Administrative divisions of the Republic of Ireland

Administratively the Republic of Ireland is divided into four provinces from 26 counties in them. The Local Government Reform Act 2014 provides for a system of thirty-one local authorities - twenty-six county councils, two city and county councils and three city councils.

1. Fingal

2. Dublin City

3. Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown

4. South Dublin

5. Wicklow

6. Wexford

7. Carlow

8. Kildare

9. M eath

10. Louth

11. Monaghan

12. Cavan

13. Longford

14. Westmeath

15. Offaly

16. Laois

17. Kilkenny

18. Waterford

19. Cork City

20. Cork

21. Kerry

22. Limerick

23. Tipperary

24. Clare

25. Galway

26. Galway City

27. Mayo

28. Roscommon

29. Sligo

30. Leitrim

31. Donegal

Tasks and questions

1. What are seas and oceans, wich surround the Irish island?

2. What is the highest point in ireland?

3. What is the longest river in Ireland?

4. What kinds of trees were growing in Ireland before the arrival of the first settlers in Ireland?

5. How many provinces and counties are there in Ireland?

Chapter 3 Traditions

Irish dance

Irish dancing or Irish dance is a group of traditional dance forms originating in Ireland which can broadly be divided into social dances and performance dances.

Irish social dancing can be divided further into céilí and set dancing. Irish set dances are quadrilles, danced by four couples arranged in a square, while céilí dances are danced by varied formations (céilí) of two to sixteen people. In addition to their formation, there are significant stylistic differences between these two forms of social dance. Irish social dance is a living tradition, and variations in particular dances are found across the Irish dancing community; in some places, dances are deliberately modified and new dances are choreographed.

Irish step dancing, popularized in 1994 by the world-famous show Riverdance, is notable for its rapid leg and foot movements, body and arms being kept largely stationary. The world of Irish dance has expanded to include Lord of the Dance, Celtic Tiger, and Heartbeat of Home. Most competitive dances are solo dances, though many stepdancers also perform and compete using céilí dances.

Irish stepdance is a style of dance with its roots in traditional Irish dance. It can be performed solo or by groups. Two types of shoes are worn; hard shoes, which make sounds similar to tap shoes, and soft shoes, which are similar to ballet slippers. Dancers stiffen their upper bodies while performing quick, intricate footwork. Costumes are considered important for stage presence in competitive Irish stepdance. There are seven levels of competition available for both individuals and groups. Riverdance, an Irish stepdancing interval act in the 1994 Eurovision Song Contest, greatly contributed to its popularity.

The hard shoe, which is also called heavy shoe and jig shoe, is, unlike tap shoes, made with fiberglass tips, instead of metal. The first hard shoes had wooden taps with metal nails. It was common practice in the 17th and 18th century to hammer nails into the soles of a shoe to increase the life of the shoe. Dancers used the sounds created by the nails to create the rhythms that characterize hard shoe dancing.

Soft shoes, often called "ghillies" (or "gillies"), fit more like ballet slippers and are made of black leather, with a leather sole and a very flexible body. They lace from toe to ankle and do not make sounds against the dance surface. They are worn by female dancers for the light jig, the reel, the single jig, the slip jig, and group dances with two or more people. They are also worn for competitive céilí dancing, though social céilí dance doesn't have rules about the shoes that can be worn.

The second kind of soft shoe is worn by male dancers; these are called "reel shoes" and are similar to Oxford or jazz shoes in black leather, with fiberglass heels that the dancers can click them together. Some male dancers do not wear fiberglass heels. The men's steps may be choreographed in a different style to girls' to take advantage of the heels and to avoid feminine movements in steps.

Several generations ago, the appropriate dress for a competition was simply "Sunday best" (clothes one would wear to church). Irish Dance schools generally have school dresses, worn by lower-level competitors and in public performances. As dancers advance in competition or are given starring roles in public performances, they may get a solo dress of their own design and colours or wear the team dress. In the 1970s and 1980s, ornately embroidered dresses became popular. Today even more ornamentation is used on girls' dresses. Solo dresses are unique to each dancer. Today most women and girls wear a wig or hairpiece for a competition, but some still curl their own hair. Most men wear a shirt, vest, and tie paired with black trousers.