The Culture of Ireland

Music, dance, sport, drinking and poetry all combine to create a heady cultural concoction in Ireland. Known for their hearty cheer, the Irish combine the best of their Celtic and Viking roots and modern influences and habits. Irish traditions are commonly known around the globe and Irish blessings find their way to the lips of foriegners many countries away.

James Joyce is probably the most important writer to have emerged from Ireland. His novel Ullysses is considered the most significant work in Modern literature. Ireland has also produced as many as four Nobel prize winners for literature: George Bernard Shaw, William Butler Yeats, Samuel Beckett and Seamus Heaney. Irish poetry is the oldest vernacular poetry in Europe with the earliest examples dating from the 6th century including works by Jonathan Swift.

Ireland is known for its Irish traditional music, but has produced many other internationally influential artists in other musical genres, such as The Pogues, the alternative rock group The Cranberries, Blues guitarist Rory Gallagher, folk singer Christy Moore, The Chieftans and singer Sinéad O'Connor.

The Irish play a variety of sports including Gaelic football, soccer, snooker, golf and Irish hurling. Boxing and fishing are also popular pastimes.