Ireland, a country where the people are welcoming, funny and proud of their Irishness. A country where the land is marked by a strong history. To discover it, you have to go to the corners of the island, to the most outlying villages and discover the green nature: moors, forests, vast plains reign there.
Population and social life
Céad mile fàilte!
This Gaelic expression means “a hundred thousand welcomes” in English. That’s how you are welcomed in Dublin! And yes, the Irish are very welcoming, sociable and funny people. For them, it is very important to communicate and to be kind.
School
The school year starts at the end of August or beginning of September and ends at the end of May. A school day ends at 3.45 p.m. and a lesson lasts on average 40 minutes. There is no school on Saturdays and many students do not have classes on Wednesday afternoons (this information may vary by school).
Schools offer sports, social and cultural programs during/after school or during weekends. Schools offer a wide range of activities from basketball, football and gymnastics to drama, debates and exhibitions.
The majority of schools in Ireland are single-sex and run by religious people. However, it is possible to opt out of religious education by applying to AFS.
Language
2 official languages: English and Irish!
Irish is a compulsory language in schools. However, it is not widely used in everyday life. The Irish communicate mainly in English.
Food
On the menu:
Savoury and sweet breakfast: sausages, tomatoes, baked beans, eggs, Black Pudding or Drisheen or Porridge.
Meals: local produce, meat, fish, vegetables, honey cheese… and traditional dishes such as Shepherd’s Pie (mashed potatoes, beef, carrots and peas), Irish Stew and Scones (raisin-based cake).
Some dishes are made with beer (Guinness) or whiskey, such as whiskey pudding.
Enjoy your meal!
