Топик по английскому «Ирландия» (Ireland). Ирландия (Ireland) Написать на английском языке про ирландию

Northern Ireland, integral part of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, situated in the northeastern portion of the island of Ireland. Northern Ireland is bounded on the north and northeast by the North Channel, on the southeast by the Irish Sea, and on the south and west by the Republic of Ireland. It includes Rathlin Island in the North Channel and several smaller offshore islands. Northern Ireland is also known as Ulster, because it comprises six of the nine counties that constituted the former province of Ulster.

Land. The total area of Northern Ireland is 14,148 sq km (5463 sq mi). Northern Ireland has an extreme northern to southern extension of about 135 km (about 85 mi) and an extreme eastern to western extension of about 175 km (about 110 mi). The shoreline is characterized by numerous irregularities and is about 530 km (about 330 mi) long. The major indentations are Lough Foyle in the north and Belfast, Strangford, and Carlingford loughs in the east. A striking feature of the northern coast is the Giant"s Causeway, a rock formation consisting of thousands of closely placed, polygonal pillars of black basalt. The country consists mainly of a low, flat plain in the approximate center of which is Lough Neagh (about 390 sq km/about 150 sq mi), the largest lake in the British Isles. Other important lakes are Lough Erne and Upper Lough Erne. Apart from several isolated elevations, three major areas of considerable height are the Sperrin Mountains in the northwest, the Antrim Plateau along the northeastern coast, and the Mourne Mountains in the southeast. The highest point in the country is Slieve Donard (852 m/2796 ft), a peak in the Mourne Mountains. The chief rivers are the Foyle River, which forms part of the northwestern boundary and flows into Lough Foyle at Londonderry, and the Upper Bann and Lower Bann rivers. The former rises in the Mourne Mountains and empties into Lough Neagh; the latter flows out of Lough Neagh to the North Channel. Among the many other rivers are the Main, Blackwater, Lagan, Erne, and Bush. Because of the generally flat terrain, drainage is poor, and the areas of marshland are extensive.

Climate. The climate of Northern Ireland is mild and damp throughout the year. The prevailing westerly winds from the Gulf Stream are largely responsible for the lack of extreme summer heat and winter cold. The average annual temperature is approximately 10 C (50 F); temperatures average about 14.4 C (about 58 F) in July and about 4.4 C (about 40 F) in January. Rainfall is distributed evenly during the year. The annual precipitation frequently exceeds 1016 mm (40 in) in the north and is about 760 mm (about 30 in) in the south. The level of humidity is high.

Natiral Resources. The most valuable natural resources of Northern Ireland are its fertile soil and rich pasturelands. Natural waterpower is abundant. The chief minerals are basalt, limestone, sand and gravel, granite, chalk, clay, and shale; bauxite, iron ore, and coal also are found in small amounts. Peat is important as a fuel. Plants and Animals. In general, the plants and animals of Northern Ireland are similar to those of the island as a whole. The only distinctive plant is a species of wild orchid, Spiranthes stricta, found in the valleys of the Upper and Lower Bann rivers. Distinctive species of animal life include the pollan, a freshwater variety of whitefish found in Lough Neagh and Lough Erne. Population. The majority of the people are of Scottish or English ancestry and are known commonly as the Scotch-Irish. The remainder of the population is Irish, principally native to Ulster. English is the sole official language. Unlike the Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland does not encourage the use of the Gaelic language.

Population Characteristics. The population of Northern Ireland (1992 preliminary) was 1,610,300. The overall density was about 113 persons per sq km (about 295 per sq mi). The population is unevenly distributed, with greater concentrations in the eastern half. It is almost equally divided between urban and rural dwellers.

The capital and largest city of Northern Ireland is Belfast (population, 1991 preliminary, 279,237), which is surrounded by heavy industries including shipbuilding and textiles. The other major city in Northern Ireland is Londonderry (72,334). Political Divisions. Northern Ireland is divided into 26 districts. Each district is governed by an elected council. Religion. Religious affiliation has been a key determinant in Northern Ireland"s history, politics, and social life since the 17th century. At various times it has determined access to voting and jobs, standards of living, and education. In modern times it has come to symbolize the differences between the descendants of the original Irish inhabitants and those of the settler community. The descendants of the Scottish and English settlers are predominantly Protestant; those of the original Irish inhabitants are overwhelmingly Roman Catholic. In the early 1990s, almost 51 percent of the population regarded themselves as Protestant, and almost 39 percent as Roman Catholic. The Roman Catholics are the largest single denomination. The largest Protestant denominations are the Presbyterian, the Church of Ireland, and the Methodist. Unlike England, Northern Ireland has no established, or state, church. The Church of Ireland, at one time a branch of the Church of England, was disassociated from the state in 1871.

Education. Education in Northern Ireland is free and compulsory for children between the ages of 5 and 15. The educational system is essentially similar to that of England. In the early 1990s Northern Ireland had nearly 1100 primary schools, annually attended by approximately 191,000 pupils and staffed by more than 8200 teachers. Secondary and special schools numbered about 275 and were attended by about 147,000 students taught by 10,300 instructors. The country has two universities: Queen"s University of Belfast, founded as Queen"s College in 1845, and the University of Ulster (1984), with campuses in Coleraine, Belfast, Jordanstown, and Londonderry. The total annual university enrollment in the early 1990s was about 17,000. Two colleges, the Belfast College of Technology (1901) and the Union Theological College (1978), are in Belfast.

Culture. Originally, Northern Ireland was culturally indistinguishable from the remainder of Ireland. However, with the waves of colonization from England and Scotland during the 17th century, the northeastern province of Ulster evolved a distinctive cultural identity. The settlers, who came to form a majority in the region, were British in culture and tradition, and Protestant in religion; their descendants are committed to keeping the province constitutionally allied with Great Britain. The Irish inhabitants, in a minority and for centuries politically and economically marginalized, had as their goal the reunification of the island of Ireland. In addition, Northern Ireland is considerably more urbanized and industrialized than the Republic of Ireland. Northern Ireland shares the early cultural glories of all Ireland. To Ulster belongs one of the two great cycles of Irish myths that contain the exploits of CЯ Chulainn and the tragic story of Deirdre (see Gaelic Literature). There is a thriving theatrical movement in Belfast, and much literary activity. Belfast is the base of Opera Northern Ireland, which presents seasons at the Grand Opera House in the city, and also tours the province. A ballet company is based in the capital, as is the Belfast Philharmonic Society, one of Britain"s leading choral societies. The Ulster Symphony Orchestra is among the leading orchestras of Britain. Queen"s University hosts the annual Belfast Festival. Northern Ireland has two national museums: the Ulster Museum in Belfast, which houses a collection of Irish antiquities; and the Ulster Folk and Transport Museum in Holywood, County Down.

Economy. Northern Ireland"s gross domestic product in 1992 was about $18.3 billion. In general, the economy of Northern Ireland is based on agriculture and manufacturing and is closely tied to that of Great Britain as a whole; almost half of manufacturing output is sold to the rest of Britain; one quarter is sold locally. Northern Ireland has been particularly hard hit by the decline of traditional industries like shipbuilding, on which much of its prosperity and many jobs depended. The lack of economic opportunities, particularly for young people, played a role in the sectarian conflicts of the 1970s. At the same time, however, the threat of terrorism hindered efforts to attract investment and create new jobs in the 1980s. Considerable public expenditure has been devoted to urban renewal in Belfast and Londonderry. Various agencies have been established to attract new companies and encourage small business, backed by tax and other incentives. Helped by moves towards a peaceful settlement of the sectarian violence, several important new investments were announced in the early 1990s. Public finance comes predominantly from taxes (50 percent in 1994) and government grants in aid from Great Britain (41 percent); Northern Ireland also received considerable funding from the European Union.

Agriculture. Small farms predominate in Northern Ireland, and production generally includes both crops and livestock. Livestock on farms in the early 1990s numbered approximately 1.5 million cattle, 2.6 million sheep, 588,000 pigs, and 12.3 million poultry. The leading crops in the country were potatoes, barley, hay, oats, turnips, apples, and pears. Forestry and Fishing. Northern Ireland is sparsely forested, but the state afforestation program has made considerable progress, and in the early 1980s about 60,000 cu m (about 2.1 million cu ft) of timber were felled annually. The annual catch of fish and shellfish in the early 1990s was about 15,000 metric tons. Saltwater fishing is centered on the eastern coast, principally off Newcastle; the most important species caught include herring, whiting, and scallops. Freshwater fisheries operate in Lough Neagh, Lough Erne, and Upper Lough Erne; the species caught include salmon, trout, eel, and pollan.

Mining and Manufacturing. Mining and quarrying are relatively unimportant economic activities in Northern Ireland. They employed only about 6200 workers in the late 1980s. The chief minerals are basalt, sand and gravel, peat, chalk, limestone, and granite. Manufacturing is a major source of the national product. In the early 1990s the industrial output of Northern Ireland was about 18 percent of the gross domestic product (GDP). Manufacturing and construction accounted for about one-fifth of the employed work force. Traditionally, the leading industries of Northern Ireland have been the manufacture of textiles and clothing. Linen is the most important textile manufactured; cotton cloth and fabrics woven of synthetic fibers rank next in importance. Shipbuilding and the manufacture of aircraft also are major industries; large shipyards are located in Belfast. Other manufactures include textile machinery, electrical and electronic equipment, processed food, liquor, tobacco products, and chemicals.

External Trade. About 80 percent of Northern Ireland"s external trade is with Great Britain, and the British pound is the legal tender of Northern Ireland. A large portion of the exports to Great Britain is transshipped to other countries, however. Northern Ireland exports linen goods, textiles, clothing, machinery, and food, notably meat, potatoes, and dairy products. Imports consist chiefly of petroleum and other fuels, raw materials and metals, produce, and an assortment of manufactured goods. Transportation and Communications Northern Ireland has about 23,730 km (about 14,745 mi) of roads, including 113 km (70 mi) of motorway. The Northern Ireland Railways Company provided passenger service on 357 km (222 mi) of railroad track. Daily steamship and airline services connect Belfast with the rest of the United Kingdom. Northern Ireland has three daily newspapers, the Belfast Telegraph, the Irish News, and the News Letter, all published in Belfast. In the early 1990s they had a combined daily circulation of about 272,000.

Labor. The system of labor relations in Northern Ireland is based on the same principles as that of Great Britain. A major proportion of trade unionists in Northern Ireland are members of trade unions with headquarters in Great Britain. Government. Northern Ireland, an integral part of Great Britain, elects members (now 17) to the British House of Commons. In recent years some of those elected have chosen not to go to London (usually in order to protest the domestic situation). The Government of Ireland Act, passed by the British Parliament in 1920 and modified by several subsequent agreements between Northern Ireland and Great Britain, is the country"s basic constitutional document. In 1972, however, because of political and religious strife, London imposed direct rule. A 1973 act gave Northern Ireland much local autonomy, while Great Britain retained control over defense, foreign policy, currency, tariffs, and communications. In January 1974, direct rule was relinquished, but it was reimposed again that same year. The office of governor and the Northern Ireland Parliament were abolished, and the secretary of state for Northern Ireland became the head of government. The 78-member assembly that met from 1982 to 1986 had only reviewing and consulting responsibility. In 1985, an agreement granted the Republic of Ireland a limited role in governing Northern Ireland and set up an intergovernmental conference of British and Irish cabinet ministers. Judiciary. The highest court is the Supreme Court of Judicature of Northern Ireland, which consists of the High Court, the Court of Appeal, and the Crown Court. Lower courts include county courts with criminal and civil jurisdiction and magistrates" courts for minor offenses.

Local Government. Northern Ireland is divided into 26 districts for the purposes of local government. Each district is run by a council responsible for a variety of administrative functions. Political Parties. The Ulster Unionist Party governed Northern Ireland from 1921 to 1972. More recently, the party has split into two groups; the Official Unionist and the Democratic Unionist; the latter are opposed to any compromise on Northern Ireland"s future in relation to Great Britain and the most hostile to the Republic of Ireland. The other main political parties are the Social Democratic and Labour Party, which supports peaceful reunification with Ireland, the Alliance Party, and Sinn Fein, the political wing of the outlawed Irish Republican Army. Until 1994 Sinn Fein was excluded from talks between Britain and the Republic of Ireland on the future of Northern Ireland because it refused to denounce violence. However, its candidates participated in local and national elections.

Northern Ireland, integral part of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, is situated in the northeastern portion of the island of Ireland. Northern Ireland is bounded on the north and northeast by the North Channel, on the southeast by the Irish Sea, and on the south and west by the Republic of Ireland. It includes Rathlin Island in the North Channel and several smaller offshore islands. It is also known as Ulster, because it comprises six of the nine counties that constituted the former province of Ulster.

The total area of Northern Ireland is 14,148 sq km. The shoreline is characterized by numerous irregularities and is about 530 km (about 330 mi) long. The major indentations are Lough Foyle in the north and Belfast, Strangford, and Carlingford loughs in the east. A striking feature of the northern coast is the Giant"s Causeway, a rock formation consisting of thousands of closely placed, polygonal pillars of black basalt. The country consists mainly of a low, flat plain in the approximate center of which is Lough Neagh, the largest lake in the British Isles. Other important lakes are Lough Erne and Upper Lough Erne.

The climate of Northern Ireland is mild and damp throughout the year.

The most valuable natural resources of Northern Ireland are its fertile soil and rich pasturelands. Natural waterpower is abundant. The chief minerals are basalt, limestone, sand and gravel, granite, chalk, clay, and shale; bauxite, iron ore, and coal also are found in small amounts.

The capital and largest city of Northern Ireland is Belfast. The other major city in Northern Ireland is Londonderry.

Originally, Northern Ireland was culturally indistinguishable from the remainder of Ireland. However, with the waves of colonization from England and Scotland during the 17th century, the northeastern province of Ulster evolved a distinctive cultural identity. There is a thriving theatrical movement in Belfast, and much literary activity. Belfast is the base of Opera Northern Ireland, which presents seasons at the Grand Opera House in the city, and also tours the province. A ballet company is based in the capital, as is the Belfast Philharmonic Society, one of Britain"s leading choral societies. The Ulster Symphony Orchestra is among the leading orchestras of Britain. Queen"s University hosts the annual Belfast Festival. Northern Ireland has two national museums: the Ulster Museum in Belfast, which houses a collection of Irish antiquities; and the Ulster Folk and Transport Museum in Holywood, County Down.

Северная Ирландия

Северная Ирландия, неотъемлемая часть Соединенного Королевства Великобритании и Северной Ирландии, расположена в северо-восточной части острова Ирландия. Северная Ирландия, ограниченная с севера и северо-востока Северным проливом, на юго-востоке Ирландским морем, а на юге и западе Ирландией. Она включает в себя остров Ратлин и еще несколько мелких островов. Она, также известна как Ольстер, поскольку оно включает шесть из девяти графств, которые представляют собой бывшую провинцию Ольстер.

Общая площадь Северной Ирландии 14 148 кв. км. Береговая линия характеризуется многочисленными заливами и составляет около 530 км (около 330 миль) в длину. Основными заливами являются Лох-Фойл на севере, и Белфаст, Странгфорд и Карлингфорд Лоуз на востоке страны. Отличительной особенностью северного побережья является Козуэй гиганта (Лестница Гиганта), горная порода, состоящая из тысяч близко расположенных, полигональных столбов черного базальта. Страна в основном состоит из низкой равнины, приблизительно в центре которой находится Лох-Ней, крупнейшее озеро на Британских островах. Другие важные озера Лох-Эрн и Верхнее Лох-Эрн.

Климат Северной Ирландии мягкий и влажный втечении всего года.

Наиболее ценными природными ресурсами Северной Ирландии являются ее плодородные почвы и богатые пастбища. Она богат природными гидрорерурсами. Главными минералами являются базальт, известняк, песок, гравий, гранит, мел, глины и сланцы; бокситы, железная руда и уголь также найдены в небольшом количестве.

Столица и крупнейший город Северной Ирландии - Белфаст. Другой крупный город в Северной Ирландии - Лондондерри.

Первоначально, Северная Ирландия была культурно неотличимой от остальной части Ирландии. Тем не менее, с волнами колонизации из Англии и Шотландии в 17 веке, северо-восточная провинция Ольстер эволюционировала к отличительной культурной самобытности. Существует процветающее театральное движение в Белфасте, и много литературной деятельности. Белфаст является основой оперного искуства Северной Ирландии, которое представляет сезоны Гранд-Опера в городе, а также туры провинцией. Балетная труппа базируется в столице, также как и Белфаст филармония, одно из ведущих хоровых обществ Великобритании. Симфонический оркестр Ольстера является одним из ведущих оркестров Великобритании. Королевский университет проводит ежегодный фестиваль Белфаста. В Северной Ирландии два национальных музея: Музей Ольстера в Белфасте, в котором находится коллекция ирландских древностей и Ольстерский народный музей транспорта в Холивуде, графство Даун.

In area, Scotland is about 30.000 square miles. Its population is about 5.200.000 people. Scotland was an independent kingdom. In 1707 the Act of Union was passed. This Act incorporated Scotland with England in the United Kingdom, but the Scots kept their own legal system, religion, education and administration, and still keep them now. It is governed from London under a Secretary of State for Scotland who is usually a Scot.

The English language is spoken all over Scotland with a variety of regional accents – Scottish dialects. Among the people of some remote Highlands districts the Gaelic language is still used.

Scotland is a northern land, but it not particularly cold there.

During the nineteenth century much industrial development, based at first on coal mining, took place in the region round Glasgow and Edinburgh. Although Edinburgh is the capital, Glasgow has for a long time been the chief center of commerce and industry.

Scottish towns look very different from English towns. Architectural traditions are quite distinct, and certain styles never appear in England. Two-storey red brick houses of England contrast with grey four-storey apartment houses in Scotland.

The most interesting and beautiful part of Scotland – and of the whole of Britain – is the north and west, of the region commonly called “the highlands and islands”. Great sea-lochs, wild and empty hills, cone-shaped mountains deep valleys attract a lot of tourists. Shooting, fishing and deerstalking are rich men’s sports. Most visitors to modern Scotland come away with an impression that Scotsmen are hospitable, generous and friendly.

Topic Northern Ireland

The majority of the inhabitants of this large and beautiful island are Celtic in origin. After the Reformations in England and Scotland, many English and Scottish Protestants were settled in Ireland by English monarch and became the most powerful element in the country because they owned much of the land. In 1801 the union of Ireland with Great Britain took place, and the new political unit was called the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. The union was not favourable to the Catholic majority of the inhabitants, who regarded the dominant Protestant minority as foreign invaders and oppressors.

The Protestant and Catholic communities` mutual hostility is a characteristic feature of six counties of Northern Ireland. Serious disorders turned into the real war. In August 1969 British troops were sent to keep order, but terrorist acts continued.

The purpose of the British is to unite the two communities against extremists from both sides. There has been some progress towards this end, but many problems remain unsolved and the danger of a new wave of violence still exists.

Topic Wales

Wales has been united with England for seven hundred years, and through all this time England and Wales have formed one single political and administrative unit.

The territory of Wales is about 8.000 square miles. The population of Wales is about 3 m. people.

Central and North Wales are farming regions, while South Wales is the industrial part of the country. It is rich in coal. Cardiff, the capital of Wales, is also a large port.

Wales is a very popular place for spending holidays. Every year, thousands of people take their holidays at the seaside on the North Wales coast or, if they prefer, enjoy peace in villages far from town life. Some people choose Snowdonia. This is a national park around Snowdon, which is ideal for walking or hiking holidays.

Among the best-known Welsh characteristics are certain romanticism and love of poetry and music. The annual bardic festival known as the National Eisteddfod of Wales has a 1.200-year-old history: choral singing of hymns is a national art. Oratory is another. Singers, dancers, musicians and poets come from all over the world to complete for the awards at the festival. They often wear national costumes. At the festivals Welsh girls wear the nationals dress – a tall black hat, a red skirt and a white apron.

Another source of national pride is Rugby football.

In the whole of Wales, 99 per cent of the people can speak English, and the Welsh language, which is a Celtic one and very different from English, is, in fact, declining.

Топик по английскому языку: Ирландия (Ireland). Данный текст может быть использован в качестве презентации, проекта, рассказа, эссе, сочинения или сообщения на тему.

Страна

Ирландия – третий крупнейший остров в Европе. Он расположен на северо-востоке континентальной Европы. Ирландия отделена от Великобритании Ирландским морем. Население страны составляет около 4,5 миллиона человек.

Климат

В Ирландии умеренный, но переменчивый океанический климат. Благодаря влажным ветрам с Атлантики там не бывает резких перепадов температур.

Леса

До 17 века остров был покрыт густыми лесными массивами. Сегодня Ирландия считается самой обезлесенной частью Европы.

Достопримечательности

Ирландия довольно популярна среди туристов. Среди наиболее посещаемых мест выделяют Bunratty Castle, the Rock of Cashel, the Cliffs of Moher, Holy Cross Abbey и Blarney Castle. В стране есть места, которые считаются национальными памятниками: Glendalough и Clonmfcnoise. Важно отметить, что на территории острова находятся объекты мирового наследия, такие как Bru na Boinne, Skellig Michael и the Giant’s Causeway.

Культура

Говоря об ирландской культуре, стоит отметить, что Ирландия внесла большой вклад в мировую литературу в различных областях, особенно в английском языке. Ирландская поэзия – старейшая написанная на родном языке поэзия в Европе. Ирландия славится такими Нобелевскими лауреатами в литературе как Джордж Бернард Шоу, Вильям Батлер Итс, Самюэль Беккет и Симус Хини.

Танцы

Ирландская музыка и танцы довольно популярны, особенно Риверданс, театрализованное представление ирландских традиционных танцев.

Спорт

Еще один пункт, который стоит упомянуть – это спорт. Керлинг и гаэльский футбол, гандбол и английская лапта являются национальными видами спорта в Ирландии, известные как Гаэльские игры. Среди других видов спорта, которыми увлекаются в Ирландии, можно отметить футбол, рагби, гольф, крикет, лошадиные бега и теннис.

Заключение

Вы не пожалеете, если однажды посетите Ирландию.

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Ireland

Country

Ireland is the third largest island in Europe. It is situated in the north west of continental Europe. Ireland is separated from Great Britain by the Irish Sea. The population of the country is about 4.5 million people.

Climate

Ireland has a mild but changeable oceanic climate. Due to the moist winds from the Atlantic, there aren’t any extremes in temperature.

Woodlands

Until the 17 th century the island was covered with thick woodlands. Nowadays Ireland considered to be the most deforested area in Europe.

Interesting attractions

Ireland is quite popular with tourists. Among the most visited sites are Bunratty Castle, the Rock of Cashel, the Cliffs of Moher, Holy Cross Abbey and Blarney Castle. There are sites which are considered to be national monuments: Glendalough and Clonmfcnoise. It’s very important to mention that there are three World Heritage Sites on the island: Bru na Boinne, Skellig Michael and the Giant’s Causeway.

Culture

Speaking about Irish culture, it should be said that Ireland made a large contribution to world literature in different branches and especially in the English language. Irish poetry is the oldest vernacular poetry in Europe. Ireland is famous for such Nobel laureates in literature as George Bernard Shaw, William Butler Yeats, Samuel Beckett and Seamus Heaney.

Dances

The Irish music and dance is quite popular, especially by Riverdance, a theatrical performance of Irish traditional dancing.

Sport

One more thing to talk about is sports. Hurling and Gaelic football, handball and rounders form the national sports of Ireland, known as Gaelic Games. Among other sport, played in Ireland, are soccer, rugby, golf, cricket, horse racing and tennis.

Conclusion

I think you won’t regret if you visit Ireland one day.

Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland, also known as Ulster, is still a part of the United Kingdom. It is made up of six countries: Antrim, Armagh, Down, Fermanagh, Лондондерри, Tyrone. One third of the population lives in and around the capital, Belfast. Belfast is also the most important port and commercial and industrial centre. Some parts of the territory, those that are not close to the capital, have remained mainly rural.

The Irish population is divided into two groups: the Protestants and the Catholics. The Protestants are of British origin. They are descendants of British settlers who came to Ireland in the XVIth and XVIIth centuries, during and after the Reformation. The Catholics are mostly natives of Ireland.

The Protestants were the majority and dominated the Catholics with strong discrimination. In 1968 the Catholics began the movement for equal civil rights.

The fightings between the two groups of the population continue to this day.

Northern Ireland has a strong cultural tradition: songs, dances, literature and festivals.

It has its own Art Council, and there are orchestras, theatres, ballet and opera companies.

Questions:

1. How many countries are there in Northern Ireland?

2. What is the capital of Northern Ireland?

3. Into what parts is the Irish population divided?

4. Who are the Catholics?

5. Who are the Protestants?

6. Has the Catholics-Protestants problem been solved?

7. Does Northern Ireland have strong cultural traditions?

Vocabulary:

population - население

origin - происхождение

descendant - потомок

settler - поселенец, переселенец

discrimination - дискриминация

civil rights - гражданские права

Северная Ирландия

Северная Ирландия, известная как Ольстер, также является частью Соединенного Королевства. Она состоит из шести частей: Антрим, Даун, Ферманаг, Лондондєррі и Тирон. Треть населения живет в столице - Белфасте - и вокруг нее.

Белфаст также является самым важным портом, коммерческим и промышленным центром. Некоторые части территории, размещены не совсем близко к столице, остаются преимущественно сельскими.

Ирландское население делится на две группы: протестантов и католиков. Протестанты - британского происхождения. Они являются потомками британских поселенцев, которые пришли в Ирландию в XVI - XVII веке, во времена Реформации и после нее. Католики, в основном, уроженцы Ирландии.

Протестанты имели превосходство и доминировали над католиками, причем имела место сильная дискриминация. В 1968 году католики начали движение за равные гражданские права. Борьба между двумя группами населения продолжается и до сих пор.

В Северной Ирландии сохранились сильные культурные традиции: песни, танцы, литература и фестивали. Есть своя собственная Академия искусств, а также оркестры, театры, балетные и оперные труппы.