Culture, Religion & Society
Ireland was historically a staunchly Catholic and inward looking country. We gained independence from Britain in 1922, and have an ambiguous but generally friendly relationship with our nearest neighbour. Northern Ireland remained in the United Kingdom, and there followed conflict between the broadly Catholic nationalists and Protestant Unionists. The recent Peace Process has thankfully brought about much friendlier relations. The 1998 Belfast Agreement provides for close links between Britain, Northern Ireland and the Irish government.
Ireland likes to refer to itself as the ‘island of saints and scholars’. Writers such as James Joyce and Oscar Wilde, musicians of the calibre of U2 and Enya and filmmakers and actors like Neil Jordan and Liam Neeson are all proudly thought of. There are regular arts, theatre and film festivals around Ireland, with the Irish pub also regarded as a national treasure. Irish people are big sports fans. Gaelic football and hurling are our national games, while soccer, golf and rugby are also widely played.
Until recently there was mass emigration from Ireland, mostly to the UK, USA and Australia. The ‘Celtic Tiger’ economic boom has seen this process reversed, with Irish people returning and lots of inward immigration taking place from other European as well as increasingly from African and Asian countries. Irish society has become much more open and open-minded in the last thirty years. The Catholic Church has largely lost its place of prominence, and Ireland has increasingly looked abroad, especially to the US and mainland Europe, for influence and inspiration.
Ireland was recently voted the most globalised country in the world by the Washington-based Foreign Policy magazine. Irish people now regularly eat Thai food, watch Spanish films, listen to African music and work for American companies. Nobody should feel really out of place in modern Ireland.
Transport
Ireland is a relatively small island, so it is not that difficult to get around. Most of the colleges and universities are situated in the bigger cities – Dublin, Cork, Galway and Limerick - although there are now third level institutions in many towns around the country. National bus and rail routes link the major towns and cities.
The main international airports in Ireland are in Dublin, Shannon and Cork. Budget airlines fly direct to many UK and European destinations, and there are also direct links with many American and Asian cities. The main airlines are national carrier Aer Lingus and the budget airline Ryanair.
The larger cities have their own, sometimes maligned, public transport systems. Dublin has a mixture of local buses, trams (LUAS) and light rail (DART). Students can purchase a Student TravelCard to avail of discounted travel on public transport. There are some cycle lanes in the larger cities. Taxis are widely available, but can be expensive.
Accommodation
There are three main types of accommodation for students at Irish universities. On campus accommodation is the most popular choice for international students. The last few years have seen the building of a large number of purpose built student accommodation villages near colleges and universities. These typically give students their own bedrooms with common living and cooking space shared between five people.
The second option is self-catering where students privately rent or share a house, flat or apartment. These can vary widely in size, comfort, facilities and price.
Finally some students decide to stay in ‘digs’ – room and board in an Irish home. Students in digs typically have their own bedroom and study space, may share bathroom and TV facilities, and are given prepared meals. Each option suits different students’ needs and lifestyle.
The price of accommodation in Ireland can be relatively high and take up half of a student’s total cost of living. It can take some time and effort to secure a suitable place and students should start looking as soon as they secure their college place.
Most colleges and universities have Accommodation Offices that give out useful information and advice on each area. The Internet site www.daft.ie and local newspapers are also helpful for finding somewhere to live.
