Ireland: The Beloved Emerald Isle of Beauty and Legends, Part 1 of 2

Known for its gorgeous scenery with rolling green meadows stretching to the horizon, Ireland, fondly called the Emerald Isle, is a North Atlantic island in northwestern Europe and part of the British Isles, separated from Great Britain by the Irish Sea, St. Georges Channel, and the North Channel. The island of Ireland is comprised of two separate self-governing polities - Ireland, also known as the Republic of Ireland, and Northern Ireland.

The earliest evidence of human habitation in Ireland dates to 33,000 years ago. Around 700 BC, Ireland saw the arrival of Celtic culture, which remains a strong influence to present day.

One of the most fascinating architectural landmarks of Ireland’s distant past is the “Brú na Bóinne,” a group of large passage tombs built at least 5,000 years ago. Brú na Bóinne was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1993.

The only other UNESCO World Heritage Site on the Emerald Isle is the Great Skellig, also known as Skellig Michael. The picturesque crag is famous for a sacred monastic settlement site dating back to the 6th century AD, when the early Christian monks lived a peaceful life of prayer in stone huts. This site has also been known recently for the filming of scenes from two movies in the famous “Star Wars” series, “The Force Awakens” and “The Last Jedi.”

Dublin is Ireland’s capital and largest city, famous for its beautiful bridges stretching over the River Liffey. Magnificent Saint Patrick's Cathedral is the National Cathedral of the Church of Ireland and is among the country’s most revered places of worship.

Vegan culture in Ireland is currently on the rise. In 2020, Ireland also ranked among the world’s top ten countries for veganism and was commended as one of the most vegan-friendly countries on Earth! Besides these promising vegan trends in protecting the environment and our animal friends, Ireland has recently made many other efforts to help safeguard our planet from the climate crisis.