Apart from its preponderance of early Celtic art and the distinctive art, design and architecture from the early Christian period, other aspects of Ireland's heritage set it apart from almost all other countries and peoples. But not from everyone, for Ireland shares much of her Gaelic art and culture with Scotland. Indeed for many centuries, contact between the northern regions of Antrim and Donegal and Scotland, particularly with the Western Isles and Kintyre, was almost on a day-to-day basis.

In broad outline, and despite many regional variations, these two peoples share a common Gaelic language, unique to them both. Their music and dance also have many similarities, though again there are exceptions as in general Irish music is less plaintive and more spontaneously joyous than its northerly counterpart.

Irish Music and Dance

In recent years Irish traditional music has found favour overseas, not just among Irish communities in America and Australia but also in mainland Europe, an area with no obviously Irish connections. This international recognition has benefited Irish music as, while there has always been a perfectly understandable tendency towards modernisation, the improved level of understanding abroad has also led to a demand for greater authenticity and accuracy at home, and to better musical training and improved playing skills.  This in turn has had a very positive effect on both overall quality and availability.

Boozy ballad sessions, popular in the '60s and '70s, have given way to serious, almost learned, and polished performances and to an impressive level of dexterity and competence. It is now possible to hear serious Irish music almost everywhere, though perhaps not every night, and finding the 'real thing' will well repay any time spent on research.

Particularly Irish instruments are the Udhlain Pipes, a variation of the bagpipes (in Ireland called the War Pipes) similar to the Galuego pipes of Northern Spain; the bodhran, a single-sided goatskin drum, and the tin whistle, though the violin (fiddle) and accordion are both widely used and authentic. Irish musicians are both adaptable and dextrous in the best Bardic tradition: most play several instruments and can sing (and sing well) in addition. As in Scotland, song, particularly the unaccompanied voice, is considered the pinnacle of musical achievement but unfortunately its merits and meaning are not always easily understood by others.

Irish dancing takes place to musical accompaniment. In most dances the upper body is held stiffly, almost woodenly, with the arms by the side while the legs and feet seem to run away with themselves in a separate, supercharged existence.

Staying in an Irish country house is incomplete unless you listen to Irish music at least once during your stay. Most owners will be able to recommend a suitable venue during your stay, and some will even be able to arrange a 'session' in the house, even for comparatively small groups.

Irish Sport

Ireland also has its own uniquely Irish sports; hurling, Gaelic football and, to a lesser extent, handball and road bowling. The first three are, or were, for handball has rather fallen from favour in recent years, regulated by the GAA, the Gaelic Athletic Association, a country-wide club with a branch in every parish, who compete on county (inter parish), provincial (inter county) and all-Ireland (inter-provincial) levels.

Visitors do not necessarily need to book tickets for the big game if they want excitement, since there is a hurling or football match in every locality most weekends, and indeed on most evenings during the summer. Inter-team rivalry is intense and all games are fought with determination, vigour and skill.

Road bowling, popular throughout County Cork, in parts of the neighbouring counties of Waterford, Tipperary and Limerick, and in Armagh at the opposite end of the country, takes place on minor public roads, usually at weekends or on summer evenings.