When you think of Ireland, what comes to mind first? Cuisine? Scenic views? Or science? Perhaps you are not very familiar with the fact that on the world stage, Ireland represents many nations; from sports to business to the arts, Ireland has consistently held a prominent position in many fields. This is one of the main reasons attracting people from various countries to immigrate to Ireland. Next, let the editors at Worldway introduce a few key points.
1. Conquering Hollywood
At the 2016 Academy Awards, Irish cinema performed remarkably well, with two films nominated for Best Picture and Saoirse Ronan nominated for Best Actress. That night, Ben Cleary won the Oscar for Best Live Action Short with his film Stutterer. For a country, competing with the powerful Hollywood is indeed a noble achievement.
2. Noteworthy Science
Have you heard of Kelvins? It is a unit for measuring temperature, named after an Irishman, Lord Kelvin. Or have you heard of Ellen Hutchins? She was Ireland's first female botanist and could identify hundreds of new species, with many plants named in her honor. From the discovery of a cure for leprosy (Vincent Barry) to the invention of color photography (John Joly), it is certain that Irish scientists have made significant contributions to the world.
3. Sports Under the Green
Irish rugby has been in the spotlight for some time, but it is not the only sport where Ireland shines on the international stage. Carl Frampton is the national boxing champion, David Harte was recently awarded the world's best goalkeeper in field hockey, and Leona Maguire from Cavan is one of the best amateur golfers in the world.
4. Enthralled by Rock Music
U2 is one of the largest bands in the world, having sold over 150 million records, and celebrated their 40th anniversary in 2016. Achieving such status in the industry is not easy, as most others are just fleeting moments of fame.
5. Stylish Design
Although Ireland is a small country and lacks the space to build skyscrapers like the Empire State Building, it does not mean that Ireland has overlooked the design of impressive architecture.
From world-class sports venues like the Aviva Stadium to the innovative central bank designed by Sam Stephenson in 1975, the architecture is not widely popular but adheres well to the Brutalist style. It utilizes a suspension system supported by a dual core structure.
6. Top-tier Higher Education
In fact, Ireland has reached top levels in higher education within the European Union. More than half of those aged 30-34 hold higher education qualifications, reaching 51.1%, while the average in Europe is only 35.8%. According to education sources, by 2014, 169,254 individuals had attained higher education levels, of which 93,023 were university students.
7. Celebrated Literary Figures
Ireland is unmatched, with four Nobel Laureates in Literature—Shaw, Yeats, Beckett, and Heaney. This can rival countries like the United States, which has 13 Nobel Literature prizes, given its population is over 60 times that of Ireland.
According to the BBC, Seamus Heaney is one of the most renowned poets in the English language, with his books accounting for two-thirds of all sales of living poets' works published in Britain at one point.