CROSS CULTURE

UNDERSTANDING

(IRELAND CULTURE DISCUSSION)

 ARRANGED BY:
GROUP 6 PI. A3

 FENNI MALAU (1901030087)

 EKA RIA GINTING (2001030069)

SUPPORTING LECTURER : TIARMA INTAN MARPAUNG, S.Pd., M.Pd

 
 Material of discussions :

Background of 01 04
Discussion
the study

Formulation of 02 05
Conclusion
the problem

The objectives of 03
the study
 1. Background of the study

Cross Culture Understanding is a way to understand the similarities and differences

of cultures in various countries so that there are no misunderstandings. Cross-cultural
understanding plays an important role in communicating with people from different
countries. Language and culture cannot be separated. If we already understand the
norms and cultures of others, it will make it easier for us to adapt and establish good
relationships with each other.
 Formulation of the problem

1. What is the History of Ireland?

2. What is the Government of Ireland?
3. What is the National Economy of Ireland?
4. What is the Early Political History of Ireland?
5. What are the Ethnic Groups, Language, and Religion of Ireland?
6. What are the Habits, Mentality, and The Way of Living of Ireland?
7. What are the Recreation and Sports of Ireland?
8. What are the Foods of Ireland?
9. What are the Celebrations, Festivals and Cultural Events of Ireland?
10. What is the Shopping of Ireland?
11. What are the Railway, Bus, Water and Other Transports of Ireland?
 The objectives of the study
Based on the formulation of the problems that appears
above, the purpose of the study is to increase the
knowledge of readers, especially to students so that they
know and understand about the history, government,
national economy, early political history, Ethnic, groups,
language, religion, habits, mentality, the way of living,
recreation, sports, foods, celebrations, festivals, cultural
events, shopping, railway, bus, water, and other transports
of Ireland.
 Discussions
1. History of Ireland
Ireland, lying to the west of Britain, has always been to some extent cut off by it
from direct contact with other European countries, especially those from Sweden to the
Rhine River. Readier access has been through France, Spain, and Portugal and even
Norway and Iceland. Internally, the four ecclesiastical provinces into which Ireland was
divided in the 12th century realistically denoted the main natural divisions of the country.
Of these, the north had in the earliest times been culturally connected with Scotland, the
east with Roman Britain and Wales, the south with Wales and France, and the southwest
and west with France and Spain. In later times, despite political changes, these
associations continued in greater or lesser degree.
The position of Ireland, geographically peripheral to western Europe, became “central”
and thus potentially more important once Europe’s horizons expanded in the 15th and
16th centuries to include the New World.
2. Government of Ireland
The Constitution of Ireland vests executive authority in a government
which is headed by the Taoiseach, the head of government. The
government is composed of ministers, each of whom must be a member
of the Oireachtas, which consists of Dáil Éireann and Seanad Éireann.
The government is dependent upon the Oireachtas to pass primary
legislation and as such, the government needs to command a majority in
the Dáil in order to ensure support and confidence for budgets and
government bills to pass. The Government is also known as the cabinet.
The Constitution of Ireland vests executive authority in a government
which is headed by the Taoiseach, the head of government.
3. National Economy of Ireland
The economy of the Republic of Ireland over the past twenty years is gradually gaining
momentum. The economic system largely depends on trade. Several decades ago, the agrarian sector
played a dominant role in the economic development of the country. However, its influence diminished
over time. Now the profit from the agricultural sector is not more than ten percent of the total Gross
Domestic Product (GDP) of the country.
The Industrial sector in Ireland began to develop only from the middle of the last century. Recent
survey shows that more than forty percent of the working population is employed in this sphere. The
most actively developing area in the country is the high-tech science-intensive industry. It is
represented by a huge number of directions.
Telecommunications in Ireland is considered one of the most developed among all countries of the
European Union. At least 100 radio stations and four television stations function successfully, despite
the fact that this republic is considered quite small. Tourism in recent years also began to develop
actively.
4. Early Political History of Ireland
The documentary history of Ireland begins only in the 7th century,
which saw the production in both Latin and Irish of sufficiently rich and
numerous records of all sorts. For events before that time, historians rely on
literary sources such as the sagas, many of whose characters may represent
only poetic imagination and in which the social or political circumstances
portrayed reflect the fantasies of their authors rather than historical reality.
Nevertheless, the traditions seem to indicate, during the early centuries AD, a
process of political cohesion in Ireland through which the tuatha ultimately
became grouped into the Five Fifths.
5. Ethnic Groups, Language, and Religion of Ireland
Ethnic and racial minorities make up about 12 percent of the population of Ireland a
proportion that doubled in the first decade of the 21st century. Immigration from the rest of
Europe, Africa, and Asia has been significant since the last two decades of the 20th century.
The constitution provides that Irish be the first official language and English the
second. All official documents are published in both Irish and English. The modern Irish
language, which is very similar to Scottish Gaelic, was widely spoken up to the time of the
Irish Potato Famine of the 1840s and the subsequent emigrations. The use of Irish
continued to decline even after 1922, when the language was introduced into schools;
despite its decline, Irish never ceased to exert a strong influence on Irish consciousness.
The Celtic religion had a major influence on Ireland long before the adoption of
Christianity in the 5th century. Since the conversion to Christianity, Roman Catholicism,
with its ecclesiastical seat at Armagh in Northern Ireland, has been the island’s principal
religion. After the Reformation, Catholicism became closely associated with Irish
nationalism and resistance to British rule.
 60%

6. Habits, Mentality, and The Way of Living

The people of Ireland are famous for their friendliness and courtesy. They
treat guests of their country with hospitality, regardless of a nationality. The only
exception is the English. In this case, the Irish show some caution and mistrust. A
distinctive feature of the local population is diligence. Locals always strive to
provide all possible assistance to the needy ones. Irish people do not accept
unnecessary tactile contacts.
The main greeting in Ireland is a raised index finger. In cafes, cinemas, and
hotels, smoking is prohibited. Visitors to bars traditionally treat their
acquaintances with drinks. However, on birthday, not a birthday boy treats
friends with a drink, but vice versa. Sweets and flowers are considered a good
gift in this country. Official communication takes place at a long lunch. The main
symbol in Ireland is the shamrock. It is also portrayed in official images of the 75%
country, including stamps, seals, and insignia of both state and military. In
Ireland, locals prefer to relax not in numerous cafes and restaurants, but in pubs.
7. Recreation and Sport of Ireland
Among Ireland's numerous ancient and prehistoric sights are a restored Bronze
Age lake dwelling (crannog) near Quin in County Clare, burial mounds at Newgrange and
Knowth along the Boyne, and the palace at the Hill of Tara, the seat of government up to
the Middle Ages.
Traditional musical events are held frequently, one of the best known being the All-
Ireland Fleadh at Ennis in County Clare. Numerous parades, concerts, and other festivities
occur on and around St. Patrick's Day holiday of 17 March. Ireland has numerous golf
courses, some of worldwide reputation. Fishing, sailing, horseback riding, hunting, horse
racing, and greyhound racing are other popular sports. The traditional sports of Gaelic
football, hurling, and camogie (the women's version of hurling) were revived in the 19th
century and have become increasingly popular.
8. Foods of Ireland
Popular foods available in Ireland are as follows :
1. Soda Bread
Every family in Ireland has its own recipe for soda bread, hand-written
on flour-crusted note paper and wedged in among the cookery books.
Some like it sweet with a spoonful of honey, sugar or dried fruits.

2. Shellfish
Visit Ireland outside of summer and your chances of seeing the sun may be
slim. On the plus side, you'll be able to feast on the west coast’s plump native
oysters (Ostrea edulis), which come into season in September, and pay a visit to
the Galway Oyster Festival (28-30 September).
75%
3. Irish Stew
One-pot cooking doesn’t get much simpler than Irish stew, traditionally made
with mutton, onions and potatoes (the addition of carrots can be a divisive
issue). To avoid the stew being watery (a childhood horror for many of us),
some recipes recommend adding pearl barley, a spoonful of roux or sliced
potatoes, while others reduce the liquid by leaving the stew to simmer.

4. Colcannon and Champ

Potatoes transformed the Irish diet when they were
introduced from the New World in the late 16th century.
Ireland’s population boomed with this cheap
and plentiful food source, but was later decimated
when potato harvests were hit by blight in the 19th century.
5. Boxty
Potato dumpling, potato pancake and potato bread
are all descriptors for boxty; some say the name originates
from the Irish phrase arán bocht tí, meaning 'poor-house bread'.

6. Boiled Bacon and Cabbage

Boiled bacon, boiled cabbage and boiled potatoes
might not sound all that appetising but it remains
a firm family favourite.
7. Smoked Salmon
Smoked salmon is another must-try – the oak-smoked salmon from the Burren Smokehouse, the
beechwood-smoked salmon from the Connemara Smokehouse, and the unusual turf-smoked salmon
from The Haven Smokehouse are all worth looking out for.

8. Black and White Pudding

The Irish weren’t the only ones to discover the delights
of black pudding (pork meat, fat and blood mixed with barley,
suet and oatmeal in an intensely flavoured sausage).
White pudding (similar, but minus the blood)
may be less common around the globe, but no full
Irish breakfast would be complete without a slice of each.
 9. Coddle
With roots as a working-class Dublin dish, the name coddle comes from the slow simmering or
'coddling' of ingredients in a one-pot stew.

10. Barmbrack
Enthusiasts make this fruity tea loaf all year round,
serving it smothered in butter with a cup of tea in the afternoon.
It’s at Halloween, however, that you’d find
a charm in your slice foretelling the future:
9. Celebrations, Festivals and Cultural Events
The most famous holiday of Ireland is St. Patrick's Day. It is celebrated every year on
March 17 not only in Ireland but all over the world. St. Patrick is the heavenly patron of the
country. Officially the day began to be celebrated only from the 18th century. However, the
Irish worshiped this saint and held feasts in his honor in the 8-9th century.
The tradition of breeding large fires in the hills, planting a bush of rowan in the garden
near the house and decorating it in the manner of the New Year tree has survived to this day.
Another amazing neo-pagan festival is celebrated on the day of the autumn equinox. Mabon is
associated with harvesting. Over time, the holiday became a symbol of everything, which no
longer exists.
Ireland is home to one of the most popular holidays in the world - Halloween. The
original Night of Horror was brought from the Irish and Scottish Celts, who believed that the
spirits could come down from heaven to see the living one day. There are lots of traditions
associated with Halloween. In addition to St. Patrick's Day, there are many other fascinating
festivals in Ireland; many of them devoted to art.
10. Shopping in Ireland
Ireland offers its guests wide opportunities for shopping. You can buy items by
traditional European brands, and local authentic things. Ireland is famous for high-
quality woolen things. You can find hand-tied sweaters and ponchos there. In Ireland,
there is Blarney wool factory, where you can buy unique cashmere things at affordable
prices. The Aran Islands became popular due to sweaters with an unusual knitting.
Another incredibly colorful Irish product is whiskey. Local unique goods include
crystal, glass, clay, and ceramics. Ireland is famous throughout the country for its
glassware of world famous brands. These items are unique in their simplicity and
inimitable elegance. The green color is traditional for most of the symbolic souvenirs
that tourists take away from the country.
11. Railway, Bus, Water and Other Transport
Transport infrastructure in Ireland is developed at a high level.
Buses are the most popular type of public transportation. As a rule,
comfortable green colored double-decker buses run around the city.
Should be noted that the bus routes are very well organized and the
buses act as the main means of transportation in those cities where there
are no railway networks.
The air transportation in Ireland is also at a high level. There are 10
international airports operating here which also accept charter flights.
There are as well about thirty small airfields. Therefore, if there is a need
to quickly move around the country, air transportation will be the best
solution. Water transportation is also developed. There are ferries and
barges not only along the coastal line.
Some flights connect Ireland with England and France, as well as
some islands. All year round, excursion liners, ships and boats cruise the
whole coastline. You can rent a boat for yourself if you so desire.
 Conclusion
Cross Culture Understanding is a way to understand the similarities and
differences of cultures in various countries so that there are no misunderstandings.
Cross-Cultural Understanding plays an important role in communicating with people
from different countries. Language and culture cannot be separated. If we already
understand the norms and cultures of others, it will make it easier for us to adapt and
establish good relationships with each other. Good relationships will increase the
confidence of others in ourselves. Cross Culture Understanding for Ireland really needs
to be studied so that we know the history, government, national economy, early political
history, ethnic, groups, language, religion, habits, mentality, the way of living,
recreation, sports, foods, celebrations, festivals, cultural events, shopping, railway, bus,
water, and other transports of Ireland. If we had known about Ireland we will feel
interest because of many the unique of Ireland.
THANKYOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION 