamed England for not providing aid. Push and Pull factors resulted from this. Push: Famine. Pull: Jobs and economic oppurtunities.

Tuesday, May 15, 2012

Demographics

Population

4,670,976 (July 2011 est.)

Age structure

0-14 years: 21.1% (male 503,921/female 483,454)
15-64 years: 67.3% (male 1,581,959/female 1,560,238)
65 years and over: 11.6% (male 246,212/female 295,192) (2011 est.)

Median age

total: 34.8 years
male: 34.5 years
female: 35.1 years (2011 est.)

Population growth rate

1.061% (2011 est.)

Birth rate

16.1 births/1,000 population (2011 est.)

Death rate

6.34 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.)

Net migration rate

0.86 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2011 est.)

Urbanization

urban population: 62% of total population (2010)
rate of urbanization: 1.8% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.057 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.07 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.81 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

Infant mortality rate

total: 3.85 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 4.24 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 3.44 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.)

Nationality

noun: Irishman(men), Irishwoman(women), Irish (collective plural)
adjective: Irish

Ethnic groups

Irish 87.4%, other white 7.5%, Asian 1.3%, black 1.1%, mixed 1.1%, unspecified 1.6% (2006 census)

Religions

Roman Catholic 87.4%, Church of Ireland 2.9%, other Christian 1.9%, other 2.1%, unspecified 1.5%, none 4.2% (2006 census)

Languages

English (official, the language generally used), Irish (Gaelic or Gaeilge) (official, spoken mainly in areas along the western coast)

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99%
male: 99%
female: 99% (2003 est.)

Monday, May 14, 2012

Government System

Government System:

1916 and 1921 rebellions divided Ireland into two parts
Free independent state in 1949
North Protestant
South Catholic
South supported reunification of island but the North opposed
Bombing, hunger strikes, gun battles
Peace talks began in 1994 and as peace agreement was made in 1998
Parliamentary government

The legal system decides whether someone has trespassed the law by basing it upon the English Common Law. People are chosen to lead the country by being elected by 49 people elected from the universities and candidates of the Senate

Sunday, May 13, 2012

Economic Activities

Economic Activities:
The main economic activities that is found in Ireland is commercial farming. The people in Ireland grow mostly potatoes and onions which are distributed to markets for profit. Ireland's farmers use a rain watering system that they collect from the storms that only come four times a year but leave a great amount of rain for the crops. In Ireland the cities do not offer up enough jobs for the population that provide a good amount of pay. Commercial farming in Ireland is also popular because the center of Ireland is giant plain providing great space for agriculture.

Saturday, May 12, 2012

Current or Future Issues

The main issue is between the Catholics and Protestants today in ireland. I see the catholics and protestants in the future getting into a huge fight over something that causes war even though they are in the process of signing peace treaties.You also have some enviornmental problems such polution and global warming just like everyone else.

Friday, May 11, 2012

Northern Ireland: The Process of Peace- Catholic Focus

Check this out! :)

Thursday, May 10, 2012

Fun Facts

Fun Facts:

Catherine Kelly, who died in 1785, was allegedly the smallest Irish woman ever. With a total height of just 34 inches and a weight of 8 pounds, she was known as “The Irish Fairy.”

The longest place name in Ireland is Muckanaghederdauhaulia, in County Galway

Irish Setters originated in Ireland

Recipe:

Traditional Irish Stew
This is one of Ireland’s most famous dishes.
2 – 3 pounds of boneless lamb, cut into 1-inch pieces
1 ½ tsp fresh chopped parsley
1 tsp dried or fresh thyme
6 cups chicken or lamb stock
2 – 3 pounds potatoes, peeled & quartered
1 - 2 large onions, chopped
2 cups of chopped carrots
6 stalks of celery, chopped
6 Tbsp of flour
¼ cup vegetable oil
salt & pepper

Heat the oil in a dutch oven. Add the lamb, parsley, thyme, salt and pepper. When meat in nicely browned add the potatoes, onions, carrots, celery and the broth. Simmer covered for 2 hours.

In a small bowl whisk together flour and some of the broth from the stew until smooth. Stir into the simmering stew until the stew has thickened, then continue simmering for an additional 4 – 5 mins.

Yield: 8 to 10 servings

Wednesday, May 9, 2012

Citations