TOP OF THE MORNIN' TO YE,
LADS AND LASSIES. . . . .
Keep your eyes open for a Leprechaun and the pot of gold !!!!
On your journey you will learn interesting facts about the splendor of Ireland, as well as, some of the folklore that surrounds our country. Well...... what are you waiting for, let's get started.
You will have several options to choose from on this assignment. It will be your job to discover different types of facts about Ireland. Here is your list:
1.
St. Patrick is the reason for this March holiday. Research facts
about his life. Where is his birthplace? What was the importance of
his life? What did he contribute to society? What happened as a
result of his work?
http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Fields/2142/StPat.html
http://www.4stpatricksday.com/history.shtml#history
http://www.carolynsuniverse.com/spd.html
2. One
legend about St. Patrick says that he drove all the snakes out of
Ireland. Choose a breed of snake found in the United States to
research. Locate information about the size, physical
characteristics, habitat, reproduction and diet of the snake.
http://www.pitt.edu/~mcs2/herp/SoNA.html
http://www.umass.edu/umext/snake/snakepit.html
http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Parthenon/1502/slegend/stptleg1.html#top
Learn about Ireland's flag. Write a biography about the Irish flag. What is the significance of the colors white, orange, and green on the flag?
http://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/ie.html
3.
Sports play an important part in every culture. Irish people
are fond of two sports that Americans don't usually follow.
These sports are gaelic football and hurling, and camogie. Research
the sports of hurling and rugby. Find out about the history of
the games, the basic playing rules, and list other countries where
the games are popular. List other sports that are similar to
rugby and hurling.
http://www.edunetconnect.com/cat/games/hurling.html
4.
Visit an Irish city! You have been hired by a city in Ireland
to write an article to be published in a travel magazine. The
purpose of the article is to encourage people to visit the city you
choose. You will need to include information on the location of
the city, major attractions (celebrations, museums, shopping, sports,
theaters, famous buildings), places to eat, lodging, and anything you
think would entice people to visit.
Dublin, Tipperary, Limerick, Galway, Cork, Waterford
http://www.visit.ie/dublin/top_at/
http://www.travelnotes.org/Europe/ireland.htm
http://www.ireland-now.com/around/index.html
http://www1.shore.net/~amybatt/links.html
5. Research
the Irish potato famine and the important role the potato served in
Ireland's history. What caused the potato famine? How did it affect
people in Ireland? How did the famine affect America? How many people
died and how many people immigrated to other countries? What
traditional Irish recipes reflect the importance of the potato in the
Irish diet?
http://www.people.Virginia.EDU/~eas5e/Irish/Famine.html
http://wwwvms.utexas.edu/~jdana/irehist.html
http://www.web-holidays.com/pattyday/index.htm
6.
Castles have played an important role in several civilizations.
Research the history of the castle in different civilizations and
then locate a castle in Ireland. Research the following: history of
the castle, location of the castle, who built the castle, why was the
castle built, is the castle still inhabited, is the castle open to
the public, are there any unusual stories associated with the castle?
http://irelandnow.com/castles/index.html
http://www.castles.org/architecture/index.htm
7. Early
Irish literature is rich in myths and legends. Research the
history of Irish Mythology. Include some actual legends and
myths. Make sure you research any terms or people associated
with the selections.
http://irelandnow.com/heritage/myths/myths.html
http://vassun.vassar.edu/~sttaylor/MacDatho/
http://www.luminarium.org/mythology/ireland/
http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Parthenon/1502/slegend/stpatleg.html#top
8. Research
five symbols associated with St. Patrick's Day and the Irish Culture.
Choose from shamrocks, leprechauns, harps, shillelaghs, gold coins,
hats, pipes, March 17th, and the color green. Explain the origin of
each symbol and why it is important to Irish culture.
http://www.web-holidays.com/pattyday/index.htm
http://www.cyber2.com/saintpatsday.html
http://www.carolynsuniverse.com/spd.html
9. St.
Patrick's Day is a non legal holiday in the United States. What
does it take to legalize a holiday in this country? What other
non legal holidays are celebrated in the U.S.? Is the holiday
legal in Ireland? How would you try to persuade someone to
legalize St. Patrick's Day in the United States?
http://www.usemb.se/Holidays/celebrate/intro.html
http://www.usemb.se/Holidays/celebrate/stpatric.html
http://www.opm.gov/fedhol/index.htm
http://www.usembassy.org.uk/ukpubhol.html
http://www.usia.gov/usa/infousa/facts/factover/holidays.htm
10. The
Irish potato famine brought about the formation of a group dedicated
to overthrowing British rule and establishing an independent
Ireland. This secret society was called the Fenians.
Study the history of the Fenians. What part did they play in
Ireland's independence? Do they still exist today? If so,
what is their role in modern day Ireland?
http://wwwvms.utexas.edu/~jdana/irehist.html
http://www.ac.wwu.edu/~col/fenian/irish.html
11. Just
like Kentucky, horses are an important part of Irish heritage and
culture. Explore the world of Ireland's horse racing
industry. Find out the major races, the kind of racing, where
the racetracks are located, and how the racing industry effects the
economy of the country. Be sure to find the difference between
hunt and flat racing.
http://www.iha.ie/iharace/f4.htm
http://swift.kerna.ie/cat/Recreation/Sports/Horse_Racing
http://www.kildare.ie/hospitality/thingstodo/Sports/horseracing/index.htm
WWW
LINKS TO HELP YOU!
Wearin' of the Green is a long list of links to Irish information
http://www.kate.net/holidays/shamrock/
An Irish Family's Page dedicated to all things Irish
A General Site for St. Patrick's Day information