133-522: Féile an Phobail ( The Community's Festival ), also known as the West Belfast Festival is a community arts organisation known for its August Féile (Festival). The organisation is prominent for its promotion of Irish and international culture. The festival takes place on and around Falls Road in Belfast , Northern Ireland. The festival was established in 1988 as a direct response to
266-681: A Royal British Legion poppy appeal, Irish Blood for Life 2004 and did an advertisement for Galway 's Irish Water Safety campaign. They also lent their support to the Irish Blood Transfusion Service (IBTS). On 4 November 2005, they performed with other music artists at the Coca-Cola Dome in Johannesburg , South Africa for The "Unite of the Stars" Gala Banquet charity concert that supports four charities:
399-774: A chosen theme, dancers and children in costume and face-masks. It has grown from a one-week festival to a year-round programme with many events. It established the first ever children's arts festival in Northern Ireland, the Draíocht Children's Arts Festival , with activities ranging from sports to multi-cultural and educational events through both Irish and English. In 2003, 6,000 children and young people participated in Draíocht events. The festival also has its own radio station, Féile FM . The station initially broadcast across Belfast for two one-month periods in
532-570: A concert from the tour live from Dublin was released on 19 November 2001. On 12 November 2001, Westlife released their third album World of Our Own , peaking at No. 1 in the UK and Ireland. " Uptown Girl " (their first single to be on the List of million-selling singles in the United Kingdom ), " Queen of My Heart " and " World of Our Own " were released as singles, all of which peaked at No. 1 in
665-558: A concert from the tour, live from Sheffield , was released in November 2005. In October 2005, Westlife released the single " You Raise Me Up ", which became their thirteenth number 1 single. It was taken from their sixth album Face to Face which also peaked at No. 1 in the UK. " You Raise Me Up " was awarded as their fourth Record of the Year in the UK. In December of that year, the group released " When You Tell Me That You Love Me ",
798-552: A drinking session where the person drank six or more standard units (which equates to three or more pints of beer). This meets the Health Service Executive 's definition of binge drinking. Sport on the island of Ireland is popular and widespread. A wide variety of sports are played throughout the island, with the most popular being Gaelic football , hurling , soccer , rugby union , and golf . Four sports account for over 80% of event attendance: Gaelic football
931-449: A duet with Diana Ross , as the second single. It debuted and peaked at No. 2. The third single from the album, " Amazing ", peaked at No. 4. Westlife embarked on the " Face to Face Tour ", traveling extensively to the UK, Ireland, Australia, and Asia. The group performed 32 shows and recorded 238,718 attendances. A recording of a concert from the tour, live from Wembley Arena, was released in November 2006. In late 2006, Westlife signed
1064-583: A fourth single was released, the double a-side " I Have A Dream "/" Seasons in the Sun ". It was the 1999 UK Christmas number-one single and their fourth No. 1 single. They are one of only five acts to achieve four number ones in the UK Singles Chart in one calendar year. The fifth and final single from the album, " Fool Again ", also peaked at No. 1. With this, they became the only male band to have every single release from an album that reached No. 1 in
1197-486: A funeral procession (see Corporals killings ). The community of west Belfast came under intense media scrutiny and was described by the British Broadcasting Corporation as a "terrorist community". Seeing this portrayal of his community as negative, misleading and damaging, Gerry Adams gathered a small amount of friends and various local groups to organise a community festival. Its purpose
1330-717: A large stake in the cable company Chorus , and indirectly controlling The Sunday Tribune . The Independent titles are perceived by many Irish republicans as having a pro-British stance. In parallel to this, the Independent titles are perceived by many opposition supporters as being pro Fianna Fáil . The Irish magazine market is one of the world's most competitive, with hundreds of international magazines available in Ireland, ranging from Time and The Economist to Hello! and Reader's Digest . This means that domestic titles find it very hard to retain readership. Among
1463-459: A new agro-alimentary system of intensive grain-based agriculture and led to large areas of land being turned over to grain production. The potato was introduced into Ireland in the second half of the 16th century, as a result of the Columbian exchange , initially as a garden crop; it eventually came to serve as the main food field crop of the tenant and labouring classes, which formed a majority of
SECTION 10
#17327724852041596-460: A new album deal through Warner Music UK and East West Records . They performed on a BBC Radio 2 event on Ulster Hall , Belfast on 25 August 2021 that was broadcast on 10 September 2021. " Starlight ", the lead single from their twelfth studio album, was released on 14 October 2021. The album, Wild Dreams , was released on 26 November 2021. On 29 October 2021, a new schedule for their renamed fourteenth concert tour, The Wild Dreams Tour ,
1729-578: A new five-album deal with Sony BMG Music Entertainment . Their seventh album, The Love Album was a concept album that consisted of popular love song covers. The album debuted at No. 1 in both the UK and Ireland. It was the top-selling album of 2006 in Ireland. The only single from The Love Album , " The Rose ", became their 14th UK No. 1 single. Westlife kicked off their eighth world tour, " The Love Tour ", in Perth , Australia. The group then went on to other Australian cities before moving on to South Africa,
1862-431: A picture of the group's first rehearsals together in six years. " Hello My Love ", their first single since 2011 was released on 10 January 2019. Their first UK performance in seven years and of the single was on The Graham Norton Show on 11 January 2019. They also performed the single on the 24th National Television Awards on 22 January 2019. Their first Irish performance and television appearance together
1995-478: A pop vocal group called Six as One in 1997, which they later renamed IOYOU . The group, managed by choreographer Mary McDonagh and two other informal managers, released a single titled "Together Girl Forever" under Sound Records. McDonagh first encountered Egan as a six-year-old student at her weekly dance classes and came to know Filan and Feehily in their early teens as they starred in shows such as Oliver! and Godspell for Sligo Fun Company. Louis Walsh ,
2128-405: A popular phenomenon amongst young people in Ireland during the celtic tiger years. Clubs usually vary in terms of the type of music played, and the target audience. Belfast has a unique underground club scene taking place in settings such as churches, zoos, and crematoriums. The underground scene is mainly orchestrated by DJ Christopher McCafferty . A significant recent change to pub culture in
2261-576: A reconstructed version is celebrated by some across the globe. Ireland is a place where religion and religious practice have long been held in high esteem. The majority of people on the island are Roman Catholics ; however, there are significant Protestant and Orthodox minorities. Protestants are mostly concentrated in Northern Ireland , where they long made up a plurality of the population. The three main Protestant denominations on
2394-490: A relaxed atmosphere; similar to the café cultures of other countries. Many modern pubs, not necessarily traditional, still emulate traditional pubs, only perhaps substituting traditional music for a DJ or non-traditional live music. Many larger pubs in cities eschew such trappings entirely, opting for loud music, and focusing more on the consumption of drinks, which is not a focus of traditional Irish culture. Such venues are popular "pre-clubbing" locations. " Clubbing " has become
2527-449: A rock idiom to form a unique new sound. During the 1970s and 1980s, the distinction between traditional and rock and pop musicians became blurred, with many individuals regularly crossing over between these styles of playing as a matter of course. This trend can be seen more recently in the work of bands like U2 , Snow Patrol , The Cranberries , The Undertones and The Corrs , and individual artists such as Enya . Irish and English are
2660-472: A scheme to assault prisoners' senses". Outside the UK and Ireland, they gained chart success with " I Lay My Love on You " and " When You're Looking Like That ". They were included in the top ten earners list of all acts in the UK and Ireland and sold over 2.5 million units in the Asia Pacific region . In February 2001, they began their first world tour, " Where Dreams Come True Tour ". A recording of
2793-476: A similar fashion to the Western world. In addition to Irish food, meals eaten in Ireland may include pizza, curry and Chinese food, with some west African dishes making an appearance lately. Supermarket shelves now contain ingredients for, among others, traditional, Polish, Mexican, Indian and Chinese dishes. The proliferation of fast food has led to increasing public health problems including obesity , and one of
SECTION 20
#17327724852042926-630: A single team representing the island of Ireland in international competitions. A few sports, such as soccer, have separate organising bodies in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland . Traditionally, those in the North who identify as Irish, predominantly Catholics and nationalists, support the Republic of Ireland team. At the Olympics, a person from Northern Ireland can choose to represent either
3059-461: A split, Westlife released their first greatest hits album in November of that same year titled Unbreakable - The Greatest Hits Vol. 1 , which peaked at No. 1 in the UK and Ireland. During this time, Westlife achieved a Guinness World Record for most public appearances by a pop group in 36 hours. The band made stop-offs in five different cities ( Dublin , Belfast , Edinburgh , London , and Manchester ) to promote their then-new album. The release
3192-474: A status for Celtic women in ancient times somewhat different from many other cultures of the period. According to the tales, the leprechaun is a mischievous fairy type creature in emerald green clothing who when not playing tricks spend all their time busily making shoes; he is said to have a pot of gold hidden at the end of the rainbow and if ever captured by a human has the magical power to grant three wishes in exchange for release. There are also tales of
3325-731: A strong sense of loyalty to their native county, a loyalty which also often has its clearest expression on the sports field. With the Tudor Elizabethan English conquest in the 16th-17th centuries, the Cromwellian conquest of Ireland , and the organized plantations of English Tudor, and later Scottish, colonists, the Scottish confined to what's now mostly Northern Ireland, the patterns of land ownership in Ireland were altered greatly. The old order of transhumance and open range cattle breeding died out to be replaced by
3458-540: A structure of great landed estates, small tenant farmers with more or less precarious hold on their leases, and a mass of landless labourers. This situation continued up to the end of the 19th century, when the agitation of the Land League began to bring about land reform. In this process of reform, the former tenants and labourers became land owners, with the great estates being broken up into small- and medium-sized farms and smallholdings. The process continued well into
3591-505: A variety of social traditions. Pubs vary widely according to the clientele they serve, and the area they are in. Best known, and loved amongst tourists is the traditional pub, with its traditional Irish music (or "trad music") often performed live, tavern-like warmness, memorabilia and traditional Irish ornamentation. Often such pubs will also serve Irish food, particularly during the day. Typically pubs are important meeting places, where people can gather and meet their neighbours and friends in
3724-704: Is a de facto official language, with Ulster English being common. In 2022, the Irish language received official language status in Northern Ireland as a result of the Identity and Language (Northern Ireland) Act , with Ulster Scots receiving minority language status. In addition, these languages have recognition under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages, with 8.1% claiming some ability in Ulster Scots and 10.7% in Irish. In addition,
3857-472: Is also widely known, and both were redefined in the 1950s. In the middle years of the 20th century, as Irish society was attempting to modernise, traditional Irish music fell out of favour to some extent, especially in urban areas. Young people at this time tended to look to Britain and, particularly, the United States as models of progress and jazz and rock and roll became extremely popular. During
3990-545: Is notable for the numerous parades organised by the Orange Order which take place throughout Northern Ireland. These parades are colourful affairs with Orange Banners and sashes on display and include music in the form of traditional songs such as " The Sash " and " Derry's Walls " performed by a mixture of pipe, flute, accordion, and brass marching bands. The Twelfth remains controversial as many in Northern Ireland's large and majority- nationalist Catholic community see
4123-634: Is often blamed on the ever-increasing prices, or whether it is a "good thing" or a "bad thing". A similar ban, under the Smoking (Northern Ireland) Order 2006, came into effect in Northern Ireland on 30 April 2007. National and international organisations have labelled Ireland as having a problem with over-consumption of alcohol. In the late 1980s alcohol consumption accounted for nearly 25% of all hospital admissions. While this figure has been decreasing steadily, as of 2007, approximately 13% of overall hospital admissions were alcohol related. In 2003, Ireland had
Féile an Phobail - Misplaced Pages Continue
4256-525: Is the most popular sport in Ireland in terms of match attendance and community involvement, and represents 34% of total sports attendances at events in the Republic of Ireland and abroad, followed by hurling at 23%, soccer at 16% and rugby at 8%. and the All-Ireland Football Final is the most watched event in Ireland's sporting calendar. Swimming, golf, aerobics, soccer, cycling, Gaelic football, and billiards, pool and snooker, are
4389-467: Is the most popular sport involving national teams. The success of the Ireland team at the 1990 FIFA World Cup saw 500,000 fans in Dublin to welcome the team home. The team's song " Put 'Em Under Pressure " topped the Irish charts for 13 weeks. In Ireland most sports, including rugby union, Gaelic football, hurling and handball, cycling and golf, are organised on an all-island basis, with, where relevant,
4522-627: Is the only one of the three main Northern Irish dailies that has a Sunday publication which is called the Sunday Life. Apart from this all the main UK wide Sunday papers such as The Sun on Sunday are widely available as are some Irish papers such as the Sunday world. There are quite a large number of local weekly newspapers both North and South, with most counties and large towns having two or more newspapers. Curiously Dublin remains one of
4655-479: Is traced through Bronze Age artefacts, particularly ornamental gold objects, and the Celtic brooches and illuminated manuscripts of the "Insular" Early Medieval period. During the course of the 19th and 20th centuries, a strong indigenous tradition of painting emerged, including such figures as John Butler Yeats , William Orpen , Jack Yeats and Louis le Brocquy . The Irish tradition of folk music and dance
4788-628: The Irish Sun , and the Irish language Lá Nua . The best selling of these is the Irish Independent, which is published in both tabloid and broadsheet form. The Irish Times is Ireland's newspaper of record . The Sunday market is quite saturated with many British publications. The leading Sunday newspaper in terms of circulation is The Sunday Independent . Other popular papers include The Sunday Times , The Sunday Tribune , The Sunday Business Post , Ireland on Sunday and
4921-660: The Sunday World . In Northern Ireland the three main daily newspapers are The News Letter , which is Unionist in outlook, The Irish News , mainly Nationalist in outlook and the Belfast Telegraph . Also widely available are the Northern Irish versions of the main UK wide daily newspapers and some Scottish dailies such as the Daily Record . In terms of Sunday papers the Belfast Telegraph
5054-893: The Afro-Cuban All Stars , the Harlem Gospel Choir , Westlife and Status Quo . Local poets and writers have read their works on the same podium as renowned authors such as Patrick Mc Cabe , Roddy Doyle and Evelyn Conlon . The festival has hosted the works of Ireland's leading playwrights and theatre companies, and has been the launching pad for world premiers, such as Frank McGuinness 's Someone Who'll Watch Over Me and Marie Jones ' A Night in November by Dubbeljoint Productions . The discussion and debates have included talks by world-class journalists and documentary makers including Robert Fisk ( The Independent ), Michael Moore (Oscar Winner) and have witnessed Gregory Campbell ( Democratic Unionist Party ) on
5187-676: The Fianna , from the Fenian cycle , and Cuchulain from the Ulster Cycle , along with some of the High Kings. Legend has it that Fionn mac Cumhaill built the Giant's Causeway as a line of stepping-stones to Scotland, not to get his feet wet while seeking to fight an ugly Scottish giant. He also is said to have once scooped up part of Ireland to fling it at a rival, but it missed and landed in
5320-653: The Great Britain team or the Ireland team. Also as Northern Ireland is a Home Nation of the United Kingdom it also sends a Northern Ireland Team to the Commonwealth Games every four years. In the Republic of Ireland there are several daily newspapers, including the Irish Independent , The Irish Examiner , The Irish Times , The Star , The Evening Herald , Daily Ireland ,
5453-781: The Irish Sea – the clump becoming the Isle of Man , a pebble Rockall , and the void left behind filling as Lough Neagh . The Irish king Brian Boru who ended the domination of the so-called High Kingship of Ireland by the Uí Néill , is part of the historical cycle. The Irish princess Iseult is the adulterous lover of Tristan in the Arthurian romance and tragedy Tristan and Iseult . The many legends of ancient Ireland were captured by many collators, including Lady Gregory in two volumes with forewords by W. B. Yeats . These stories depict
Féile an Phobail - Misplaced Pages Continue
5586-532: The Irish breakfast and potato bread , have enjoyed a resurgence. Schools like the Ballymaloe Cookery School have emerged to cater for the associated increased interest in cooking with traditional ingredients. Pub culture term refers to the habit amongst Irish people of frequenting public houses (pubs). It extends beyond mere alcohol consumption (upon which it is not dependent), encompassing
5719-704: The Nelson Mandela Children's Fund , Unite Against Hunger, St. Mary's Hospital and the Topsy Foundation. They also performed live for charity on Sport Relief , Macmillan Cancer Support , Croí, Western Alzheimer's , O'Dwyer Cheshire Home, Mayo Cancer Support Group, Marie Keating Foundation , Outward Bound Trust, ChildLine , Children in Need , Sheffield 's Children Hospital. They had also helped for auctions on Meningitis Research Foundation, Carlton Celebrity Auction for Centrepoint (for
5852-632: The Nobel Prize for Literature ; William Butler Yeats , George Bernard Shaw , Samuel Beckett and Seamus Heaney . Three of the four Nobel prize winners were born in Dublin (Heaney being the exception, having lived in Dublin but being born in County Londonderry ), making it the birthplace of more Nobel literary laureates than any other city in the world. The Irish language has the third oldest literature in Europe (after Greek and Latin ),
5985-750: The Roman Catholic Church , and religion plays a significant role in the lives of many Irish people. Today, there are often notable cultural differences between those of Catholic , Protestant and Orthodox background. References to God can be found in spoken Irish, notably exemplified by the Irish equivalent of “Hello” — “Dia dhuit” ( literally : "God be with you"). Irish culture has Celtic , Danish , Norwegian , Swedish , French and Spanish influences. It also has British influences, primarily due to over eight centuries of British rule in Ireland , which suppressed numerous aspects of Irish culture. The Vikings first invaded Ireland in
6118-613: The Scottish Singles Chart . It also peaked at number forty-six in the Irish Singles Chart. On 17 October 2018, Westlife announced The Twenty Tour and said: "Every country that wants to see Westlife will see us at some point. We won't step away from this until we've managed to tour the world." The second day of the tour in Croke Park had a live film broadcast in selected cinemas on 6 July 2019. This
6251-590: The Unbreakable Tour . A recording of a concert from the tour in Manchester was released in November 2003. In September 2003, Westlife released " Hey Whatever ", which peaked at No. 4 in the UK. Their fourth studio album, Turnaround , was released in November 2003, earning the group another No. 1 album in the UK and Ireland. " Mandy ", was released a week before the album and became the band's twelfth No. 1 single. It also won them their third Record of
6384-659: The Vatican City and a private concert for the Pope. Their second studio album Coast to Coast received additional products, mostly in Asia, that included MRT transport ticket, picture card calendar, postcard set, signed fold-out poster, glossy slipcase and Filofax . They received sponsorship from Tayto in 2000 and for their concert tours from Calvin Klein in 2001, Adidas in 2002, and Volkswagen in 2011. A book written by
6517-613: The Warner Brothers film, Pokémon: The Movie 2000 . Their first album, simply titled Westlife , was released in November 1999 and went to No. 2 in the UK and No. 1 in Ireland. The album was the biggest chart dropper on the Top 40 in UK music history when in its 58th week on the charts it leaped from No. 79 to No. 3 before falling to No. 37 the following week. In Scotland, the album debuted at number 6 in 1999 but subsequently peaked at number one year later in 2001. In December 1999,
6650-613: The World Music Awards , where they were recognized as the Best Irish Act of that year. They then released a Rat Pack -inspired album, their fifth album ...Allow Us to Be Frank , which peaked at number 3. No singles from this album were released in the UK, but the track " Ain't That a Kick in the Head? " had a music video produced and was released as a physical single in other European countries. " Smile " and " Fly Me to
6783-459: The art , music , dance , folklore , traditional clothing , language , literature , cuisine and sport associated with Ireland and the Irish people . For most of its recorded history, the country’s culture has been primarily Gaelic (see Gaelic Ireland ). Strong family values , wit and an appreciation for tradition are commonly associated with Irish culture. Irish culture has been greatly influenced by Christianity , most notably by
SECTION 50
#17327724852046916-407: The dialect and accent of the people of Northern Ireland is noticeably different from that of the majority in the Republic of Ireland, being influenced by Ulster Scots and Northern Ireland's proximity to Scotland. Several other languages are spoken on the island, including Shelta , a mixture of Irish, Romani and English, spoken widely by Travellers . Two sign languages have also been developed on
7049-542: The otherworld became thin, and the dead would revisit the mortal world. In Ireland, traditional Halloween customs include; Guising – children disguised in costume going from door to door requesting food or coins – which became practice by the late 19th century, turnips hollowed-out and carved with faces to make lanterns, holding parties where games such as apple bobbing are played. Other practices in Ireland include lighting bonfires , and having firework displays. Mass transatlantic Irish and Scottish immigration in
7182-475: The pooka and banshees , among others. Halloween is a traditional and much celebrated holiday in Ireland on the night of 31 October. Supposedly the first evidence of the word halloween is found in a 16th-century Scottish document as a shortening for All-Hallows-Eve , and according to some historians it has its roots in the gaelic festival Samhain , where the Gaels believed the border between this world and
7315-638: The 1960s, and inspired by the American folk music movement, there was a revival of interest in the Irish tradition. This revival was inspired by groups like The Dubliners , the Clancy Brothers and Sweeney's Men and individuals like Seán Ó Riada . The annual Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann is the largest festival of Irish music in Ireland. Groups and musicians like Horslips , Van Morrison and even Thin Lizzy incorporated elements of traditional music into
7448-585: The 19th century popularised Halloween in North America. For a comparatively small place, the island of Ireland has made a disproportionately large contribution to world literature in all its branches, in both the Irish and English languages. The island's most widely known literary works are undoubtedly in English. Particularly famous examples of such works are those of James Joyce , Bram Stoker , Jonathan Swift , Oscar Wilde and Ireland's four winners of
7581-497: The 20th century with the work of the Irish Land Commission . This contrasted with Britain, where many of the big estates were left intact. One consequence of this is the widely recognised cultural phenomenon of "land hunger" amongst the new class of Irish farmer. In general, this means that farming families will do almost anything to retain land ownership within the family unit, with the greatest ambition possible being
7714-452: The 21st century in UK. On 14 March 2011, Westlife confirmed that they had left Cowell after 13 years and his record label Syco Music after nine years. Byrne said of Cowell: "he got so busy [...] and we needed someone who was on it all the time." After going back to RCA Records full-time for a one-year album contract, they announced their Greatest Hits album would be released on 21 November 2011. It debuted at No. 1 in Ireland and No. 4 in
7847-411: The 21st century with 10.74 million albums sold in the UK alone. On 14 November 2010, the single " Safe " was released. It debuted on the UK Singles Chart on 21 November at No. 10. The album Gravity was released on 22 November 2010. It was entirely produced by John Shanks . The album went to No. 1 in Ireland and No. 3 in the UK. This is their ninth No. 1 in Ireland; this album made Westlife one of
7980-505: The 8th century, from Denmark , Norway and Sweden in modern-day Scandinavia . They had a significant influence on Ireland’s material culture at the time. The Normans invaded Ireland in the 12th century, bringing British and French influences. Additionally, Irish Travellers have had some influence on the broader cultural tapestry of Ireland, introducing nomadic traditions and other cultural practices. In recent decades, Ireland has also to some degree been influenced by migration from
8113-786: The Backstreet Boys livestream concert on the same platform on 24 June 2022. On 14 August 2023, Westlife announced their first ever tour dates in Canada and the United States. They performed in Toronto, Boston, New York City, and Chicago in March 2024. On 12 April, Westlife announced the With Love Tour. Westlife's debut album and single coincided with the apogee of boy band popularity. They had album certifications in Brazil, Mexico,
SECTION 60
#17327724852048246-517: The Bank . During the August 15, 2021 event, DUP councilors called for public funding to be stopped due to pro-IRA chanting during The Wolfe Tones performance. Féile an Phobail runs numerous festivals throughout the year. Among the festivals are: Féile an Phobail has rostered national and international acts to perform with local musicians, catering for all tastes in dancing and music: from Irish traditional music to world music and pop . Notable acts include Altan , Brian Kennedy , Mary Black ,
8379-501: The Christian denominations there are centres for Buddhists , Hindus , Baháʼís , Pagans and for people of the Islamic and Jewish faiths. In the 2021 Census, of those in the Republic of Ireland that stated their religious identity, 81.6% identified as Christian ; 68.8% as Roman Catholic, 4.2% as Protestant, 2.1% as Orthodox, 0.7% as other Christians, while 1.6% identified as Muslim , 0.7% as Hindu , 14.8% as having no religion and 7.1% not stating their religious identity. Amongst
8512-434: The Irish crop which consisted largely of a single variety, the Lumper . During the famine, approximately one million people died and a million more emigrated elsewhere. In the 21st century, the modern selection of foods common to Western cultures has also to some extent been adopted in Ireland. Both US fast food culture and continental European dishes have influenced the country, along with other world dishes introduced in
8645-468: The Moon " also had music videos produced. Prior to the release of the ...Allow Us to Be Frank album, Westlife scouted for "the perfect fan" to help promote the album. After X Factor -style auditions, they found Joanne Hindley, who recorded " The Way You Look Tonight " with the group. A television program documenting this process, She's The One , was presented by Kate Thornton . Westlife embarked on " The Number Ones Tour " in early 2005. A recording of
8778-501: The Philippines, and the United States as well. They had more than 50,000 official fans club members in mainland China alone in 2006. In 2009, "Flying Without Wings" was listed as the seventh most popular song for the wedding's first dances in the UK. In 2012, their version of "You Raise Me" and also "Flying Without Wings" made it to the top 20 most popular songs used at funerals. In 2016, three of their songs (" I'll See You Again ", "Flying Without Wings", and " You Raise Me Up ") made it on
8911-474: The Republic of Ireland has been the introduction of a smoking ban , in all workplaces, which includes pubs and restaurants. Ireland was the first country in the world to implement such a ban which was introduced on 29 March 2004. A majority of the population support the ban, including a significant percentage of smokers. Nevertheless, the atmosphere in pubs has changed greatly as a result, and debate continues on whether it has boosted or lowered sales, although this
9044-436: The Republic's Roman Catholics, weekly church attendance has declined sharply over the past few decades, from 87% in 1981, to 60% in 1998, to 30% in 2021. Still, this remains one of the higher attendance rates in Europe. The decline is said to be linked to reports of Catholic Church sexual abuse cases in Ireland . Highly respected in Ireland historically were the stories of heroes such as Fionn mac Cumhaill and his followers,
9177-688: The Republic, Century Radio , came on air in 1989. Westlife Westlife are an Irish pop group formed in Dublin in 1998. The group consists of members Shane Filan , Mark Feehily , Kian Egan , and Nicky Byrne . Brian McFadden was a member before leaving in March 2004. The group disbanded in 2012 after 14 years and later reunited in 2018. In Ireland, the group has 11 number-one albums, 16 number-one singles, and 34 top-fifty singles. They have sold over 55 million records and are holders of four Guinness World Records . Westlife has received numerous accolades including one World Music Award , two Brit Awards , four MTV Awards , and four Record of
9310-448: The Troubles , and specifically after the events of March 1988. The Special Air Service killed three Provisional Irish Republican Army members in Gibraltar . At one of the funerals of the three, an Ulster loyalist paramilitary attacked the funeral with grenades and pistols, killing three mourners (see Milltown Cemetery attack ). At the funeral of one of the mourners, two plainclothes British servicemen were killed when they drove into
9443-400: The UK, and Ireland. The tour grossed £1,031,033. On 5 November 2007, Westlife released their eighth album, Back Home , which contained nine new original songs and three cover songs. The album debuted at No. 1 in the UK and Ireland. It was also 2007's fifth biggest-selling album in the UK. The first single released from the album was " Home ", which peaked at No. 3 in the UK. " Us Against
9576-470: The UK. " Bop Bop Baby " was also released as a single and peaked at No. 5 in the UK. In 2002, Westlife went on their second world tour, the World of Our Own Tour. By the end of the year, IRMA awarded the band for 1 million units sold in Ireland. The group sold more than 12 million records in a span of three years. Westlife released their eleventh UK No. 1 single, " Unbreakable " in 2002. Amidst rumors of
9709-643: The UK. Afterward, Westlife signed to Arista Records for the North American release of their debut. "Swear It Again" peaked at No. 20 on the Billboard Hot 100 . On 1 July 2000, they were honored as Freemen of the Borough of Sligo. Coast to Coast , their second album, was released a year later and was their first No. 1 UK album, beating the Spice Girls' Forever album by a large margin;
9842-498: The UK. It was certified Gold in the UK and Platinum in Ireland. The second single from the album was " Better Man ". It reached number two on the UK Singles Sales Chart and Scottish Singles Chart. The third single, " Dynamite ", was released on 5 July 2019. The fourth single from the album, " My Blood ", was released on 25 October 2019. "My Blood" peaked at number ninety-six on the UK Singles Chart and at number six on
9975-461: The UK. The first single " Lighthouse " was released in November 2011. A follow-up promotional single " Beautiful World " was released the same month. The Greatest Hits Tour was announced on 18 October 2011, with dates in the UK confirmed for May 2012. Stereoboard reported that the tour sold out within minutes. The farewell tour consisted of eight dates in China and 33 in the UK and Ireland; in total,
10108-782: The World " was released as the second single and " Something Right " became the third single in Europe and the Asia Pacific region. On 15 December 2007, they premiered a two-hour show called The Westlife Show where they performed 10 of their songs, hosted by Holly Willoughby . They embarked on the Back Home Tour on 25 February 2008. This tour marked the first time that the group had traveled and performed in New Zealand, performing four sold-out shows in Auckland , Wellington , New Plymouth , and Christchurch . Westlife were
10241-509: The Year Awards . The group has released twelve studio albums: four as a five-piece and eight as a four-piece. They rose to fame with their debut international self-titled studio album, Westlife (1999). It was followed by Coast to Coast (2000), World of Our Own (2001), and Turnaround (2003). Following the departure of McFadden, the group released the cover albums ...Allow Us to Be Frank (2004) and The Love Album (2006),
10374-414: The Year award. " Mandy " is the single with the longest leap to the top (from No. 200 to No. 1) in UK music history. " Obvious " was released as the final single from the album, charting at No. 3. On 9 March 2004, just three weeks before embarking on their fourth world tour, McFadden left the group, citing a desire to spend more time with his family. McFadden's final public performance as part of Westlife
10507-519: The acquisition of additional land. Another is that hillwalkers in Ireland today are more constrained than their counterparts in Britain, as it is more difficult to agree rights of way with so many small farmers involved on a given route, rather than with just one landowner. Irish Travellers ( Shelta : Mincéirí ) are known for their historically nomadic lifestyle; residing in ornamented barrel top wagons, they would traverse predominantly rural areas of
10640-559: The albums Face to Face (2005), Back Home (2007), Where We Are (2009), and Gravity (2010), followed by an eight-year split. After reforming in 2018, the quartet released the studio albums Spectrum (2019) and Wild Dreams (2021). Kian Egan , Mark Feehily , and Shane Filan , all schoolmates at Summerhill College in Sligo , Ireland, participated in a school production of Grease with fellow Sligo men Derrick Lacey, Graham Keighron, and Michael Garrett. The sextet formed
10773-642: The band sold 489,694 tickets from the tour. On 19 October 2011, Westlife officially announced they were splitting following the tour. ITV commissioned a one-off music event titled Westlife: For the Last Time . Another show, The Westlife Show : Live , was broadcast on 1 November 2011. Following this, they were guests on The Late Late Show . They were honored at that time by the Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre (SECC) with four specially commissioned bar stools to mark 49 performances at
10906-409: The beginning of spring. St. Brigid’s Day is the only official public holiday named after a woman in Ireland. The Brigid's cross made from rushes represents a pre-Christian solar wheel. Other pre-Christian festivals, whose names survive as Irish month names, are Bealtaine (May), Lúnasa (August) and Samhain (November). The last is still widely observed as Halloween which is celebrated all over
11039-741: The best-selling Irish magazines are the RTÉ Guide , Ireland's Eye , Irish Tatler , VIP , Phoenix and In Dublin . The first known radio transmission in Ireland was a call to arms made from the General Post Office in O'Connell Street during the Easter Rising . The first official radio station on the island was 2BE Belfast , which began broadcasting in 1924. This was followed in 1926 by 2RN Dublin and 6CK Cork in 1927. 2BE Belfast later became BBC Radio Ulster and 2RN Dublin became RTÉ . The first commercial radio station in
11172-416: The century saw the emergence of a new Irish cuisine based on traditional ingredients handled in new ways. This cuisine is based on fresh vegetables, fish, especially salmon and trout , oysters and other shellfish, traditional soda bread , the wide range of hand-made cheeses that are now being made across the country, and, of course, the potato. Traditional dishes, such as the Irish stew , Dublin coddle ,
11305-465: The chart battle was widely reported by British media . It became the country's 4th biggest-selling album of 2000. This is their second No. 1 album in Ireland. The album was preceded by the duet with Mariah Carey " Against All Odds (Take a Look at Me Now) " and the original song " My Love " (their second Record of the Year award). Both singles reached No. 1 on the UK charts, their sixth and seventh number ones respectively. With this, Westlife broke
11438-667: The concept of the Trinity by showing people the shamrock , a 3-leaved clover, using it to highlight the Christian belief of 'three divine persons in the one God'. In Northern Ireland The Twelfth of July, or Orangemen's Day, commemorates William III 's victory at the Battle of the Boyne . A public holiday , it is celebrated by Irish Protestants, in particular Ulster Protestants , the vast majority of whom live in Northern Ireland. It
11571-431: The countryside. Christmas in Ireland has several local traditions. On 26 December ( St. Stephen's Day ), there is a custom of " Wrenboys " who call door to door with an arrangement of assorted material (which changes in different localities) to represent a dead wren "caught in the furze", as their rhyme goes. The national holiday in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland is Saint Patrick's Day , that falls on
11704-401: The date 17 March and is marked by parades and festivals in cities and towns across the island of Ireland, and by the Irish diaspora around the world. The festival is in remembrance of Saint Patrick , the most significant of Ireland's three patron saints. Pious legend credits Patrick with the banishing of the snakes from the island, and the legend also credits Patrick with teaching the Irish about
11837-483: The few musical acts to have number-one albums in three consecutive decades (1990s, 2000s, 2010s) in their home country. In March 2011, they began their eleventh major concert tour, the Gravity Tour . This tour marked the first time the group traveled to Oman , Namibia , Guangzhou , and Vietnam for concerts. As of 2011, the group were the longest reigning band and second longest reigning number one music act in
11970-668: The few places in Ireland without a major local paper since the Dublin Evening Mail closed down in the 1960s. In 2004 the Dublin Daily was launched, but failed to attract enough readers to make it viable. One major criticism of the Republic of Ireland newspaper market is the strong position Independent News & Media has on the market. It controls the Evening Herald , Irish Independent , Sunday Independent , Sunday World and The Star as well as holding
12103-624: The first settlers of the island of Ireland after the last Ice Age were a new wave of cavemen and the Mesolithic period . In historic times, texts such as the Táin Bó Cúailinge show a society in which cows represented a primary source of wealth and status. Little of this had changed by the time of the Norman invasion of Ireland in the 12th century. Giraldus Cambrensis portrayed a Gaelic society in which cattle farming and transhumance
12236-509: The first week by a debut artist. Their second single, " If I Let You Go " was released in August 1999, which made them the first boy band to hit No. 1 with their first two singles. Their third single was " Flying Without Wings " (their first ' Record of the Year ' and their third No. 1 single), released in October of the same year. " Flying Without Wings " was also included on the soundtrack of
12369-480: The former Eastern Bloc . Due to large-scale emigration from Ireland, Irish culture has a wide reach in the world, and festivals such as Saint Patrick's Day ( Irish : Lá Fhéile Pádraig ) and Halloween (which finds its roots in the Gaelic festival Samhain ) are celebrated across much of the globe. Irish culture has to some extent been inherited and modified by the Irish diaspora , which in turn has influenced
12502-483: The gradual extension of English feudalism over the island, the Irish county structure came into existence and was completed in 1610. These structures are still of vital importance in the daily life of Irish communities. Apart from the religious significance of the parish, most rural postal addresses consist of house and townland names. The village and parish are key focal points around which sporting rivalries and other forms of local identity are built and most people feel
12635-460: The highest rates of heart disease in the world. In Ireland, the Full Irish has been particularly cited as being a major source for a higher incidence of cardiac problems, quoted as being a "heart attack on a plate" . All the ingredients are fried , although more recently the trend is to grill as many of the ingredients as possible. In tandem with these developments, the last quarter of
12768-505: The holiday, celebrating a victory over Catholics that ensured the continued establishment of a Protestant Ascendancy , as triumphalist, supremacist, and an assertion of British and Ulster Protestant dominance. The 1st of February, known as St. Brigid's Day (after St. Brigid, one of the patron saints of Ireland) or Imbolc , also does not have its origins in Christianity, being instead another religious observance superimposed at
12901-705: The home country. Moreover, the culture of Ireland is to some degree influenced by its native folklore and legends, such as those detailed in Lebor Gabála Érenn . As archaeological evidence from sites such as the Céide Fields in County Mayo and Lough Gur in County Limerick demonstrates, the farm in Ireland is an activity that goes back to the Neolithic , about 6,000 years ago. Before this,
13034-695: The homeless), the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children , and The Samaritans ), Zutto charity painting, Pushing The Envelope (for National Literacy Trust ). They've been involved also with the following organizations: Royal National Institute for the Deaf (RNID), Cancer Research UK , United Nations' World Food Programme (WFP), Muscle Help Foundation, Global Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign, and Real Man campaign. They are also included as ambassadors of The Irish Society for
13167-852: The island are the Anglican Church of Ireland , the Presbyterian Church in Ireland and the Methodist Church in Ireland . These are also joined by numerous other smaller denominations including Baptists , several American gospel groups and the Salvation Army . Orthodox Christianity also has a notable presence in Ireland, where it has been the fastest growing religion since 1991, largely due to immigration from Eastern Europe. Other minority denominations of Christianity include Jehovah's Witnesses and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (LDS) . In addition to
13300-437: The island, Northern Irish Sign Language and Irish Sign Language ; they have quite different bases. Some other languages have entered Ireland with immigrants – for example, Polish is now the second most widely spoken language in Ireland after English, Irish being the third most commonly spoken language. There are many references to food and drink in early Irish literature. Honey seems to have been widely eaten and used in
13433-512: The island. Their propensity for rural living was influenced by a variety of factors including cultural traditions, a desire for privacy and autonomy, work opportunities and their fondness of the natural world. Travellers would often find work in rural areas, predominantly in farming, horse trading and tinsmithing. While many Mincéirí in contemporary Ireland are now settled, including in urban areas, they often maintain rural traditions such as horseback riding, and attend traditional fairs and festivals in
13566-514: The language in the 2011 census. Article 8 of the Constitution of Ireland states that Irish is the national and first official language of the Republic of Ireland. English in turn is recognised as the State's second official language . Hiberno-English , the dialect of English spoken in most of the Republic of Ireland, has been greatly influenced by Irish. In Northern Ireland , English
13699-564: The last week of January 2009, a DVD titled The Karaoke Collection was released. On 18 March 2009, Westlife won the Best Irish Pop Act at the 2009 Meteor Awards for the ninth consecutive time. Their tenth album, Where We Are , was released on 30 November 2009 in the UK and peaked at No. 2 on both Irish and UK Albums Charts. The lead single, " What About Now ", was released on 23 October 2009 and peaked at No. 2 on both Irish and UK Singles Charts. The tour in support of this album
13832-454: The making of mead . The old stories also contain many references to banquets, although these may well be greatly exaggerated and provide little insight into everyday diet. There are also many references to fulacht fia , which are archaeological sites commonly believed to have once been used for cooking venison . The fulacht fia have holes or troughs in the ground which can be filled with water. Meat can then be cooked by placing hot stones in
13965-406: The manager of fellow Irish boy band Boyzone , came to know the group after Filan's mother Mae contacted him, but the group failed to secure a BMG record deal with Simon Cowell . Cowell told Walsh: "You are going to have to fire at least three of them. They have great voices, but they are the ugliest band I have ever seen in my life." Lacey, Keighron, and Garrett were told they would not be part of
14098-534: The members of Westlife was released on 16 June 2008 by HarperCollins UK Publishing titled ' Westlife - Our Story ', as part of their 10th-year celebration. The band released two perfume gift sets, " X " and " With Love ". The group has supported various charitable causes. They were involved in the "Helping For Haiti" charity single that was released in February 2010, as well as releasing a cover version of "Uptown Girl" for Comic Relief . They have participated in
14231-417: The most common. This popularity extended down to modern times in Ireland. Poultry and wild geese as well as fish and shellfish were also common, as were a wide range of native berries and nuts, especially hazel . The seeds of knotgrass and goosefoot were widely present and may have been used to make a porridge . The Tudor conquest of Ireland led to significant changes in the Irish diet, as it introduced
14364-414: The most significant body of written literature (both ancient and recent) of any Celtic language , as well as a strong oral tradition of legends and poetry. Poetry in Irish represents the oldest vernacular poetry in Europe, with the earliest examples dating from the 6th century. The early history of Irish visual art is generally considered to begin with early carvings found at sites such as Newgrange and
14497-406: The most widely spoken languages in Ireland. English is the most widely spoken language on the island overall, and Irish is spoken as a first language only by a small minority, primarily, though not exclusively, in the government-defined Gaeltacht regions in the Republic. A larger minority have Irish as a second language, with 40.6% of people in the Republic of Ireland claiming some ability to speak
14630-471: The new group, and auditions were held in Dublin where Nicky Byrne and Brian McFadden were recruited. The new group, formed on 3 July 1998, was originally named Westside , but as another band was already using that name, the group was renamed Westlife . They signed a four-million-pound record deal with RCA Records . Westlife's first big break came in 1998 when they opened for Boyzone and Backstreet Boys ' concerts in Dublin. Boyzone singer Ronan Keating
14763-469: The population. Ireland also grew large quantities of corned beef , though the vast majority of it was exported. The over-reliance on potatoes as a staple crop in Irish cuisine meant that the people of Ireland were vulnerable to poor potato harvests. The Irish Famine of 1740 was the result of extreme cold weather, but the Great Famine of 1845–1849 was caused by potato blight which spread throughout
14896-730: The record of the most consecutive No. 1 singles in the UK with their first seven singles. However, in December 2000, their eighth single " What Makes a Man ", debuted at No. 2, breaking their string of consecutive number ones. The single "My Love" was controversially used by the Central Intelligence Agency as part of a torture program in Afghanistan . According to the American Civil Liberties Union , "the music pounded constantly as part of
15029-654: The same panel as Alex Maskey ( Sinn Féin ) at the annual West Belfast Talks Back. Féile an Phobail has hosted notable artists and painters from Ireland and abroad and hosts a festival-long exhibition in St. Mary's University College . Other community exhibitions take place around West Belfast, organised by community groups in association with the August Féile. 54°35′31″N 5°57′44″W / 54.5919°N 5.9623°W / 54.5919; -5.9623 Culture of Ireland The culture of Ireland includes
15162-480: The second-highest per capita alcohol consumption in the world, just below Luxembourg at 13.5 litres (per person 15 or more years old), according to the OECD Health Data 2009 survey. According to the latest OECD figures, alcohol consumption in Ireland has dropped from 11.5 litres per adult in 2012 to 10.6 litres per adult in 2013. However, research showed that in 2013, 75% of alcohol was consumed as part of
15295-696: The seventh top touring act of 2008. To mark their tenth year in music, Westlife staged the sold-out concert 10 Years of Westlife in Croke Park on 1 June 2008. The group announced that they would be going on hiatus for a year after their Back Home Tour. 10 Years of Westlife – Live at Croke Park Stadium was released on 24 November 2008 and went straight to No. 1 on the UK, Ireland, South Africa, Hong Kong, and New Zealand Music DVD charts. On 13 December 2008, while on hiatus, Westlife made an unexpected appearance during that year's X Factor final where they performed "Flying Without Wings" with runners-up JLS . In
15428-401: The sporting activities with the highest levels of playing participation. Other sports with material playing populations, including at school level, include tennis , hockey , pitch and putt , rugby, basketball, boxing, cricket and squash . Significant numbers attend horse racing meetings, and Ireland breeds and trains many racehorses; greyhound racing also has dedicated racecourses. Soccer
15561-537: The spring and summer, during which young volunteers were professionally trained in media and management skills for free. In 2007, the radio was successful in securing a full-time licence, and now broadcasts seven days a week, throughout Belfast. Some trainees have gone on to find employment in the local media, including UTV , BBC Northern Ireland and Irish News Online in Belfast. In May 2009, Féile an Phobail launched Belfast's first dedicated comedy festival, Laugh at
15694-417: The stadium. Their last concert was screened live in more than 300 cinemas in the United Kingdom, and 200 cinemas worldwide. They released a DVD of the show, which went to number 1 in both UK and Irish charts. That year they were the 34th top-grossing tour act with earnings of $ 35.2 million (€27 million). Following the split, all four members released albums and singles individually. On 23 September 2018, it
15827-540: The top pop music choices for funerals in Ireland. The band performed for the Sultan of Brunei and was paid £2.5 million to play a private concert of seven songs. They also performed at the Nobel Peace Prize Concert in 2000, 2005, and 2009. They also played for Queen Elizabeth II twice, Barack Obama and for Pope John Paul II . They were the first ever pop band to top the entertainment bill at
15960-521: The trough until the water boils. Many fulach fia sites have been identified across the island of Ireland, and some of them appear to have been in use up to the 17th century. Excavations at the Viking settlement in the Wood Quay area of Dublin have produced a significant amount of information on the diet of the inhabitants of the town. The main animals eaten were cattle, sheep and pigs, with pigs being
16093-405: The venue for over 380,000 fans, selling more tickets than any other act. The band had their final concert on 23 June 2012 at Croke Park Stadium in Ireland. The 82,300 capacity show was sold out in 4 minutes. Due to this popular demand, an extra date was added at Croke Park on 22 June 2012, which also sold out. Combined, there was a total of 187,808 spectators on both nights, exceeding the capacity of
16226-402: The west of the city. Door-to-door collections were made to fund day trips to the seaside for pensioners and outings for young people. Féile an Phobail has garnered resounding praise and has grown to one of the largest community festivals in Europe. The carnival parade routinely brings together over 20,000 participants for a colourful, musical procession with specially-designed floats representing
16359-598: The world, including in the United States followed by All Saints' Day , another Christian holiday associated with a traditional one. Important church holidays include Easter, and various Marian observances. Christianity was brought to Ireland during or prior to the 5th century and its early history among the Irish is in particular associated with Saint Patrick , who is generally considered Ireland's leading patron saint . The Celtic festival of Samhain , not to be confused with Halloween , originated in Ireland and
16492-522: Was " The Where We Are Tour ". A recording of a concert from the tour, live from London, was released in November 2010. They were part of the Haiti charity single in early 2010 with " Everybody Hurts ", which was organized by Cowell. The single peaked at No. 1 on both Irish and UK Singles Charts. That year, the Guinness Book of World Records announced that Westlife were the top-selling album group of
16625-492: Was at Newcastle upon Tyne 's Powerhouse nightclub on 27 February 2004. He subsequently began a solo career, and reverted the spelling of his first name back to its original 'Brian'. Less than a month after McFadden's departure, the group began their Turnaround Tour . A recording of a concert from the Turnaround Tour, live from Stockholm, Sweden , was released in November 2004. In September 2004, they performed at
16758-474: Was brought in to co-manage the group with Louis Walsh. Their first live television performance as a group was on the Irish TV series The Late Late Show broadcast on 13 November 1998. They performed " Flying Without Wings ". In April 1999, the group released their first single, “ Swear It Again ", which immediately topped the charts in Ireland and in the UK for two weeks. It was the biggest-selling single in
16891-459: Was followed by the double A-side single " Tonight "/" Miss You Nights ", which debuted at No. 3 in the UK and No. 1 in Ireland. Following this release, the group premiered a TV documentary titled " Wild Westlife ". It was directed by Iain MacDonald and features their daily life as musicians and their tour experiences. It was aired on BBC Choice . In 2003, Westlife went on their third world tour,
17024-485: Was on the final night of Dancing With the Stars Ireland on 24 March 2019. The single peaked at number 13 in the UK and reached number two in Ireland and Scotland. The single was certified Gold in the UK seven months after its premiere. In Ireland, it has a 2× Platinum certification. Their eleventh studio album Spectrum was released on 15 November 2019. The album peaked at number one in Ireland, Scotland, and
17157-612: Was released in a video album in different formats on 13 March 2020. It reached number 1 in the UK and Ireland and stayed at the top spot for more than thirty weeks on their official charts. On 13 September 2019, they announced the Stadiums in the Summer Tour which was scheduled to begin the following year. However, it was postponed until 2022 due to the COVID-19 pandemic . On 17 March 2021, they formally announced that they signed
17290-400: Was released. It included fourteen new dates and venues, with eight more dates added later. They announced that their Wembley Stadium date would be streamed live in various cinemas in Europe. On 17 December 2021, a Westlife concert filmed at London’s Bush Hall Venue and broadcast by Tencent ’s WeChat (Weixin) in China had an audience of almost 28 million. They were special guest performers on
17423-502: Was reported that the group was signed to Universal Music Group for a new five-year album and tour deal with Virgin EMI Records . On 3 October 2018, the group formally announced that they were working on new music. McFadden was not involved in the reformation, saying in an interview with Closer Magazine , "I only met the guys when I joined the band and have no regrets about leaving." On 19 December 2018, Egan and Feehily posted
17556-445: Was the norm. The Normans replaced traditional clan land management (under Brehon Law) with the manorial system of land tenure and social organisation. This led to the imposition of the village, parish and county over the native system of townlands . In general, a parish was a civil and religious unit with a manor, a village and a church at its centre. Each parish incorporated one or more existing townlands into its boundaries. With
17689-558: Was to celebrate the positive side of the community: its creativity, its energy, its passion for the arts and for sport. The Féile was, and is, aimed at providing events and entertainment at a price that the majority of the community could afford. In August 1988 the first festival opened with a relatively humble parade of floats and bands and Gaelic Athletic Association clubs walking in their club regalia to an open-air party in Dunville Park . Street parties were organised throughout
#203796