The Irish government is extremely interested in keeping Ireland Irish. They require all students in primary schooling to learn Gaelic, the traditional Irish language, although both Gaelic and English are official languages of the country. They have spent millions of Euros restoring forests, grasslands, and also keeping Irish culture alive and well. There is, in fact, an entire region of the island set apart specifically for people who live a more traditional and rural life. They only speak Gaelic, they don't have access to much technology, and they treat students to live with them every summer.
One thing I realized when reading about the restoration of Irish forests was that there was hardly any wildlife at all. There were a few species of bird here and there, not counting, of course, seagulls. But other than fenced off sheep, cows, and horses, there were no untamed animals to be found. Before the potato famine, Ireland's population was around 8.2 million people. As such, most non-domesticated animals were hunted to extinction. Today, Ireland's population is around 4.7 million, and its growth has begun to slow down over the last four years.
One thing I realized when reading about the restoration of Irish forests was that there was hardly any wildlife at all. There were a few species of bird here and there, not counting, of course, seagulls. But other than fenced off sheep, cows, and horses, there were no untamed animals to be found. Before the potato famine, Ireland's population was around 8.2 million people. As such, most non-domesticated animals were hunted to extinction. Today, Ireland's population is around 4.7 million, and its growth has begun to slow down over the last four years.
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