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A like Aran Islands
The Aran Islands are three islands (Inisheer, Inishmaan and Inishmore) with 1500 residents. They are popular for the Keltic language. When you are at this place you feel like the time stands still. On Inishmore is Dun Aengus situated, the most important and most beautiful stoneford of Ireland. There you can crawl¹ to the abyss² and see the ocean 100 metres down. On these islands are a lot of stonewalls. They protect from wind and store³ wharmth4. Also the Aran Sweaters, which were sold everywhere, protect from wind.
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1 = kriechen 2 = Abgrund 3 = speichern 4 = Wärme
B like Bet5
A lot of Irish people have a passion for bets, for example they bet on horses and greyhounds6. Inthe past greyhound races were called the sport of the little people. Persons of all social classes meet at those races, which are every week. You can notice that nobody is really dressed up7. The hounds are important, not the clothes. Also you can see the little betting offices8 , which stand on beer crates9 and are one-man businesses10.
C like Cliffs of Moher
The Cliffs of Moher are 6 kilometres southern of Doolin. The best view of the imposing beauty spot11 consisting of sandstone12 and slate13 you can have on the O´Brien´s Tower.
5 = Wette 6 = Windhunde 7 = in Schale geworfen 8 = Wettbüros 9 = Bierkästen 10 = Einmannbetriebe 11 = Naturschönheit 12 = Sandstein 13 = Schiefer
Or C like Connemara
The Connemara is a sight, which has a barren14 Countryside. A lot of stonewalls draw through the country, the coast has some wonderful white beaches. In Connemara the people have a traditional life, because of the slowly economic development and the unfavourable15 location. Moreover Connemara is one of the few Gaeltacht regions.
D like Druids
Druids are very mysterious people. These persons were Keltic priests16 , who tell the people their future and cure17 ill persons. The poor people like them. The translation of the word `druid´ is `Eichenkundiger´. Because of the comic `Asterix and Obelix´ druids were made popular. Today only some Irish people remember on the rituals of the druids. They give secret pre- Christian18 services19 and have meetings in the dark.
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14 = kahl 15 = ungünstige 16 = Priester 17 = heilen 18 = vorchristliche 19 = Gottesdienste
E like Ernies
Ernies is a restaurant in Dublin. There you sit in a courtyard20, which is formed like an U, with a beautiful atmosphere (because of the flowers and the water-plays). Also you find a lot of Irish paintings on the wall. In the restaurant you can eat various Irish specialities. Those can be:
boxty (Irish version of the `Schweizer Rösti´)
coddle (stew21 consisting of potatos, sausage, onions and bacon)
crubeen (feet of a pig22)
fish and chips
high tea (the Irish people drink this tea in the afternoon)
Irish stew (the nationalmeal, it is a stew with potatos, carotts and meat)
lamb with mintsauce23
seafood (like oysters24, prawns25, salmon26 and so on).
F like Fenit Sea World
This Underworld is a good trip when you want to do something with your children. There you can see lobsters27, old wrecks28 and a lot of fishes. Take the chance and go there when you are at this place because your children will never again come a crab so close29 without hurting.
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20 = Innenhof 21 = Eintopf 22 = Schweinefuß 23 = Lamm mit saurer Minzsauce 24 = Austern 25 = Garnelen 26 = Lachs 27 = Hummer 28 = Wracks 29 = nahe kommen
G like Giant´s Causeway
This main-attraction of Northern Ireland- along on thousands of basaltpilars30 on the ocean- has many visitors over the year. Even tourists, who spend their time in the Republic of Ireland go to Northern Ireland because of Giant´s Causeway. In the Visitor´s Centre they show a movie about the history of Giant´s Causeway. Also there is a little museum, where you can see the vegetation of this region. It exists a lot of myths about the coming into being31 of the pilars. The most beautiful story: Once upon a time32 there was a giant called Finn MacCool. He fell in love with a young and wonderful girl, which lived on an island. For going to her without getting wet he created this path made of stones. Scientists think that the Giant´s Causeway is over 60 million years old and consists of lava. Over 40000 hexagonal33 pilars, which were put together of a lot of little parts, rise34 from the ocean. From the Visitor´s Centre you can go to the coast in 15 minutes. Before you turn right to the Causeway you should see Camel Rock at the Portnaboebay. In the near are rocks35 , which have names, for example `Wishing Chair´ or `Organ of the Giants´. When you want to have a beautiful view you should take the stairs from there and you come to the hill `Aird Snout´.
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30 = Basaltsäulen 31 = Entstehung 32 = Es war einmal 33 = sechseckig 34 = ragen 35 = Felsen
H like Hargadon´s Pub
This pub in Sligo( it´s the centre of the northwest of Ireland) has a plain front36 . But inside it looks different: old stone floors, walls and snugs37 made of wood. Often it burns a fire. " A pearl, a gem, a jewel in the crown of Mother Ireland", drunken people said about the pub, which is 130 years old.
I like Irish Vine
The people often smile about it, but the vine is not that bad. A vineyard38 in Cork? Guests of the hotel Longueville House near Mallow in Blackwater Valley (just for fun called `Irisches Rheinland´) can be happy because they can enjoy the vine `Coisteal Longueville´. The owner of this house layed out39 his first vineyard in 1972, by the way the only one that is registered, and planted 1000 "Müller-Thurgau-Reben", a popular vine in Germany.
36 = unscheinbare Fassade 37 = Separees 38 = Weinberg 39 = anlegen
J like James Joyce
James Joyce let go his hero Leopold Bloom in the book `Ulysses´on an odyssey in Dublin in the year 1904. In the eight chapter40 he goes for example from the presshouse to the national library. Today the tourists do it like him: They search for 14 big badges41 on the earth, which are situated on the way. They read, the book in the hand, the part in the book when they stand for these badges, which are styled as a flower.
K like Kinsale
Kinsale is a beautiful seaport42 with 2500 habitants. It has georgianic43 houses, small winding44 streets, an ocean promenade with a lot of flowers and ships in the harbour. During the sailing regatta in August -the best event in this region- the people in the town are happy. The rest of the year Kinsale lures45 with a lot of pubs and restaurants (for example the 1601 or Savannah). The town has the atrribute "Culinary Capital of Ireland", but they are only expensive.
L like Lough Derg
Nearly Donegal are a lot of little lakes situated. The biggest one is Lough Derg. The Station Island (it lies in the middle of this lake) is know as a Pilgrim distination46 in Europe. The legends says Saint Patrick prays and fasted 40 days on the island. During the Pilgrim time (June to August) only Pilgrims are allowed to go on the island. There they stay three days and nights and eat only toast and drink black tea.
_________________________________________________________ 40 = Kapitel 41 = Plaketten 42 = Hafenstadt 43 = georgianisch 44 = windend 45 = locken
46 = Pilgerziel
M like Monasterboice
This town lies in the near from Dublin and shows the relic47 of a monastery48, which was founded in the 5th century. It has the highliest tall crosses49 of Irland for example the Muiredach´s Cross. There were acts of the bible chiseled50 in stone. Also you can see a round tower, churches from the 13th century and an old sun clock.
N like Newport
When you want to drive by bike without hills then take the street, which is on the Clay Bay. You have to drive 13 kilometres and then you are in Newport. This town trys to draw51 tourists and says that the ancestors52 of Grace Kelly lived there once.
You can see a very old (19th century) railway bridge, which connects Achill Island, Newport and Westport a few times ago. Nearly Newport, 5 kilometres away, you can find the Carrickhavley Castle. The Tower House with 4 floors was built in 1600 and belonged to the famous pirate Grace O´Malley.
O like Olympia Theatre
It is Dublin´s biggest theatre and it is situated in an old musichall from the year 1879. They show musicals and varietés, sometimes also concerts with Irish music.
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47 = Überrest 48 = Kloster 49 = Hochkreuz 50 = gemeißelt 51 = anziehen/ anlocken 52 = Vorfahren
P like Powerscourt Gardens
When you walk 25 kilometres long from Enniskerry (a town with beautiful small houses) you come to Powerscourt Estate.
This mansion53, where the grandparents of Sarah Ferguson (the `enfant terrible´ of the british royal house) lived, burnded down after the renovation54. The reconstruction and the restore55 of the floors above isn´t finish. In the groundfloor you find a shop with souvenirs, arts and crafts56 and things for the garden as soon as57 a restaurant, which the people from Dublin like very much.
You should go to the castlepark and to the Italien Garden, maybe also to the Powerscourt Waterfall. After that you can relax in the nature or on the terasse with teak furnitures.
Q like Quality Shandon Cork Hotel
This hotel you can find in Cork, the 2nd biggest city of Ireland (140.000 habitants). It is a new luxury house and lies in a good position (only 5 minutes to the St. Patrick´s Street).
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53 = Herrenhaus 54 = Renovierung 55 = Restauration 56 = Kunsthandwerk 57 = sowie
R like Rock of Cashel
The best sight of the town Cashel is the Rock of Cashel. Already the Celtic loved the rock and in the 5th century the king of Munster has built a stonefort. In 1101 the mountain was a gift to the church, which built a cathedrale, a roundtower and a chapel there. The legend says that St. Patrick picked58 a shamrock there and after that he declared59 the Trinity60.
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58 = pflücken 59 = erklären 60 = Dreieinigkeit
Or R like Ring of Kerry
The Ring of Kerry is a coast- and panoramastreet, which is unique. The Ring-of-Kerry-tour is 200 kilometres long and goes around the Iveragh-Peninsula61. To see all the beautiful countryside you should stay there three days. You can have nice views over the Dingle Bay at the route from Glenbeigh to Cahirciveen. From Portmagee goes a bridge to Valentina Island (siehe V). Waterville is a paradise for angles62. When you like walking, you can go the footh paths63, which are around the Lough Currane and go in the mountains behind. A visit to the Derrynane House (there lived the national hero Daniel O´Connell) will be great.
From Castlecove is a street to the Staigue Fort, an old ring fort.
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61 = Halbinsel 62 = Angler 63 = Wanderwege
S like Shamrock
The Shamrock is the national symbol of Ireland. The visitors see the symbol everywhere: on pullovers and postcards and so on. Also you can buy it as a cake or as a bouquet64. When it is the national day (17th of March), the St. Patrick´s Day, the Irish people make the shamrock on their shirts.
T like Temple Bar
Streetarts and rockmusic, alternative and old shops, French haute cuisine, a lot of pubs and restaurants which are modern, crazy boutiques- even the rockgroup U2 like this old quarter near the harbour.
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64 = Blumenstrauß
U like Ulster
Northern Island, also called Ulster, constists of the six countys Antrim, Armagh, Dery, Down, Fermanagh and Tyrone. In 1920 the partition65 of Irland was decided, the Northern Ireland parliament was founded on the 22nd June of 1921.
The reason was the Eastern rebellion in 1916, after the Republik of Ireland constituted66 and an Anglo- Irish war began. In the end of the 60s there were a lot of commotions67 (they are still today) which started in Londonderry and Belfast. The reasons were the clains68 for more eligibility69 and social rights for the Catholics. In 1973 the people tried to make a political force division70 between the Catholic majority and the Protestant minority but this failed71. The peace treaties72 from 1994 and 1998 have calmed down the political situation.
V like Valentina Island
Valentina Island lies on the Dingle Bay. On this island grows beautiful big fuchsias73 and blackberry bushes74 between are lying wide plains75. The biggest town is Knightstown which looks a little bit sleepy76. There you can make angle and dive77 tours. In 1857 Knightstown hat the first transatlantic telegraph connection of Europe.
W like weather
The Irish weather is wonderful -between the showers- how the Irish people say blinking78. Also they say, there are `lots of weather´. It is true! Because of the warming79 Golfstrom there is a gentle80 climate over the year. White winters are rare and in summer the degrees aren´t over 20°. It rains often but most of the time only a short time or as `Irish mist´81.
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65 = Teilung 66 = konstituieren 67 = Unruhen 68 = Forderung 69 = Wahlrecht 70 = Machtteilung 71 = scheitern 72 = Friedensvereinbarungen 73 = Fuchsien 74 = Brombeerstrauch 75 = Ebenen 76 = verschlafen 77 = Tauch- 78 = augenzwinkernd 79 = wärmend 80 = mild 81 = Sprühregen
X like X-mas
Christmas in Irland don´t really distinguish82 from the Christmas we know. All the people are exited about this event and the houses, shops and streets are decorated beautiful.
Also there is a christmas tree but only since the 60s so it is a new tradition. An old tradition is to decorate the houses with candles, hollies83 and ivy84. A special tradition it is to put a candle in the window to shine the infant Jesus85 the way. The Advent wreath86 has 5 candles instead of 4: three are violett, the others are pink and white.
As in England as in Irland Sanra Clause is also called Father Christmas. He wears a red coat and a white beard the sime like our one. That´s different: Not only the relatives, even the people who do services87 (like the postman) got little presents (mostly money). And also Santa get something: a mince pie88 and a bottle Guiness.
Because the belief is important for the Irish people, the Christmas Mass89 is important, too. At this time the church is full of people. Christmas Eve is a midnight mass in the church, which is decorated with flowers and candles.
The 26th of december is called St. Stephen´s Day. This day the children like because they go around and collect sweets or money. The children call theirself `The Wren Boys´(translation: "Die Zaunkönig-Jungen"). This is the name of an old Irish rhyme, which the children sing while they are going around.
`The wren, the wren, the king of all birds.
On St. Stephen´s Day he got caught in the furze.
Although he was little, his family was great.
Up with the kettle, down with the pan.
Give us a penny to bury the the wren.´
"Der Zaunkönig, der Zaunkönig, der König aller Vögel.
Am St. Stephens Tag verfing er sich im Stechginster.
Obwohl er klein war, war seine Familie groß.
Rauf mit dem Kessel, runter den Topf,
Gib uns einen Penny zum Vergraben des Zaunkönigs."
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82 = unterscheiden 83 = Stechpalmen 84 = Efeu 85 = Christkind 86 = Adventskranz
87 = Dienstleistungen 88 = gefüllte Pastete 89 = Weihnachtsmesse
Y like Youghal
Youghal is a little town and has many residents as Schwarzheide (circa 6000). It lies on the Blackwater River (near Cork).
This town has a beautiful tower with a clock from 1777, which is situated in the main street. There you can go upstairs to the city wall (the foundations90 are over 600 years old). From above you have a beautiful view of a lot of houses from 1800 and 1900. Youghal also have an old church, the St. Mary´s Chruch, where you can get to know a little bit of Irish history.
Below the church lies Myrtle Crove, one of the houses of Sir walter Raleigh, woh brought alleged91 the potatoes to Ireland.
Z like (no smoking) Zone
As the first country in Europe Ireland said that no one is allowed to smoke on public places, restaurants or at work. The motto is `Feel free to say NO´. And for those, who need to smoke, there are closed rooms.
This is a good method to get the younger people away from smoking.
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