Two Worlds United Programs in Ireland for High School students
To
the 70,000 residents of Ireland who still speak Irish, the
island nation is Poblacht na h'Éireann, more popularly called
Éire. A rather quiet, gentle country—both in landscape and
human temperament—the Republic of Ireland is small enough to
fit entirely into Lake Superior. Yet, the Irish people, and
particularly the prodigious numbers of Irish emigrants, have
substantially shaped the politics, history, culture, and economy
of the English-speaking world.
Ireland has been dominated by Great Britain for much of its
history, so that most of the country speaks English, and much of
its architecture and many of its institutions bear a British
stamp. One-sixth of the island encompasses Northern Ireland,
still administrated by the United Kingdom. The ancient conflict
between Catholic and Protestant Irish—"the
troubles"—seldom touches the overwhelmingly Catholic
Republic of Ireland. The Roman Catholic Church exerts tremendous
influence over the people's values and beliefs.
The distinctive Irish character is shaped by old-fashioned,
family-oriented, essentially rural qualities: kindliness, lack
of pretension, gregariousness, and a penetrating, often
self-effacing wit. Irish literature, music, whiskey, and
glassware are held in the highest regard among people of
discriminating tastes throughout the world; though, indeed, the
island's most significant "export" traditionally has
been Irish emigrants, who greatly outnumber the population of
Ireland. The country's personality takes its strongest form
beyond the capital of Dublin, in a largely rural hinterland
scattered with towns and villages, and hemmed by rugged
coastlines and low, rolling ranges of hills.
Dublin today can provide one of Europe's excited destinations.
Although comfortable, friendly, and full of fun, Ireland is
unlikely to appeal to students as a cultural and complete
destination. Bucking the country's slower-pace trend when
necessary, the capital does provide a completely modern
infrastructure and comfort for international students. |
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TWO WORLDS UNITED
Admissions Dep't.
Tel: 1 (805) 581-9191
Fax: 1 (805) 581-6079
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