Childrens Illustrated Encyclopedia

ireland

285

GlendalouGh

The vale of Glendalough in the Wicklow

Mountains is famous for its association

with Saint Kevin, a hermit who founded a

monastery there in the 6th century ce.

Saint Kevin, who is credited with

performing many miracles, was believed

to be 120 years old when he died in 618.

Shannon river

The longest river in the British isles,

the Shannon is about 240 miles

(380 km) long. it rises in northwest

ireland, and flows into the sea

just west of limerick. as it winds

its way down the country, the river

passes through numerous lakes,

the largest of which is lough derg.

hurlinG

an outdoor stick-and-ball game,

similar to field hockey, hurling is an

ancient Gaelic sport. references to the

game can be found in the oldest irish

manuscripts dating from the

13th century bce, and many heroes

of ancient tales were expert hurlers.

The stick used is called a hurley—

camán in Gaelic. The 18th century

was the golden age of hurling, but

between 1790 and 1800 the upper

classes withdrew support of the game.

The potato famine of 1845-47

further slowed its development.

hurling enjoyed a revival with the

foundation of the Gaelic Games

association in 1884.

Slieve leaGue

The cliffs of Donegal are

some of the highest in

Europe. Rising vertically to

its 2,197 ft (670 m) summit,

Slieve League has been cut

away by sea erosion.

statistics

area: 27,133 sq miles

(70,273 sq km)

Population: 4,892,000

capital: dublin

Languages: english,

irish Gaelic

Religions: roman

Catholic, anglican,

Jewish, nonreligious

currency: euro

Main occupations:

Manufacturing,

agriculture, food

processing

Main exports: Cattle,

beef, dairy products

Main imports: Textiles,

machinery, vehicles

N

S

W E

Volcano Mountain Capital

city

Large

city/

town

Small

city/

town

Ancient

monument

0

0 25 50

25 50

scaLE BaR

km

miles

(^) Galway Bay
Ba
nt
ry^
Ba
y^
St^
G
eo
rg
e’
s^
C
h
a
n
n
el
Irish
Sea
Celtic Sea
Done
gal Bay
A
T
L
A
N
T
I
C
O
C
E
A
N
Dun
dalk
Bay
Wicklow Head
Dingle^ B Carnsore Point
ay^
Clew Bay
Slig
o (^) B
ay
Malin Head
Sh
an
no
n^
Sh
an
no
n^
Lif
fey^
Boy
ne^
Lee^
Lough
Corrib
Lough
Conn
Lough
Mask
Lough Ree
Lough Gowna
Blackwater
Lough
Derg
Ba
rro
w^
Sl
an
ey
Su
ck
Upper
Lough
Erne
iRELAND
NORtHERN
iRELAND
(to United Kingdom)
Carrauntoohil
1038m
Wi
ck
lo
w
M
ou
nt
ai
n
s^
Galty Mounta
ins^
Lough
Foyle
Cah
a^ M
ounta
ins^
Fastnet
Rock
Macgillycuddy'
s Reeks
Tralee
Killarney
Waterford
Wexford
Dundalk
Castlebar
Ballina
Achill
Island
Aran
Island
Aran
Islands
Carrick on
Shannon
Sligo
Donegal
Clonmel
Athlone
Tuam
Longford
Carlow
Portlaoise
Glendalough
Kilkenny
Drogheda
Ennis
Newbridge
Lucan
Cavan
Limerick
Galway
Dún Laoghaire
Tipperary
cork
DUBLiN
Lugnaquillia
926m
Galtymore Mountain 919m
Slieve
League
US_285_Ireland_2.indd 285 12/02/16 11:18 am