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Ireland
Tourist Information

IRELAND
This
information has been supplied with the kind help
and assistance of the Ireland Tourist Office. For
further information please contact them on 0207 493
3201
There
are the silver streams
Ireland
is criss-crossed with silver streams, lazy rivers,
hidden lakes and still canals. Throughout the
country, there's trout and salmon fishing for
anglers. Canals, rivers and larger lakes can be
explored from the banks or from hired boats. Every
bend offers a new scene, a chance meeting or a
hidden pub alive with boating and fishing stories.
the blue of the sea
When
in Ireland, you are never more than 80 miles from
the sea and a coastline offering golden, sandy
beaches, dramatic cliffs, hidden harbours and
bays.
You'll
find beautiful secluded coves as well as larger
beaches with windsurfing, sailing, canoeing and
swimming. Shore angling and deep sea fishing
facilities are available in most coastal villages.
the purple of the hills
The
central plain of Ireland is surrounded by a ring of
hills and mountains. Hues vary from the deep purple
of heather to the black of turf bogs and vistas
range from the gentle slopes of the Slieve Bloom
mountains to the steep, wooded valleys of Wicklow
and the awe inspiring Cliffs of Moher. They are all
there to be explored on foot, by bicycle or on
horseback. and plenty of local colour
Every
day and every season brings new colours: Primroses,
bluebells, ferns, autumn leaves and amber sunset.
You'll want to photograph it all.
You'll
also find colourful characters. From mountain tops
to beaches you'll meet people ready to stop and
talk - a chat about the weather, a bit of local
geography or history and maybe some advice about
what you should see next.
You
won't see it all in one visit, so the sooner you
come the sooner you can come back for
more.
Overview
on Arts & Culture
Few
places on the planet are as crammed with history as
Ireland. Everywhere you look there are castles,
houses and monuments, some even older than the
Pyramids. In Ireland the past is part of the
present, part of the people and part of its vibrant
culture. The earliest Irish art is found in
carvings on megalithic monuments dating from 2500 -
2000 BC. In early historic times, Celtic art
predominated, reaching its peak in illuminated
manuscripts such as the Book of Durrow and the Book
of Kells. While the basic Celtic patterns remain,
European influences such as Viking, Romanesque and
Gothic styles are seen in work executed later than
the 9th century. The large, distinctly Irish, stone
crosses, seen across the country date from the 9th
and 10th centuries.
From
the mid-17th century, decorative arts and
large-scale building flourished under the influence
of contemporary European trends.
By
the early 19th century neo-classicism ,
romanticism, and later naturalism, were the
dominant forces in painting. They were replaced at
the end of that century by impressionism. This was
a particularly rich period which gave us artists
such as Nathaniel Hone , Walter Osborne, John
Lavery, William Leech, John Butler Yeats and
William Orpen.
Modernism
was first explored by the painters Evie Hone and
Mainie Jellett. A forum for the new movement was
provided by the Irish Exhibition of Living Art,
founded in 1943. From this emerged internationally
influenced artists such as Louis Le Brocquy,
Patrick Scott, Michael Farrall, Robert Ballagh and,
to a lesser extent, Patrick Collins, Tony O'Malley,
Camille Souter and Barrie Cooke.
Monumental
sculpture of 19th century is best represented by
the work of John Hogan and John Henry Foley whose
tradition lasted into the 20th century with such
sculptors as Oisín Kelly, Séamas
Murphy and Hilary Heron. Contemporary sculptors
include Brian King, John Behan, Michael Bulfin,
Michael Warran and Eilis O' Connell.
Enjoy
your visit to Ireland!
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