Ireland has two official languages: English and Irish. English is, however, far more dominant. Outside of rural areas, very few people speak Irish as their first language. This is why almost all higher education courses are delivered entirely in English. Irish, like English, uses Latin script. Irish is a Celtic language and is closely related to Welsh, Cornish and Manx, among others. Typed Irish has its own special font called Gaelic Type. It makes even the most bland of sentences look grand. All government information and road signage is written in both languages.
Aside from being officially bilingual, Ireland also has a rich, world-famous culture. From clovers to line dancers to the prevalence of the color green, we all know Irish culture in some way. Studying in Ireland allows you to experience the beating heart of it. Irish culture has made itself known the world over. This is because of immigration. Ireland became an independent country in 1921. Prior to that, it was part of the UK. Many Irish people left during this time, mostly to the US.
Ireland is also steeped in history. Dublin Castle, the Blarney Stone and the Old Head of Kinsale are but three sites in what is a remarkable country. Many people visit Blarney, kiss the stone, as tradition dictates must happen, and then enjoy a pint of Guinness in the town.
Previously, travel to Northern Ireland was considered dangerous for non-Irish nationals. However, since the Good Friday Agreement was signed in 1998, travel across the Ireland-UK border has become much safer. But do still be cautious when crossing the northernmost part of the border, where Londonderry (in the UK) meets several rural villages in Ireland.
Ireland has a low crime rate. It is significantly lower than in many other Western European nations, like the UK and France. As is the norm in most European countries, the crime rate in cities is slightly higher. Despite this, Dublin still has a much lower crime rate than cities like London, Rome and Madrid.
Ireland is a Catholic country, but it has become increasingly secular in recent years. In 2015, the Irish people even voted to legalize same-sex marriage by a margin of almost 2:1. In 2018, the Irish people then voted to massively liberalize the country's laws on abortion by a greater than 2:1 margin. Irish societal attitudes have hugely shifted on many issues in only a generation.
