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=**120/150**= = = = = =**Irish**= =**Language;**= http://en.citizendium.org/wiki/Irish_language

Irish (//Gaeilge//) is a Goidelic language of the Indo-European language family, originating in Ireland and historically spoken by the Irish people. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irish_people http://www.mostlymaths.net/2011/03/irish-gaelic-language-learning-month-1.html There are a number of languages used in Ireland. Irish is the only language to have originated from within the island, while others have been introduced through foreign settlements. Since the late nineteenth century, English has been the predominant first language. A large minority claims some ability to use Irish, but it is the first language for a small percentage of the population. Within the Republic of Ireland, under the Constitutuion of Ireland, both languages have official status, with Irish being the national and first official language. Northern Ireland has no official language, however English is the official language of the United Kingdom and Irish and Ulster-Scots are recognized regional languages.

Irish was the most dominant language of the Irish people for most of their recorded history, and they brought it with them to other countries, notably Scotland and the Isle of Man, where it gave rise to Scottish Gaelic and Manx.

The language was influenced by the increasing power of the English state in Ireland. Elizabethan officials viewed the use of Irish unfavourably, as being a threat to all things English in Ireland. Its decline began under English rule in the seventeenth century. In the later part of the nineteenth century there was a dramatic decrease in the number of speakers, beginning after the Great Famine of 1845-52(when Ireland lost 20–25% of its population either to emigration or death). Irish-speaking areas were hit especially hard. By the end of British rule, the language was spoken by less than 15% of the national population. Since then, Irish speakers have been in the minority. Efforts have been made by the state, individuals and organisations to preserve, promote and revive the language, but with mixed results. In the 21st century, estimates of native speakers ranged from 20,000 to 80,000 people. In the 2006 census for the Republic, 85,000 people reported using Irish as a daily language outside of the education system, and 1.2 million reported using it at least occasionally in or out of school. In the 2011 Census, these numbers had increased to 94,000 and 1.3 million, respectively. There are several thousand Irish speakers in Northern Ireland. It has been estimated that the active Irish-language scene probably comprises 5 to 10 per cent of Ireland's population.

In recent decades there has been a significant increase in the number of urban Irish speakers, particularly in Dublin. This community, described as disparate but large, well-educated and mostly middle-class, enjoys a lively cultural life, and has been linked to the growth of non-mainstream schools which teach through the medium of Irish.

There are also many Irish speakers abroad, particularly in the United States and Canada. Irish was spoken until the early twentieth century on the island of Newfoundland, known as Newfoundland Irish.

**Religion;** Carland Presbyterian Church County Tyrone Northern Ireland http://members.webone.com.au/~sgrieves/irish_church_photos.htm In 1991 the records of religion listed 92% of the population of the Republic of Ireland as Roman Catholic, Church of Ireland: 2.35%; Presbyterian: 0.37%; Methodist: 0.14% Jewish 0.04%, Islamic: 0.11%, Jehovah's Witnesses: 0.10%, with misc. religions or a claim of no specific religious beliefs making up the other 4.89% of the population. = The Roman Catholic Church = ====The Catholic population of both the Republic and of Northern Ireland combined is about 3.9 million. It is estimated there are 1,300 parishes served by 4,000 priests. There are an estimated 20,000 people in various religious orders of priests, brothers and nuns.The Catholic Church is involved in education and health services. The Church cooperates with State agencies in education and welfare. The Irish Catholic Church sends over 4,500 missionaries to 85 different countries throughout Africa, Asia, Central and South America, and Oceania.==== http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_Catholicism_in_Ireland

The Church of Ireland
http://www.globeimages.net/img-st-patrick's-church-of-ireland-10017.htm

====The Church of Ireland is a Protestant Episcopal Church. The Church of Ireland is actively involved in education and social services. The total membership of the Church of Ireland is around 380,000, 75% of whom live in Northern Ireland.====

The Presbyterian Church


====The Presbyterian Church is a Protestant Church of the Reformed tradition with a strong emphasis on the Scriptures. The Presbyterian Church in Ireland has ordained women to the ministry since the 1950's. There are approximately 312,000 Presbyterians in Ireland, more than95% of who live in Northern Ireland.====

http://www.tropicalisland.de/ireland/dublin/o_connell_street/pages/DUB%20Dublin%20-%20Abbey%20Presbyterian%20Church%20on%20Parnell%20Square%20North%2002%203008x2000.html

The Methodist Church
====Although closely linked to British Methodism, the Irish Methodist Church is an autonomous body. The Methodist Church has approximately 130 ministers. The total membership is around 60,000 people, about 90% of whom live in Northern Ireland. The church has developed a wide range of social work activities, through its missions in the larger cities. These provide facilities for the elderly and the needy. The Church is also involved in education.====

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a4/Knock_Methodist_Church_-_geograph.org.uk_-_82367.jpg/250px-Knock_Methodist_Church_-_geograph.org.uk_-_82367.jpg =Family Structure;= One-in-three families in Ireland departs from the traditional model of a married couple both of whom are in their first marriage. http://www.esri.ie/news_events/latest_press_releases/households_and_family_str/index.xml

=**Music**= Irish music is music that has been created in various genres on the island of Ireland. The indigenous music of the island is termed Irish traditional music. It has remained vibrant through the 20th, and into the 21st century, despite globalising cultural forces. In spite of emigration and a well-developed connection to music influences from Britain and the United States, Irish music has kept many of its traditional aspects and has itself influenced many forms of music, such as country and roots music in the USA, which in turn have had some influence on modern rock music. It has occasionally been fused with rock and roll, punk and rock and other genres. Some of these fusion artists have attained mainstream success, at home and abroad. =**Sexual permissiveness/restrictiveness**= The Irish culture is very restrictive to sexual behavior. They do allow gay marriage, however the same-sex couples do not have the same rights, as they are not considered to be equal to those of a civil marriage. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Recognition_of_same-sex_unions_in_the_Republic_of_Ireland =**Gender roles**= http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a4/Knock_Methodist_Church_-_geograph.org.uk_-_82367.jpg/250px-Knock_Methodist_Church_-_geograph.org.uk_-_82367.jpg Women mainly do housework and child care. Men are paid higher than women BY 12.6%. Women are 18% more likely than men to get a part time job. Women are making so little that they might as well just stay at home and not do the real labor that the men have to do. When women have their children the father continues to work and the time off is contingent on the employer. http://www.europeanmovement.ie/ymip-ireland-has-a-long-way-to-go-in-terms-of-gender-equality/ =**Sports**=

Hurling is an outdoor team game of ancient Irish origin. It is much like Gaelic football. It shares a number of features with Gaelic football, such as the field and goals, number of players, and much terminology. There is a similar game for women called camogie, It shares a common Gaelic root with the sport of shinty,which is played most commonly in Scotland.



http://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/hurling/2012/1102/344049-o-hailpin-retires-from-inter-county-hurling/