A Kid's Life in Ireland

Did you know that the Dublin Castle was built in the 16th century?

Did you know that in the winter the temperature is usually from 40 to 45 degrees in Ireland?

One of my favorite things to eat is Irish stew. It is made by boiling layers of potatoes, onions, and pieces of mutton.

In Gaelic, which is the ancient language of Ireland, the name of our country is called Eire (pronounced AIR uh).

Dia dhuit! My name is Patrick and I am 10 years old. I live in Dublin, Ireland with my mom, dad, and my sister Maureen. Maureen is 8 years old. Ireland is a country located in Northwest Europe. The country covers most of the island of Ireland in the British Isles. The other part of the island is called Northern Ireland, which is part of the United Kingdom of Great Britain.

Have you ever heard anyone call Ireland the Emerald Isle? Many people call it that because of we have a beautiful green countryside. There are also rolling farmlands that cover most of the center part of the country. We have mountains near the coasts.

In Ireland we go to public primary school when we are 6- 12 years old. Most of the schools in Ireland are private schools run by the Roman Catholic Church and the Church of Ireland. I like primary school a lot! When I go to secondary school, I won't go to school with any girls because girls and boys usually go to different schools.

I also like the city of Dublin a lot! It is also called “Town of the Ford of the Hurdles”. Dublin is in the Province of Leinster. Dublin is the capitol of Ireland. My family lives in a nice brick house with lots of rooms. When you visit Dublin, you will be very frightened because the roads are so narrow; and the steering wheel is on the right side of the car.

An interesting place to visit in Dublin is the Dublin Castle; it was built in the 16^th century. Once I went there with my mom and dad. Another place to visit is St. Patrick’s Cathedral. My family goes to church there sometimes.

Ireland is a great place to visit. Lots of people say that the Irish are warm-hearted and very friendly. Did you know that we, the Irish, are also known for our hospitality, close family ties, and our skill as storytellers? When you come to visit us you'll even be able to understand us if you speak English. Ireland has two official languages which are English and Gaelic. Everybody speaks English with a soft accent called a brogue. When you speak Gaelic in Ireland people usually call it Irish.

Basketball Player Some sports in Ireland are basketball, boxing, cricket, golf, hockey, horse racing, rugby, soccer, swimming, and tennis. My favorite sport is soccer (it is also the most popular sport in our country, but we call it football) because you have to be fast, and have good “foot-eye coordination”.

The climate of Ireland is a lot like other islands. In the winter the Thermometer temperature is usually from 40 to 45 degrees Fahrenheit (4 to 7 degrees Celsius). In the summer the temperature is usually from 59 to 62 degrees Fahrenheit (15 to 17 degrees Celsius).

We Irish people dress the same as Americans. They wear jeans a lot. Americans wear suits and dresses only for special occasions like us.

Well, see you soon! Slan agat!

Erin go bragh (Gaelic phrase that means Ireland forever)!