Ireland is mainly an agricultural country, famous for its marvellous landscapes. Among them there is, for example, the Giant's Causeway, situated on the north-coast of the country.
Ireland is abundant in places of historical importance, which comprise crucial part of the country's culture. A visitor to Ireland will be astonished by the beautiful and mysterious ancient castles, houses or monuments which, every year, attract thousand of tourists from all over the world.
IRISH ART
Another very interesting element of the Irish culture is Irish art which has its beginnings in carvings and megalithic monuments constructed in 2500-2000 B.C. That early Celtic art produced such unusual manuscripts as the Book of Durrow and the Book of Kells. Celtic elements prevail, however influences of Vikings, Romans and Goths are visible in the works of art created after the 9th century. One of the most characteristic elements of Irish culture are large stone crosses from the ninth and tenth centuries, which can be seen in many places in the Irish countryside.
In the mid-seventeenth century Irish architecture was influenced by the European trends of that time. As the result, many large, profusely decorated buildings were constructed.
Starting from the early nineteenth century, Irish painting was dominated by neo-classicism, romanticism and naturalism. At the end of the century the leading trend became impressionism. The most distinguished artists of that period were: Walter Osborne, William Leech, Nathaniel Hone, John Lavery, Wiliam Orpen or John Butler Yeats.
Evie Hone and Mainie Jellett were precursors of modernism, a new trend in literature and art, which gained popularity thanks to the Irish Exhibition of Living Art, founded in 1943. It produced internationally recognized artist like Michael Farrall, Robert Ballagh, Patrick Scott, Patrick Collins, Barrie Cooke, Camille Souter, Tony O'Malley or Louis Le Brocquy.
Among the best Irish sculptors there are John Hogan and John Henry Foley in the nineteenth century and Oisín Kelly, Séamas Murphy and Hilary Heron in the twentieth century. Brian King, John Behan, Michael Bulfin, Michael Warran and Eilis O' Connell belong to the contemporary Irish sculptors.
IRISH FILM
Year 1996 was the year of celebration of a centenary of film in Northern Ireland, which was a place of work for many worldwide famous directors like Alfred Hitchcock, who directed there Juno and the Paycock with the Abbey Theatre Players in 1930 or John Ford who made in Ireland two films: "The Informer" and "The Quiet Man". Ireland was a home to John Huston, who directed there a number of films, among which there was his last one-"The Dead". In 1970, County Kerry became a setting for Davis Lean's film "Ryan's Daughter". Ireland also has its own worldwide recognized film directors, among whom there is Neil Jordan famous for his Oscar winning films My Left Foot" and "The Crying Game" and Jim Sheridan.
IRISH LITERATURE
The oldest Irish literature comes from the sixth century A.D. and includes lyrical poems and heroic sagas presenting heroic deeds of Cú Chulain and Fionn, mythical warriors. In the period between 1250 and 1650 the vernacular became the language of literature. At that time, bardic verse and prose became very popular.
Irish literature remained in isolation until the nineteenth century when writers such as Patrick Pearse and Pádraic O'Conaire opened it to European trends and influences. Seán Ó Ríordáin, Máirtín Ó Díreáin, Liam Ó Flaitheartaigh, Máirtín Ó Cadhain and Brendan Behan belong to the leading authors of the period of modernism. Among the most famous contemporary Irish writers there are: Nuala Ní Dhomhnaill, Micheál Ó Siadhail, and Liam Ó Muirthile.
IRISH MUSIC
Music is an important element of Irish culture. Among the earliest Irish composers there is Turlough O'Carolan (1670-1738), who is called 'The Blind Harpist', one of the last artists creating their music in the spirit of ancient Bardic tradition. The most famous contemporary Irish composers are A.J. Potter and Gerard Victory.
Traditional Irish music has become a source of inspiration for such musicians as Seán Ó Ríada, Brian Boydell, Seoirse Bodley, Shaun Davey or Mícheal Ó Súilleabháin. What is more, the interest in this kind of music has become widespread since the 1960s thanks to bands such as The Clancy Brothers, The Dubliners, Clannad, The Chieftains, De Dannan or Altan. Ancient Celtic culture has also been popularized by the worldwide famous show 'Riverdance', which joins traditional Irish songs, dances and music into an amazing performance which attracts thousand of people everywhere it is presented.
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