Ireland

Fülszöveg

What gives Ireland its charm? What is it that makes this verdant island, the land of the shamrock and one of the last intact corners of natural beauty in old Europe, so unique? The images and words in this book attempt to delve into the roots of the enchantment that makes Ireland one of the best loved places in Europe. George Bernard Shaw called it "the land of dreams," while Yeats extolled it as "the land of heart's desire." These descriptions provide an initial interpretation of the intriguing beauty of Ireland, its almost surreal, imaginary, fantastical dimension. And yet, when one comes to Ireland and discovers it as it really is, the country of dreams and imagination manages to coincide perfectly with the real country. Perhaps it is because here more than anywhere else, reality is imbued with myths and legends, thus becoming an ideal background for the adventures of fairies, heroes, elves and sprites. Perhaps it is due to its ancient history, written by saints, Celtic icings... Tovább

Fülszöveg

What gives Ireland its charm? What is it that makes this verdant island, the land of the shamrock and one of the last intact corners of natural beauty in old Europe, so unique? The images and words in this book attempt to delve into the roots of the enchantment that makes Ireland one of the best loved places in Europe. George Bernard Shaw called it "the land of dreams," while Yeats extolled it as "the land of heart's desire." These descriptions provide an initial interpretation of the intriguing beauty of Ireland, its almost surreal, imaginary, fantastical dimension. And yet, when one comes to Ireland and discovers it as it really is, the country of dreams and imagination manages to coincide perfectly with the real country. Perhaps it is because here more than anywhere else, reality is imbued with myths and legends, thus becoming an ideal background for the adventures of fairies, heroes, elves and sprites. Perhaps it is due to its ancient history, written by saints, Celtic icings and Viking warriors. Or perhaps it is the taste for music and poetry that gives the Irish the souls of bards. A historic and literary Ireland coexists with an everyday Ireland that still speaks the mysterious Gaelic tongue, that continues to play the same Irish music that was played in medieval times, that places images of timeless rural life alongside a myriad of beautiful old monuments. Castles, monasteries and abbeys, as well as dolmens, menhirs and prehistoric burial mounds, materialize in solitary splendour throughout the countryside, along with brightly-coloured villages, tranquil lakes, lonely coasts, the ever-changing weather, the sea. But Ireland is also harmoniously elegant cities and small towns where nothing ever seems to change. The magic of Ireland is all of this: its natural beauty, its history, its people. Vissza