Ireland is home to beautiful landscapes, pristine beaches and plenty of history. The country also has two UNESCO World Heritage sites that are a treat for history lovers. When you think of Ireland, you imagine expansive greenery and breathtaking scenery as seen in the movies – and it’s all there, but there’s a lot more to this magnificent country.
Do you want to learn more about Irish culture and heritage? Here are five interesting facts about the country you probably didn’t know.
1. Ireland Had its Own Standard Time
For 36 years (1880-1916), Ireland changed its legal standard time from Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) to Dublin Mean Time. This time was set from the Dunsink Observatory, and it was officially 25 minutes and 21 seconds behind GMT.
2. Saint Patrick Wasn’t Actually Irish
Saint Patrick is often considered the patron saint of Ireland, and most people think he’s Irish. In reality, Saint Patrick was actually a Briton. He came to Ireland when he was only 16 when an Irish pirate abducted him. He was forced into slavery and primarily worked as a sheep herder. He finally escaped his enslavement after six years of seeing a dream of being free and returned to Britain, where he reunited with his family.
3. Ireland’s Unique National Symbol
When people think of something that symbolizes Ireland, the first thing that comes to mind is a shamrock representing the Holy Trinity. While the shamrock is the national symbol, Ireland also has another interesting national symbol: a harp. It is the only country worldwide to have a musical instrument as a national symbol.
4. The Birthplace of Halloween
Halloween is often considered a traditional American event. In reality, Halloween actually originated in Ireland. This was a widely celebrated Celtic festival which was called Samhain. During this festival, people used to light bonfires and wore costumes to scare off ghosts. The modern-day version of Halloween is derived from this. Currently, the famous Púca Festival is also celebrated in Athboy and Trim where Halloween originated from.
5. There are More Irish People Abroad Than in the Country
Currently, the population of Ireland is a little over 5 million. Interestingly, 80 million people living outside the country have Irish descent and ancestry. The Irish diaspora spread worldwide as people migrated to other countries due to the potato famine and the Irish Civil War.
Discover Ireland with My Ireland Family Heritage
The best way to learn more about Irish culture and heritage is by taking an ancestry and heritage tour. If you have an Irish descent, this tour will be even more fun for you as you’ll be able to connect with your ancestors.
At My Ireland Family Heritage, we make sure that we trace our clients’ ancestors through thorough and reliable ancestry research and family heritage tours. For many years, we’ve been providing genealogy tours of Ireland, which provide historic details of all the major places in the country.
Get in touch with us to learn more about our services, and book an Irish genealogy tour today!
