Saint Patrick´s day is just around the corner but what is it exactly that we’re celebrating with all that green beer, corned beef, and cabbage? Well, it turns out that St. Patrick is the patron saint of Ireland and perhaps the most well-know of all the saints. St. Patrick was born on March 17th, 460 A.D. in Britain, but when he was 16 he was kidnapped and kept as a prisoner in Ireland. After six years, St. Patrick escaped and returned to Britain, but it is said that he had visions which told him to return to Ireland to convert the Irish to Christianity. Watch this video about ireland, pay attention to the images and the information you can read on them and try to answer the following questions.
1. How many provinces has IRELAND got?
2. What happened in 1840?
3. What´s the meaning of teh Irish flag?
4. Ireland is called the "emerald isle". Why is that?
5. Why were Shamrocks used by S. Patrick?
6. What´s the national symbol of the country?
7. What´s the most famous stout brewery?
8. What happens if you kiss the Blarney stone?
Watch the video and discuss the following questions:
1. Who celebrates St. Patrick’s Day in the U.S.?
2. When is it celebrated?
3. What is one symbol of this holiday?
In the video some idomatic expressions are included try to do examples of your own with the following prompts:
1.Describe a problem that you were able to solve easily. [as luck would have it]
2.Describe a time you felt that you didn’t have support from others. [rain on my parade]
3.Name an event that you must prepare for very soon. [just around the corner]
- why certain colors are associated with particular holidays (e.g., green with St. Patrick’s Day)
- why a shamrock is considered lucky/ other symbols of luck
- other holidays that allow people to celebrate their ethnicity/ nationality
- other spring holidays around the world
Happy St. Patrick’s Day to everyone!
WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT NORTHERN IRELAND?
Northern Ireland was for many years the site of a violent and bitter ethno-political conflict which was caused by divisions between nationalists, who are predominantly Roman Catholic, and unionists, who are predominantly Protestant. Unionists want Northern Ireland to remain as a part of the United Kingdom, while nationalists wish for it to be politically reunited with the rest of Ireland, independent of British rule. Since the signing of the "Good Friday Agreement" in 1998, most of the paramilitary groups involved in the Troubles have ceased their armed campaigns.
Due to its unique history, the issue of the symbolism, name and description of Northern Ireland is complex, and similarly the issue of citizenship and identity. In general, Unionists consider themselves British and Nationalists see themselves as Irish, though these identities are not necessarily mutually exclusive
Find out information about:
- the IRA
- bloody Sunday
Song ‘Sunday, Bloody, Sunday’ by U2 cannot be ignored because it gives a good idea of the atmosphere of that day. Listen to the song and analyse the lyrics.
1.What news is he referring to?
2. "how long must we sing this song". what does it mean?
3. Which lines describe horror and the event? write them down.
4. What does he mean by saying "we are inmune" "when fact is fiction and TV reality?"
The movie ‘In the Name of the Father’ by Sheridan shows what the atmosphere was like in the seventies in Northern Ireland.
A small time thief from Belfast, Gerry Conlon, is falsely implicated in the IRA bombing of a pub that kills several people while he is in London. Bullied by the British police, he and four of his friends are coerced into confessing their guilt. Gerry's father and other relatives in London are also implicated in the crime. He spends 15 years in prison with his father trying to prove his innocence with the help of a British attorney, Gareth Peirce. Based on a true story.
If you are interested in travelling to Ireland have a look at this site and improve your knowledge about the emerald isle. Watch videos about Dublin, Belfast, Cork, etc and discover lots of interesting things about this country.
http://travel.guardian.co.uk/discoverireland/0,,2044063,00.html
