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A Guide to Irish Culture
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Constitution

Bunreacht na hÉireann I bpobalbhreith a glacadh an 1 Iúil 1937 d’achtaigh an pobal Bunreacht nua, Bunreacht na hÉireann, chun ionad Bhunreacht Shaorstát Éireann, 1922, a ghlacadh. Choiste Uile-Pháirtí an Oireachtais

The Constitution In a plebiscite held on 1 July 1937 the people enacted a new Constitution, Bunreacht na hÉireann, to replace the 1922 Constitution of the Irish Free State. All-Party Oireachtas Committee on the Constitution

Amending the Constitution Article 46 of the Constitution provides that any provision of the Constitution may be amended, whether by way of variation, addition or repeal. All-Party Oireachtas Committee on the Constitution

Presidents of Ireland
Mary McAleese Máire Mhic Ghiolla Íosa
Mary Robinson Máire Mhic Róibín
Patrick J.Hillary Pádraig J. Ó hIrghile
Cearbhall Ó Dalaigh Cearbhall Ó Dalaigh
Erskine Childers Erskine Childers
Eamonn de Valera Eamonn de Valera
Sean T. Ó Ceallaigh Sean T. Ó Ceallaigh
Douglas Hyde Dubhglas de h-Íde

The Office of President was established by The Constitution (Bunreacht na h Éireann). The President is elected directly by the people. To be a candidate a citizen must be over 35 years of age and must be nominated either by: * Not less than 20 members of Dáil or Seanad Éireann, or * Not less than 4 administrative counties (including County Boroughs) Former or retiring Presidents may become candidates on their own nomination. The term of office is 7 years and a President may not serve more than 2 terms.

The National Flag The national flag of Ireland is a tricolour of green, white and orange. The flag is twice as wide as it is high. The three colours are of equal size and the green goes next to the flagstaff.The flag was first introduced by Thomas Francis Meagher in 1848 who based it on the French tricolour.The green represents the older Gaelic tradition while the orange represents the supporters of William of Orange. The white in the centre signifies a lasting truce between the ‘Orange‘ and the ‘Green.‘ It was not until the Rising of 1916, when it was raised above the General Post Office in Dublin, that the tricolour came to be regarded as the national flag.It is now enshrined in the Constitution of Ireland. Includes guidlines for use of the National Flag. Department of the Taoiseach

The Harp The Harp is exclusively an emblem of the State at home and abroad. It is always used by Government Departments and Offices. It also appears on all Irish coins. The Harp is engraved on the seal of office of the President and it is also on the flag of the President of Ireland where it appears as a gold harp with silver strings on blue (azure). Department of the Taoiseach

National Anthem The National Anthem, called The Soldier’s Song was written in 1907 by Peadar Kearney, an uncle of Brendan Behan. It was first published in the newspaper, Irish Freedom in 1912, but was not widely known until it was sung at the GPO during the Easter Rising of 1916. The chorus was formally adopted as the National Anthem in 1926. Includes words in Irish and English, as well as sheet music (pdf) and sound file (requires Real Audio). Department of the Taoiseach

A Guide to Irish Culture on the web

A Guide to Irish Culture
on the web