Did You Know? Fun Facts about Ireland:

1. Famous people from Ireland include Jonathan Swift, the author of Gulliver's Travels.The story of Dracula was written by Bram Stoker, also of Ireland! Famous poets from Ireland include W.B. Yates and James Joyce.

2. The Republic of Ireland, or Eire(in Irish) is nicknamed the "Emerald Isle" because of its very green landscape.

3. Irish(also called Irish Gaelic) is the first official language(with English second).

4. St.Patrick's Day is a national holiday in Ireland.

5. The national symbol of Ireland is the shamrock.

6. The Celtic Knot symbolizes the continuity of life and is a symbol of Ireland.

7. Muckanaghederdauhaulia is a village found in County Galway. Meaning "marsh of the pigs between two seas", it is the longest name for a place in Ireland.

8. The National Leprechaun Museum in Dublin, Ireland, is dedicated to the folklore and mythology of Ireland.

9. In Irish folklore, there are only male leprechauns.

10. Ireland was the very first country in the world to tax plastic bags.(2002)

11. A burial tomb found near Dublin, Newgrange, may be older than the pyramids of Egypt,and were built about 4000BC.

12. The Irish monk St. Brendan may have reached North America before Columbus, in the 6th century.

13. Halloween has its origins in Ireland.

Extensions:

1. Learn about a dolmen, peat,St. Brendan, a clochan, New Grange and more: Check out some photographs of Ireland at my website for teachers/kids:http://www.gailhennessey.com/index.shtml?stpatrickdemoweb.html

2.Learn about the history of the Kerry Bog Ponies, the Blarney Castle and more. Read my travel diary of one of my visits to Ireland:http://gailhennessey.com/index.shtml?ireland.html