There are three things that Ireland is renowned for: Leprechauns , alcohol and music. Personally, I have never seen a Leprechaun. We Irish people don't really drink a lot (well not THAT much). But one thing is certain, we love our music.
Music has been a tradition in Irish families for many many years. Whether it's the bodhran, tin whistle or harp, someone in every Irish family is bound to play a musical instrument. We enjoy all kinds of music, be it the traditional style as found at a ceili or something on the radio with a good beat, the Irish feet will be tapping along in time. We LISTEN to music, we don't just hear it. If someone is singing a song or playing a tune, we listen. It's not just something playing in the background, it's the centre of our attention. In recent times Irish music, both traditional and modern, has become more popular outside our Emerald Isle. Due to the success of certain Irish dancing shows worldwide, the love for traditional Irish music has been spread. However, we are not just famous for our traditional music anymore. Dublin is our country's capital. It is home to over one million Irish people. Every year it is visited by numerous tourists because of it's fantastic atmosphere and history. The GPO on O'Connell Street is a famous landmark, as is the H'Penny Bridge.Dublin is not only home to these well known landmarks, it is also home to five very well known people: Michael Graham, Stephen Gately, Ronan Keating, Shane Lynch and Keith Duffy. These five young men from Dublin's fair city have been at the centre of the music world for the past five or six years. They have gone out and shown the world what Irish people and music are all about. And as Boyzone venture out into the world of music, back here in Ireland they have never been more popular. Here, Boyzone is a word that everybody knows. They are respected for what they have achieved. Evidence of the growing interest in Boyzone can be found right here in the town where I live. I can no longer go into town without finding that at least five shops are playing their greatest hits album, By Request. In my eyes this is at least some proof of how the people of Ireland have watched as Boyzone's popularity grew and how they have helped to build that now HUGE fanbase which exists today. Although their music cannot be considered as traditional, it certainly is Irish and is held close to the hearts of many Irish people. We love Boyzone and are proud of how any group of Irish lads could find such great success. I am sure I speak for many Irish people when I say that we have always backed them and feel they have done our country proud. They have taken our national love of music and shared it with the world. Written by Sandra O'Hara , Ireland

WRITTEN BY SANDRA O'HARA

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