Small Irish Villages

Ireland has several distinct regional cultures rather than a single national one; moreover, the daily lives of city dwellers are, in some ways, much different from those living in the countryside.

For example, whereas Dublin is one of Europe’s most cosmopolitan cities, the Blasket Islands of Dingle Bay, off Ireland’s southwestern coast, seems almost a throwback to earlier centuries. The Irish maintain a vibrant and lively folk culture.

Many engage in a variety of craft-based industries, producing items such as glass, ceramics, ironwork, wood-turning, linens, embroidery, and knitwear.

The Irish pub serves as a focal point for many small villages and urban neighborhoods, a place where the great Irish passion for conversation, stories, and jokes.