Ireland
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Coordinates: 53°N 7°W / 53°N 07°W
| Native name: Éire / Ireland Sobriquet: The Emerald Isle / The Island of Saints and Scholars | |
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| Geography | |
| Location | Northern Europe or Western Europe |
| Area | 84,421 km2 (32,595.1 sq mi) |
| Area rank | 20th |
| Coastline | 2,797 km (1,738 mi) |
| Highest elevation | 1,041 m (3,415 ft) |
| Highest point | Carrauntoohil |
| Country | |
 Republic of Ireland | |
| Largest city | Dublin |
| Demographics | |
| Population | 6,197,100 (as of 2008) |
| Density | 73.4 /km2 (190.1 /sq mi) |
| Ethnic groups | Irish, Ulster Scots, Irish Travellers |
Relatively low-lying mountains surrounding a central plain epitomise Ireland's geography with several navigable rivers extending inland. The island has lush vegetation, a product of its mild but changeable oceanic climate, which avoids extremes in temperature. Thick woodlands covered the island until the 17th century. Today, it is the most deforested area in Europe. There are twenty-six extant mammal species native to Ireland.
A Norman invasion in the Middle Ages gave way to a Gaelic Resurgence in the 13th century. Over sixty years of intermittent warfare in the 1500s led to English dominion after 1603. In the 1690s, a system of Protestant English rule was designed to materially disadvantage the Catholic majority and Protestant dissenters, and was extended during the 18th century. In 1801, Ireland became a part of the United Kingdom. A war of independence in the early 20th century led to the partition of the island, creating the Irish Free State, which became increasingly sovereign over the following decades. Northern Ireland remained a part of the United Kingdom and saw much civil unrest from the late 1960s until the 1990s. This subsided following a political agreement in 1998. In 1973, both parts of Ireland joined the European Community.
Irish culture has had a significant influence on other cultures, particularly in the fields of literature and, to a lesser degree, science and education. A strong Irish culture exists, as expressed for example through Gaelic games, Irish music and the Irish language, alongside a common Western culture, such as contemporary music and drama, and sports such as soccer, rugby and golf, and the English language.
| Irish version Amhrán na bhFiann | English version The Soldiers' Song |
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| Sinne Fianna Fáil, atá faoi gheall ag Éirinn, Buíon dár slua thar toinn do ráinig chughainn, Faoi mhóid bheith saor Seantír ár sinsear feasta, Ní fhágfar faoin tíorán ná faoin tráill. Anocht a théam sa bhearna baoil, Le gean ar Ghaeil, chun báis nó saoil, Le gunna scréach faoi lámhach na bpiléar, Seo libh canaig amhrán na bhFiann | Soldiers are we, whose lives are pledged to Ireland, Some have come from a land beyond the wave, Sworn to be free, no more our ancient sireland, Shall shelter the despot or the slave. Tonight we man the "bearna baoil", In Erin’s cause, come woe or weal, ’Mid cannon’s roar and rifles’ peal, We’ll chant a soldier's song |
Verses
The anthem consists only of the chorus of the song. The original has three verses, set to a slightly different tune. The lyrics of the verses are as follows:| Seo dhíbh, a chairde, duan Ógláigh | We’ll sing a song, a soldier’s song |
| Caithréimeach bríomhar ceolmhar | With cheering rousing chorus |
| Ár dtinte cnámh go buacach táid | As round our blazing fires we throng |
| ’S an spéir go mín réaltógach | The starry heavens o’er us |
| Is fonnmhar faobhrach sinn chun gleo | Impatient for the coming fight |
| ’S go tiúnmhar glé roimh thíocht don ló | And as we await the morning’s light |
| Fé chiúnas chaomh na hoíche ar seol | Here in the silence of the night |
| Seo libh, canaídh Amhrán na bhFiann | We’ll chant a soldier’s song |
| Sinne Fianna Fáil... | Soldiers are we... |
| Cois bánta réidhe, ar ardaibh sléibhe | In valley green, on towering crag |
| Ba bhuadhach ár sinsir romhainn | Our fathers fought before us |
| Ag lámhach go tréan fén sárbhrat séin | And conquered ’neath the same old flag |
| ’Tá thuas sa ghaoth go seolta | That’s proudly floating o’er us |
| Ba dhúchas riamh dár gcine cháidh | We’re children of a fighting race |
| Gan iompáil siar ó imirt áir | That never yet has known disgrace |
| ’S ag siúl mar iad i gcoinne námhad | And as we march, the foe to face |
| Seo libh, canaídh Amhrán na bhFiann | We’ll chant a soldier’s song |
| Sinne Fianna Fáil... | Soldiers are we... |
| A bhuíon nach fann d’fhuil Ghaeil is Gall | Sons of the Gael! Men of the Pale! |
| Sin breacadh lae na saoirse | The long-watched day is breaking |
| Tá sceimhle ’s scanradh i gcroíthe námhad | The serried ranks of Inisfail |
| Roimh ranna laochra ár dtíre | Shall set the tyrant quaking |
| Ár dtinte is tréith gan spréach anois | Our camp fires now are burning low |
| Sin luisne ghlé sa spéir anoir | See in the east a silv’ry glow |
| ’S an bíobha i raon na bpiléar agaibh | Out yonder waits the Saxon foe |
| Seo libh, canaídh Amhrán na bhFiann | So chant a soldier’s song |
| Sinne Fianna Fáil... | Soldiers are we... |
