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The Irish have their own language It comes from their
Celtic history. But today nearly all Irish people speak English.
The Irish speak English in their own special way. Foreigners
don't easily understand an Irish accent, but it is strong and
musical, and many people think that it is very attractive.
Many fine writers have come from Ireland. Some, like James
Joyce, have helped the world to know Ireland better. This
writer was writing at the beginning of 19th century, when
Ireland was on the road to independence. James Joyce was
the first of ten children. He went to school and college in
Dublin, but when he was still a young man he went to live in
Paris. For many years of his life he was in Paris, Italy and
Switzerland. In his first book he wrote short stories about his
time as a boy in Dublin.
But there are some famous Irish writers like Oscar Wilde
and G. B. Shaw who didn't write about Ireland. G. B.
Shaw was also born in Dublin and also wrote palys. Shaw
was a very witty man, but he was above all a thinker. He
wanted to change the things that were wrong in the world.
He disliked the things that were false. At one time people
thought that Shaw was a second William Shakespeare. Today
not many people think that but a lot of people go to see his
plays.
Oscar Wilde was born in Dublin. He went to Trinity
College and later to Oxford University. Wilde wrote novels
and poetry but people remember his plays. Most of his plays
are comedies.
Questions:
1. Have the Irish their own language?
2. The Irish have an accent, haven't they?
3. Who was James Joyce?
4. Did G. B. Shaw write about Ireland?
5. Who was a second William Shakespeare?
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