Is Ireland's geographical location favorable for tourism? Tourist Ireland. Seas and oceans

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As stated earlier, tourism income in Ireland is 1 billion Irish pounds.

We can say that Ireland knows how to use the resources given by nature and created by people. All possibilities are used to attract tourists. Roads – auto tourism, bicycle tourism, horse-drawn transport trips. Railway network – travel by train. The stunningly beautiful landscape of the country - hiking. Rich water resources - all kinds of fishing, water travel. Archaeological and architectural monuments – educational tourism. This list is quite long and it is not possible to list it in full.

The situation with tourism in Ireland is such that a tourist only needs to have money, a guidebook and documents with him. The friendliness of local residents, who perfectly understand the importance of tourism, and a developed network of accommodation, food and transportation will do the rest for him. This indicator (can a traveler visit the country on his own, without the help of a tour operator) best characterizes the level of tourism development in Ireland.

According to Bord Failte (Tourism Board of Ireland), leading Western tour operators are expanding their presence in the Irish market. If previously the leadership in sales of tour packages belonged to sea and air carriers, today their positions are being squeezed by operators specializing in organizing city excursion tours.

Gresta Holidays is considered one of the leading operators selling inclusive tours. Last year it carried 30 thousand passengers, and this year it intends to exceed the 40 thousand mark.

According to Jane Williams, the company's marketing manager, Dublin has become the third most visited capital in Europe after Paris and Amsterdam. Gresta Holidays offers its clients accommodation in 25 hotels in Dublin.

Tour operator Travelscene has released its new Cities and Drivetime brochures, which feature a significant focus on Ireland. The number of hotels he sold increased from nine to seventeen. Time Off has significantly expanded its hosting capacity in Dublin and also offers programs further afield.

According to Aishley Woods, Irish Selection program manager, self-guided tours of Ireland remain very popular.

The airline Aer Lingus offers tourists summer programs together with Drive Ireland - a well-known holiday operator in Ireland.

Ferry companies Stena Line and Iris Ferries sell travel packages in Dublin, as well as in the south-west and south-east of the country. Iris Ferries released the Golf in Ireland brochure this year. Another new program this year is bicycle safaris. Its organizers intend to take advantage of the interest in the Tour de France stage of the race, which will take place on the roads of Ireland in July. A week's cycling tour will cost from £319, including bike hire.

Grystal focuses on selling holidays in villas and ancient castles. SeaCat offers boat trips, and Blakes - Irish canal excursions.

Over the past 10 years, 1.5 billion Irish pounds have been invested in the construction of new and modernization of existing hotels in Ireland. Large amounts of money are also being invested in other facilities that attract tourists - parks, golf courses, water parks, etc. A special brochure Update Ireland, prepared by the Irish Tourist Board, is devoted to a description of new attractions.

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general characteristics current state tourism industry.

Contribution to the country's economy.

Tourism income is of great importance (1 billion Irish pounds). Its contribution to the gross national product is 6.3%. There are 91,000 Irish people working in the tourism industry. Half of the gross national product is created in the sphere of various types of services; 60 of all the country’s labor resources are concentrated here.

Tourist specialization and specificity.

All more tourists, especially from the USA, choose to travel to Ireland. The successes of 2003 allow us to forecast growth of 6.6% during 2004. This was stated during a briefing by local professionals tourism business, held recently in Dublin. In 2003, the growth in tourist flow was 4%, and industry income increased by 5%. 94% of all guests were very satisfied with the trip. In addition, the cost of hotel accommodation in the Irish capital should decrease slightly due to an increase in the hotel stock by 15%.

Type of tourism infrastructure.

Ireland offers travelers a wide range of excellent hotels. Throughout the country, a tourist can choose a fashionable hotel located in a castle, or a hotel in country house with a beautiful garden, a cozy country hotel or guesthouse, rent a room in a farmer's house or a self-catering apartment, or use a campsite. Towns and towns offer traditional and modern hotels (from luxury to more basic), guesthouses, bed and breakfasts, and self-catering apartments and lodges.

New hotels are opening not only in Dublin, but also in other parts of the country. The average occupancy of hotels in the country is 66% (according to 1996-1997 data). At the same time, Dublin hotels were occupied by 77%, and the occupancy of the most popular ones reached 90%. Between 1990 and 2000, 1.5 billion Irish pounds were invested in the construction of new hotels and the modernization of existing hotels in Ireland.

Hotels in Ireland, even two- and three-star ones, decorated in traditional Irish style, are distinguished by the highest quality of service and personal attention to each tourist.

In luxury hotels you will be offered not just accommodation and food, but also all possible amenities: a leisure center (sauna, swimming pool, gym, tennis courts), banquet halls, rooms for business seminars, babysitting services, children's playgrounds, golf, outdoor and indoor swimming pools and much more.

Tourists staying in a B&B (“bed and breakfast”) feel completely at home. These small private hotels offer the necessary hotel comfort (shower, bath, TV, telephone) combined with a cozy atmosphere; the owners in such houses treat guests as family members and also feed them home-style (“Irish breakfast”).

Location and characteristics of the main tourist centers.

The most significant objects of excursion and tourism activities are the Dublin Viking Center, St. Patrick's Cathedral, a building of the Georgian era and the Middle Ages, Malahide Castle, which is surrounded by 250 acres of parks, a casino in Marino, the villages of Malahide and Howth (from the top of Howth you can see Dublin Bay and the mountains Wicklow).

Migration of tourists.

Temporary migrations of tourists within the country are carried out on the following national holidays: the February Dublin Film Festival, March St. Patrick's Day and June Bloomsday - an event dedicated to the character of the book "Ulysses" by James Joyce. Summer includes the Killorglin Pan Fair, Thurles Rock Festival, Dublin Stud Show and Kerry Writers' Week. Autumn is a time for exhibitions and competitions: the Cork International Film Festival takes place, Bolinasloe hosts the Farmers' Market, Kinsale becomes the arena where Ireland's best chefs compete, and Wexford hosts the annual Opera Festival.

Prospects for the development of the tourism industry.

Gresta Holidays is considered one of the leading operators selling inclusive tours. In 2000, it carried 30 thousand passengers, and in 2001 it exceeded the 40 thousand mark.

According to Aishley Woods, Irish Selection Program Manager self-guided tours throughout Ireland remain very popular.

Aer Lingus airline offers tourists summer programs together with Drive Ireland, a well-known holiday operator in Ireland.

Ferry companies Stena Line and Iris Ferries sell travel packages in Dublin, as well as in the south-west and south-east of the country. Iris Ferries published a brochure, Golf in Ireland, in 2000. Another new program for 2001 is bicycle safaris.

Grystal focuses on selling holidays in villas and ancient castles. SeaCat offers boat trips, and Blakes offers excursions along the Irish canals.

Large amounts of money are also invested in facilities that attract tourists - parks, golf courses, water parks, etc. A special brochure, Update Ireland, prepared by the Irish Tourist Board, is devoted to a description of the new attractions.

Half of the investment in Ireland's tourism industry comes from the private sector, with the rest coming from the country's government and the European Union. The largest of the newly opened hotels is the 246-room Camdem Court, which welcomed its first visitors in April 2000. The Fitzwilliam Hotel in St. Stephen and the Clarence Hotel, owned by the famous rock band U2, are distinguished by their original design.

People come to Ireland mainly for English and for excursions. In Russia, very little is known about Ireland. Unlike neighboring UK, it is visited by no more than a thousand Russians a year. Among the countries Western Europe Ireland is probably the least traveled. But this only applies to tourists from Russia, because several million tourists come to Ireland every year from other countries.

The majority of people in Ireland are English, who regularly spend their weekends here. Many of them have real estate on the Emerald Island. Unlike their prim and unfriendly British neighbors, the Irish are open and cheerful people.

Unfortunately, some Russian travel agencies have curtailed their programs in Ireland and do not advertise it due to the too small flow of tourists. This means that for a long time in Russia, Ireland will be considered an exotic and not widespread, although a very interesting country.

The ease of obtaining a visa to Ireland (no need to go through an interview like, for example, at the British Embassy) and other important “little things” (free roads, duty-free shops) make Ireland a very promising country for the further development of tourism.

1. Its first promising type is tourism for the purpose of studying in English. Ireland is located in close proximity to the birthplace of this language and has excellent educational institutions, such as the world-famous Trinity College.
2. Everything related to the Celts in this moment quite popular now. This can be used by organizing historical tours, with appropriate routes, accommodations and support from animation programs.
3. Ireland is ahead of other countries in the number of programmers in the field of information technology. This makes congress tourism possible for specialists in the same field. There is also potential in educational programs.

It is difficult to offer anything else, due to the careful approach to tourism in Ireland and the use of all imaginable resources.

tourist irish geographical ethnic

- one of the most extraordinary tourist destinations on globe. This country is better known for its image as a whole than for individual attractions. It would seem, how can such a small corner of the planet be filled with such an incredible amount of grandiose history, natural beauty, vibrant culture and unbridled fun? Here Norman castles overlook wild, deserted beaches; country houses the Georgian era hosts impromptu evenings of traditional music; and exalted theatergoers at night merge with the bustle of Dublin pubs. Every step of the way in Ireland offers another spectacle to watch while enjoying a pint. Yet the real mystery of the country is its people. This unique “cocktail” of cordiality, humor and sarcasticness guarantees to turn a trip to the Emerald Isle into a real adventure.

Charming, naturally, becomes the first on the way for tourists. Here the colorful doors of the houses immediately catch your eye. The fact is that in 1861, Queen Victoria’s husband died, and as a sign of mourning, she ordered all the doors to be repainted (meaning black). The Irish obeyed and took out the paint they had from the basement. Now colorful doors are one of the main features of the city. Although the capital's majestic architecture and coastal charm are just a hint of what the country as a whole has to offer. The true soul of today's Ireland can be found in the village of Carraroe and on the streets of Cork city. You will find this search extremely exciting.

It is often said that there are two Irelands. One is modern, full of fresh creativity. The second is rooted in old traditions, with a good dose of humor, hospitality and the ability to have fun. Night revelry is generally not uncommon here.

Given all this, it is not surprising that it can cater to such a wide range of interests. Those looking for chilly walking tours, Celtic relics or fiddle-tinged pubs from the Republic are sure to be pleased. However, like those who are interested in fashionable culinary trends, family fun or upscale hotels. – the country may be small, but its cultural influence on the world still remains significant.

There are many associations associated with this region - from rocky peninsulas to the almost legendary pint of beer. Yet the true beauty of Ireland transcends any stereotype. This country's potential for adventure - for real, adrenaline-pumping adventure - is often underestimated. Those who are looking for relaxing holiday and privacy, will also enjoy the many options.

Fantastic landscapes

When someone looks at you from the pages of tourist brochures, do not think that this is just a two-dimensional “fiction”. All this beauty really exists. You can find it along the peninsulas of the southwest, in the brooding solitude of the Connemara region and in the spectacular wilderness of County Donegal. In addition, postcard splendor can be found in the lakelands of counties Leitrim and Roscommon, as well as in the undulating hills sunny southeast. has been significantly modernized, but still some things remain unchanged. Face the stormy Atlantic on the island of Skellig Michael, or spend a summer evening in a pub courtyard next to a thatched house, and you'll experience the Ireland of decades, even centuries, ago.

Beware, history...

Irish history is evident everywhere, from the spectacular prehistoric sites of Brú na Bóinne, the rocky headland of Slea Head in County Kerry and the Carrowmore Sanctuary in Sligo, to the fantastic ruins of Glendalough's rich ecclesiastical past and Clonmacnois Monastery. More new story visible in the colossal Titanic Museum in Cove and the terrifying Kilmainham Gaol in E. And then there is history so young that it still seems real, which can best be experienced on a black taxi tour of West Belfast or exploring the colorful political wall painting in Derry.

Hospitality

Irish endless friendliness is a tired stereotype that oversimplifies the national character. And this character is infinitely complex. The red-haired descendants of the Celts are very cordial, welcoming, but they know their worth. Any meeting with them is accompanied not only by conversations and jokes, but also by a willingness to always help. And this is not unbridled altruism! Be sure that while taking care of you, local residents take care of themselves first. The Irish simply cannot feel comfortable in the company of those who do not feel this comfort. Here you will be welcomed at every turn, but in Ireland all excess is encouraged.

Local kitchen

LenDog64

Famous Irish beer

Long gone are the days when you could feel a little nervous when ordering food in Ireland. The country has learned to cook well, focusing on local meat, poultry and seafood. And yet national Irish dishes are not delights haute cuisine, but simple village food, mostly paired with beer. Even the wealth of the sea in the form of salmon, trout, lobster, mussels, litorina and oysters seems to be created to accompany the famous Irish drink.

You don’t have to search long to find where to eat deliciously. Ireland, and Ireland in particular, has a significant number of Michelin star restaurants. It is not difficult to find establishments with international cuisine here, but still, when in Ireland, give preference traditional dishes. Among the local treats you will find Dublin prawns, or langoustines; oysters served with soda bread and beer; Irish stew of lamb, potatoes, onions, carrots and garlic; pork trotters crubins; colcannon - a mixture of mashed potatoes and cabbage; black pudding pudding and a "leftover dish" coddle made with pork sausages, bacon, potatoes, onions and broth. Among the drinks, especially notable are Irish coffee with cream and whiskey, in fact, locally produced whiskey and, of course, beer. A lot of beer.

Cultural

Throughout your trip, you'll be amazed by the range of cultural activities Ireland has to offer: catch a play in one of the magnificent theatres, admire a famous Irish dance show in a West Ireland pub, or attend a rock concert in a Limerick bar. In addition, the summer here is filled with festivals glorifying everything from flowering gardens to high literature.

What's not to be missed in Ireland?

Walking around the capital - political and cultural center countries
Sporting events: from Gaelic football and Irish field hockey to horse and greyhound racing
The Ring of Kerry is part of the country's most spectacular landscape national park Killarney
Connemara is a postcard Ireland with thatched houses and winding streets surrounded by low stone walls.
The Giant's Causeway – over 40,000 interconnected basalt columns that make Ireland's north-east coast unlike any other
Winter solstice at Newgrange - 5,000-year-old corridor tomb

To this day it remains a sacred secret of the Celts. For the sake of mystical legends, unreal nature and unbridled “pub” fun, it’s definitely worth going here. This small corner of Europe with an impressive reputation and charming people always welcomes guests.

The famous Russian poetess Zinaida Gippius once upon a time, although she had never seen Ireland, called it “a foggy country with sharp rocks.” Now the island of Ireland, on which, in fact, the Republic of Ireland is located, is called the “Emerald Isle”, because the trees and plants there are practically green all year round. However, tourists in Ireland will be interested not only in nature, but also in numerous medieval castles, as well as other attractions, traditional festivals and local alcoholic drinks (Irish whiskey, beer and ale).

Geography of Ireland

The Republic of Ireland is located on the island of Ireland, in northwestern Europe. This country has land border only with Northern Ireland, which is part of Great Britain. The island of Ireland is surrounded on all sides Atlantic Ocean(Celtic Sea to the south, St. George's Channel to the southeast and Irish Sea to the east). The total area of this country is 70,273 square meters. km. The most high peak Ireland - Mount Caranthuill, whose height reaches 1041 m.

Capital

The capital of Ireland is Dublin, whose population now numbers about 550 thousand people. Historians claim that a Celtic settlement on the site of modern Dublin existed already in the 2nd century AD.

Official language of Ireland

Ireland has two official language– Irish and English. However, only 39% of the Irish population speaks Irish.

Religion

About 87% of the inhabitants of Ireland are Catholics belonging to the Roman Catholic Church.

State structure

According to the Constitution, Ireland is a parliamentary republic, the head of which is the President, elected for a 7-year term.

Executive power belongs to the bicameral Parliament - the Oireachtas, consisting of the Senate (60 people) and the House of Representatives (156 people).

The main political parties are the Labor Party, Fine Gael, Fianna Fáil, Sinn Féin, the Labor Party of Ireland, and the Socialist Party.

Climate and weather in Ireland

The climate in Ireland is determined by the Atlantic Ocean and the warm Gulf Stream. As a result, the climate in this country is temperate maritime. The average annual air temperature is +9.6C. The warmest months in Ireland are July and August, when average temperature air reaches +19C, and the coldest months are January and February (+2C). Average precipitation is 769 mm per year.

Average air temperature in Dublin:

January - +4C
February - +5C
March - +6.5C
April - +8.5C
May - +11C
June - +14C
July - +15C
August - +15C
September - +13C
October - +11C
November - +7C
December - +5C

Seas and oceans

The island of Ireland is washed on all sides by the Atlantic Ocean. In the south, Ireland is washed by the Celtic Sea, and in the east by the Irish Sea. In the southeast, the St. George's Canal divides Ireland and Great Britain.

Rivers and lakes

Many rivers flow through Ireland. The largest of them are Shannon, Barrow, Suir, Blackwater, Bann, Liffey, and Slaney. As for the lakes, the following should be mentioned first of all: Lough Derg, Lough Mask, Lough Neagh, and Killarney.

Note that Ireland has an extensive network of canals, most of which were built more than 100 years ago.

Story

The first people appeared on the island of Ireland 8 thousand years ago. Then, during the Neolithic period, Celtic tribes from the Iberian Peninsula arrived in Ireland. The spread of Christianity in Ireland is associated with the name of St. Patrick, who arrived on this island around the middle of the 5th century.

Since the 8th century, Ireland has been subject to a century-long Viking invasion. At this time the country is divided into several counties.

In 1177, a significant part of Ireland was captured by English troops. In the middle of the 16th century, the British tried to impose Protestantism on the Irish, but they were never able to do it completely. Thus, to this day, the inhabitants of the island of Ireland are divided into two religious concessions - Catholics and Protestants (in the Republic of Ireland the majority of the population is Catholics).

In 1801, Ireland became part of Great Britain. It was not until 1922, after the Irish War of Independence, that most of Ireland seceded from Great Britain, forming the Irish Free State (but which was part of the Commonwealth of Great Britain). It was not until 1949 that Ireland became truly independent. However, Northern Ireland, where the majority of the population is Protestant, is still part of Great Britain.

In 1973, Ireland was admitted to the EU.

Irish culture

Despite the fact that the British tried for many centuries to include Ireland in their empire, the Irish still managed to preserve their national identity, as well as traditions and beliefs.

The most popular festivals in Ireland are the St. Patrick's Day Festival and Parade, Galway Oyster Festival, Cork Jazz Festival, Bloomsday Festival, and the Dublin Marathon.

Kitchen

Traditional products in Ireland are meat (beef, pork, lamb), fish (salmon, cod), seafood (oysters, mussels), potatoes, cabbage, cheese, dairy products. The most famous Irish dish is Irish stew, which is made from lamb, potatoes, carrots, parsley, onions and caraway seeds.

Another traditional Irish dish is boiled bacon with cabbage. Ireland is also famous for its traditional soda bread and cheesecake.

Everyday non-alcoholic drinks in Ireland are tea and coffee (think of the famous Irish coffee, which contains whiskey, brown sugar and whipped cream). As for alcoholic drinks, then the Irish prefer whiskey, beer and ale.

Sights of Ireland

Even though Ireland is a small country, it still has a lot of interesting attractions. The top ten of them, in our opinion, include the following:

Cities and resorts

The most big cities Ireland - Cork, Limerick, and, of course, Dublin. The largest of them is Dublin, which is now home to about 550 thousand people. In turn, the population of Cork is more than 200 thousand people, and Limerick is about 100 thousand people.

Souvenirs/shopping

Tourists from Ireland usually bring traditional Irish sweaters from the Aran Island (we recommend buying white Aran sweaters, not colored ones), Waterford Crystal glassware, tweed suits, linen, Irish music CDs, fishing gear, and, of course, Irish whiskey.

Office hours

Banks: Mon-Fri: 10:00-16-00 (Wednesdays - 10:30-16-30).

Some shops in Ireland are open until 21:00 on weekdays. Some supermarkets are open 24 hours a day. Bars and pubs in Ireland open at 10:00 (Mon-Sat) and close at 23:00 (Mon-Thu), at 00:30 on Friday and Saturday, and on Sunday at 23:00.

Visa

To enter Ireland, Ukrainians need to obtain a visa.

Currency of Ireland

Ireland is a member of the European Union, which means that the euro is used as currency in this country. All major credit cards, including Visa, MasterCard and American Express.

Customs restrictions

You can import foreign currency into Ireland without restrictions, but you can export no more than what was declared upon entering the country. Customs regulations in Ireland are the same as in other EU countries.

FEDERAL EDUCATION AGENCY

RUSSIAN STATE UNIVERSITY

FACULTY OF SERVICE

DEPARTMENT OF SOCIO-CULTURAL SERVICE AND TOURISM

COURSE WORK

CONDITIONS AND FACTORS OF TOURISM DEVELOPMENT IN IRELAND

Work completed:

2nd year full-time student

Naumenko E.V.

Scientific adviser:

Doctor of Geography, Professor Fedorov G.M.

Kaliningrad

INTRODUCTION………………………………………………………………………………...3

1 NATURAL CONDITIONS, GEOGRAPHY…………………………………...4

1.1 Geographical location. ……………………………………………… 4

1.2 Climate. …………………………………………………………………….. .5

1.3 Natural attractions. ……………………………………...5

2 SOCIO-ECONOMIC CONDITIONS AND POLITICAL SYSTEM………………………………………………………………………………………...6

2.1 Political structure. …………………………………………………………………….6

2.2 Industry. ……………………………………………………….. 6

2.3 Housekeeping. ………………………………………………………………………………….. .7

2.4 Standard of living. ……………………………………………………………....7

2.5 Currency and language. …………………………………………………………….....8

3 HISTORICAL – CULTURAL POTENTIAL AND TOURISM INFRASTRUCTURE………………………………………………………………………………………...9

3.1 History. ……………………………………………………………………....9

3.2 Culture and traditions. ……………………………………………………....13

3.3 Tourism infrastructure. Accommodation facilities and facilities. ……………20

3.4 Transport. …………………………………………………………………...20

3.5 Food facilities. …………………………………………………………...22

3.6 Types of tourism. …………………………………………………………….....22

CONCLUSION……………………………………………………………..27

LIST OF SOURCES USED………………………….....29

APPENDIX……………………………………………………………..…30

Introduction.

Today in our country and, in particular, Kaliningrad region, society has an increased interest in holidays abroad. This is due to economic development and an increase in the standard of living of the population. Most often, people choose to travel to Poland, France, Italy, and England. But for some reason, our travel companies ignore such a country as Ireland and practically do not develop programs for visiting this country. While it is quite popular among tourists European countries with its “turbulent” history, its own charming nature and an abundance of historical attractions.

The purpose of the work is the question: “What is Ireland and what do we know about it? ", as well as conditions and factors for the development of tourism in Ireland. The objectives of the study are as follows: study of the natural conditions and geographical location of the country, climate, socio-economic and political structure, historical and cultural potential and tourism infrastructure.

Before choosing a topic, I also knew little about the country. Only that it is an island - a saucer, inhabited by the descendants of the Celts with their own tragic history associated with wars over religions and territories. In order to learn the history of Ireland and all sorts of interesting factors, I used various sources from the Internet and travel magazines.

As it turns out, Ireland is a very quiet country. Life there flows along a calm and well-established channel. There is a feeling of thoroughness and accuracy in everything.

1 Natural conditions, geography.

1.1 Geographical location.

Ireland is a state that is located in western Europe and is located on most of the island of Ireland. In the north it borders with Northern Ireland, which is part of Great Britain. From the east the country is washed by the Irish Sea, and from other sides by the Atlantic Ocean.

The length of the border with Great Britain is 360 km, the length of the coastline is 1,448 km. The total area of the country is 70,284 km2 (land area - 68,890 km2).

In the central part of the country there is a low-lying plain. At its base lie limestones and red sandstones, overlain by thick glacial deposits (up to 60 m). The plain is surrounded by hills and low mountains: the Kerry Mountains - Caranthuill Peak, 1,041 m) in the southwest, the Wicklow Mountains in the west, where karst is widespread, the Donegal Mountains in the north, in the northeast there is a plateau (Antrim) and lowlands based Tertiary outpourings of basalts. Ireland has a dense, deep river network (the Shannon River is the main one) and abundant lakes (Lough Ree, Lough Derg, Lough Corrib). Main natural resources: natural gas, zinc, barites, lead, oil, copper, gypsum, peat, silver. Arable lands occupy 14% of the country's territory, meadows and pastures - 71%. Oak broadleaf forests were exterminated already in the middle of the century and now occupy only about 1.5% of the country's territory, surviving only in a few areas, mainly mountainous. There are many artificial coniferous plantings. In the southwest, relict subtropical plants grow, for example, the strawberry tree.

Animal world It is distinguished by comparative poverty, even by the complete absence of some animal species, for example, snakes. The seas surrounding Ireland are home to herring, cod, mackerel, flounder, and sardines.

1.2 Climate.

Ireland is often called the "Emerald Isle". Here, meadows and groves are green all year round, thanks to the warm and humid climate. Heat and moisture are brought by cyclones passing over the warm North Atlantic Current, which washes the western shores of Ireland. Drizzling rain and thick fog are common here. On average, up to 1,200 mm of precipitation falls annually. The heaviest recorded in Sperin and Antrim, where annual rainfall reaches 1,600 mm per year. In the East, closer to the coast, as well as to the southern and eastern shores Lough Neagh, rainfall does not exceed 800 mm per year. Overall, Ireland is slightly cloudier than England. This is due to the hilly landscape and proximity to the Atlantic. Winter is warm, January temperature is from + 5 to + 8 ° C, snow rarely falls. Summer is cool and rainy, the average July temperature is +15.1°C. Spring is cold and long, and autumn is late and warm.

Average monthly temperature in Dublin

Table 1

1.3 Natural attractions.

An impressive natural landmark of Ireland, the “Cliffs” are sheer cliffs almost two hundred meters high on the Atlantic coast of the country.

In addition: The Rock of Cashel - revered by the Irish as magical, it is surrounded by picturesque meadows, representing one of the best examples of a true Irish landscape.

Another interesting place– Connemara, rich in mountains and lakes that make a lasting impression. There are places here where the old Irish language is still spoken.

In the south of the island is the Barren, a vast, murky limestone plateau occupying most Clark County. Perhaps this plateau will soon become a National Park.

The cliffs of the Cliff of Moher are seven hundred meters high.

2 Socio-economic conditions and political structure.

2.1 Political structure.

The full name of the country is the Republic of Ireland. The political system is a parliamentary republic. The country consists of 26 counties. The capital is Dublin. Ireland received independence on December 6, 1921 from Great Britain. National holiday– March 17 – St. Patrick’s Day. Executive power belongs to the president (head of state) and the government headed by the prime minister. A bicameral parliament consists of the Senate (upper house) and the House of Representatives (Doyle) – lower house. The most influential political parties: Labor Party (LP), Fianna Foil (ff - Soldiers of Fortune), Progressive Democrats Party (PPD), Finn Gael (FG - united Ireland), Democratic Left Party.

2.2 Industry.

In the country’s economy, two sectors coexist - a large foreign one, mainly technologically advanced industries (mechanical engineering, electronics, chemical industry), and a local one, covering traditional industries (food, forestry, textiles, light industry).

Ireland's industry is primarily concerned with the processing of local agricultural products. In first place is the production of beer, porter, whiskey, dairy and meat products, tobacco, sugar, and flour. The second is the textile and clothing industry (tweed fabric, wool, rugs). There are enterprises for the production of mineral fertilizers, the assembly of cars and tractors, the production of building materials, and printing enterprises.

In Ireland, coal (more than 200 thousand tons per year) and peat (about 2 million tons per year) are mined.

2.3 Housekeeping.

Ireland is an industrial-agrarian country. The dominant position in agricultural production is occupied by large livestock farmers.

The main branch of agriculture is livestock farming - breeding Irish cattle.

Crop production largely serves the needs of livestock farming. Agriculture plays a small role in the economy and does not meet the country's grain needs.

Land use

table 2

There is also fishing in Ireland. Freshwater fish include salmon, trout, and eel; from sea - herring, cod and mackerel.

2.4 Standard of living.

The standard of living depends on many factors: income level, family well-being, medical care, public freedoms, gender equality, climate and many others.