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The European UnionDuring the last century, Europe was devastated by two World Wars which resulted in the deaths of millions, shattered Europe’s economy and changed the borders of several countries. In order to guarantee that this didn’t happen again, some European leaders decided that their countries should work together to ensure peace and prosperity for the future.

The result is the European Union. EU Member States now work together on many areas of common interest. Each Member State has a voice in this process and decisions are made collectively by the member countries and elected members of the European Parliament.

Ireland joined the EU in 1973. Since then, we have received over €60 billion in funding from the European Union which has helped develop the Irish economy, improve the country’s infrastructure, expand our trading partners, and support Irish agriculture. One of the greatest advantages of EU membership is that Irish people can travel, study and work in any other EU country.

Today, there are 27 Member States in the European Union. But what do we know about them? Let’s take a tour of Europe and see what we can fi nd out about our neighbouring countries.

hello

Capital: ViennaSize: 83,858 km²Population: 8.3 millionLanguage: GermanNational Day: 26th October

Vienna Prater: This is a large public park in the middle of Vienna. It also houses an amusement park with over 250 rides, including the Riesenrad, which is a ferris wheel. Emperor Joseph II opened the park to the public in 1766.

Hundertwasser House: The Hundertwasserhaus is an apartment and offi ce building designed by Austrian artist Friedensreich Hundertwasser. Unique features include uneven fl oors, a grass rooftop and large trees growing from inside rooms.

Food: Austrians enjoy Wiener Schnitzel (breaded veal cutlet), Tafelspitz (boiled beef served with apple and horseradish sauce) and Apfelstrudel (apple and pastry dessert).

Famous Austrians: Gustav Klimt (artist), Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (composer), Joseph Haydn (composer).

Find Out: Which Austrian born actor is now Governor of California?

Did you know? Francis Maurice Lacy, who was of Irish descent, was a general in the Austrian army in the 18th century. He was a favourite of Austrian emperors and lived in a magnifi cent estate and house in the Vienna Woods.

Austriagrüssgott

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hallosalut

Capital: BrusselsSize: 30,158 km²Population: 10.5 millionLanguages: Dutch, French

and GermanNational Day: 21st July

The Atomium: Built in 1958, the 103 metre-tall monument represents a magnifi ed iron crystal. Recently renovated and open to the public, the Atomium not only hosts interesting exhibitions, especially for children, but also boasts some of the best views of Brussels.

The Manneken Pis: Sculpted in 1619, this statue, literally translated as ‘the little man wee’, has survived through the ages to become one of Belgium’s most loved monuments. He even has a wardrobe of over 600 costumes!

Food: Belgium is famous for its moules-frites (mussels and chips), as well as its chocolate!

Famous Belgians: Justine Henin (tennis player), Eddie Merckx (cyclist), Tin-Tin and the Smurfs!

Find Out: See if you can fi nd a picture of the Atomium and stick it in your passport.

Did you know? Ireland has many historic connections with Belgium. The Irish College in Louvain educated Irish priests for many centuries.

Belgium

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Bulgaria

Capital: Sofi aSize: 110,000 km²Population: 7.7 millionLanguage: BulgarianNational Day: 3rd March

Alexander Nevsky Cathedral: Situated in Sofi a, this cathedral is one of the largest Eastern Orthodox cathedrals in the world. It was built in the early 20th century to honour the Russian soldiers who died in the 1877-78 war with Turkey. It is a cross domed basilica with the Lord’s Prayer inscribed in gold on the central dome.

Rila National Park: This is the biggest national park in Bulgaria and is located about 100 km south of Sofi a. It is an area of conservation for many endangered wildlife species. The name Rila comes from the word ‘Roula’, which means ‘lots of water.’

Food: Kavarma (a meat and onion stew), shopska salata (a salad with white cheese, cucumber, peppers and tomato), bob chorba (a bean and chilli soup), banitza (pastry with white cheese) and kiselo mliako (yoghurt).

Famous Bulgarians: Julia Kristeva (philosopher), Elias Canetti (Nobel Prize winning author), Christo Javacheff (artist).

Find Out: What colours are the Bulgarian national fl ag?

Did you know? An Irish man, Pierce O’Mahony, established St. Patrick’s Orphanage for boys in Sofi a in 1904. There is a street dedicated to him, Piers O’Mahoni in Sofi a, Bulgaria.

zdravei

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yia’sou

Capital: NicosiaSize: 9,251 km²Population: 0.8 millionLanguage: GreekNational Day: 1st October

The Archbishop’s Palace: Archbishop Makarios was the fi rst president of Cyprus from 1960 to 1977. His palace, in Nicosia, is open to the public and it contains a Byzantine museum with a large collection of religious icons.

Petra tou Romiou: Known in English as the Rock of Aphrodite, this spot not only has amazing views of the sea but is also the birthplace of the Greek goddess Aphrodite, also known as Venus. Legend has it she rose out of the sea at this point and the event is portrayed in a famous painting called “The Birth of Venus” .

Food: Meze (a series of appetisers and savouries), fasolada (bean soup).

Famous Cypriots: Hüseyin Çağlayan (fashion designer), Zeno of Citium (philosopher), Marcos Baghdatis (tennis player) and Michael Cacoyannis (fi lmmaker).

Find Out: What was Aphrodite the goddess of?

Did you know? Irish soldiers served with the United Nations in Cyprus on peacekeeping duties from 1964 to 2005.

Cyprus

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Capital: PragueSize: 79,000 km²Population: 10.3 millionLanguage: CzechNational Day: 28th October

St. Vitius Cathedral: The most well known church in the Czech Republic, this cathedral is Gothic in style and is the seat of the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Prague. It is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Prague.

Charles Bridge: This medieval bridge was constructed in the 14th century. It’s named after King Charles IV and spans the river Vltava.

Food: Knedliky (dumplings) and bramboraky (potato pancakes).

Famous Czechs: Alfons Mucha (artist), Antonin Dvo (composer), Milan Kundera (writer) and Petr Čech (footballer).

Find Out: Which famous Czech tennis player became an American citizen in 1981?

Did you know? Legend has it that the potato was introduced to the Czech diet in the 17th century by Irish Franciscan monks.

Czech Republicahoj

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hej

Capital: CopenhagenSize: 43,000 km²Population: 5.4 millionLanguage: DanishNational Day: 5th June

The Tivoli Gardens: The amusement park and gardens were built in the middle of the 19th century and are home to one of the world’s oldest wooden rollercoasters, still in use today. It is also used for open air concerts and plays during the summer.

The Little Mermaid: This mermaid owes its fame to the Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale on which the sculpture was based. She sits on a rock in Churchill Park in Copenhagen harbour. The sculptor, Edward Eriksen, used his wife as the model.

Food: Frikadeller (meatballs) are very popular as is smoked fi sh and smørrebrød or open sandwiches.

Famous Danes: Ole Kirk Christiansen (inventor of LEGO), Hans Christian Andersen (author), Søren Kierkegaard (philosopher).

Find Out: Can you name three Hans Christian Andersen fairy tales?

Did you know? Danish Vikings invaded and settled in Ireland in the 9th century.

Denmark

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Capital: TallinnSize: 45,000 km²Population: 1.3 millionLanguage: EstonianNational Day: 24th February

The Town Hall Pharmacy: Situated on the Town Hall Square in Tallinn, the Town Hall Pharmacy dates back to 1422 and is still used as a pharmacy today, although medieval medicines like bat powder and snakeskin potion are no longer sold!

The Town Hall: This Town Hall was built before the pharmacy and is thought to date from the early 13th century. Its Gothic architecture has been well preserved. It is currently open to the public and is sometimes used for receptions.

Food: Classic Estonian dishes include verivorst (blood sausage), leib (black bread) and kartulid (potatoes).

Famous Estonians: Carmen Kass (model), Mart Poom (footballer) and Markko Märtin (racing driver).

Find Out: See if you can fi nd a picture of the Town Hall Pharmacy and stick it in your passport.

Did you know? 1999 saw the signing of an agreement of cultural exchanges between Ireland and Estonia. This has resulted in exchange visits of theatre, musical and dance groups from both countries.

Estoniatere

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hei

Capital: HelsinkiSize: 338,000 km²Population: 5.3 millionLanguages: Finnish, SwedishNational Day: 6th December

Helsinki Cathedral: Situated in Senate Square, this distinctive Helsinki landmark was built by Carl Ludvig Engel, who also designed the Square and surrounding buildings. Though religious ceremonies are still conducted in the cathedral, it also attracts over 350,000 tourists each year.

Finlandia Hall: Designed by the architect Alvar Aalto, Finlandia Hall in Helsinki is used as a conference centre and concert venue. Its architectural goal was that it should be modern and functional, with nothing to distract an audience from the stage or the event they had come to participate in.

Food: Finland is famous for pickled herring, lihapullat (meatballs) and gravlax (cold smoked fi sh).

Famous Finns: Kimi Räikkönen (racing driver), Fredrik Idestam (founder of Nokia), Sibelius (composer).

Find Out: Which world famous person comes from Lapland? (Clue: He visits once a year!)

Did you know? Since 1986 an Irish Festival has been held in Finland every year. Concerts celebrating Irish music and culture take place in cities across Finland.

Finland

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bonjour

Capital: ParisSize: 550,000 km²Population: 60.9 millionLanguage: FrenchNational Day: 14th July

Notre Dame: Built in the Middle Ages, the Parisian cathedral was in a state of disrepair until the mid-nineteenth century when the French novelist Victor Hugo wrote “The Hunchback of Notre Dame”. The success of the book launched a campaign to restore the cathedral to its former glory in 1845.

The Eiffel Tower: The tallest structure in Paris is the most visited paid monument in the world. Named after its architect Gustave Eiffel, the structure of the tower weighs 7,300 tons and sways 6-7cms in the wind.

Food: The French love their cheese and also are the proud inventors of the baguette.

Famous French people: Jean Monnet, Thierry Henry (footballer), Pierre-Auguste Renoir (painter).

Find Out: What is Jean Monnet famous for?

Did you know? Patrice de MacMahon, a descendant of Irish emigrants, was president of France from 1873 to 1879.

France

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guten tag

Capital: BerlinSize: 356,854 km²Population: 82.5 millionLanguage: GermanNational Day: 3rd October

Brandenburg Gate: This gate is the former entrance to the city and the symbol of Berlin. Built between 1788 and 1791, it was commissioned by Wilhelm II and is a symbol of peace.

The Reichstag: Almost destroyed by fi re in 1933 and again during World War II, the newly renovated Reichstag has been the symbol of German reunifi cation since its inception as the seat of the German Parliament in 1991.

Food: Sauerkraut and Bratwurst which translated means pickled cabbage with sausages.

Famous German people: Ludwig Van Beethoven (composer), Friedrich Nietzsche (philosopher), Michael Ballack (footballer).

Find Out: Find a picture of the Brandenburg Gate and stick it onto your passport.

Did you know? St Killian, an Irish missionary, converted many Germans to Christianity and is still honoured in the German city of Würzburg.

Germany

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Capital: AthensSize: 131,957 km²Population: 11.1 millionLanguage: GreekNational Day: 25th March

The Acropolis: Dedicated to the goddess Athena, this impressive monument dating back to Ancient Greece dominates the Athenian skyline. Built in the fi fth century BC, it was the pinnacle of the achievements of Ancient Greece.

Olympia: The birthplace of the Olympic Games, Olympia was dedicated to the god Zeus and became the most important religious and athletic centre in Ancient Greece.

Food: Moussaka (aubergine and meat dish), keftedes (meatballs), baklava (a sweet pastry dessert).

Famous Greeks: Plato (philosopher), Aristotle Onassis (shipping magnate), Alexander the Great (king and conqueror).

Find Out: How many countries competed in the 2004 Olympic Games?

Did you know? Sir Richard Church, a native of Cork, was commander of the Greek forces during the war of Greek Independence in the 19th century.

Greeceyia’sou

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szia

Capital: BudapestSize: 93,000 km²Population: 10.1 millionLanguage: HungarianNational Day: 15th March

The Hungarian Parliament: One of the biggest parliament buildings in Europe, the Hungarian Parliament was inaugurated on the 1000th anniversary of the country in 1896. Located in Budapest, over 40 million bricks, half a million precious stones and 40kg of gold were used in its construction.

The Chain Bridge: This suspension bridge links the two cities of Buda and Pest which are divided by the river Danube. As a result of the construction of this bridge at the end of the 19th century, Budapest experienced an economic revival, changing the city from two provincial towns into a growing metropolis.

Food: Typical Hungarian fare includes goulash (soup), halászlé (fi sh and paprika soup) and vanilias kifl i (vanilla croissant).

Famous Hungarians: Harry Houdini (magician), Ern Rubik (inventor of the Rubik’s cube), Ferenc Puskás (footballer).

Find Out: Name two European Union Member States that border Hungary.

Did you know? James Joyce refers to the Hungarian town of Szombathely in Ulysses and the town celebrates the annual event of Bloomsday in Joyce’s honour.

Hungary

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dia dhuit

Capital: DublinSize: 70,000 km²Population: 4.2 millionLanguages: English, IrishNational Day: 17th March

Dublin Castle: Once the site of a Viking fortress, this historical landmark has been in existence since 930 AD, though in different forms. For centuries it was the seat of government in Ireland and was also used as a jail.

Newgrange: Built between 3300 and 2900 BC, Newgrange is the oldest standing building in the world, predating even the Egyptian pyramids! It is a Neolithic passage tomb lit by the rising sun each year at the time of winter solstice.

Food: Ireland is home to Irish stew and bacon and cabbage.

Famous Irish people: James Joyce (writer), Samuel Beckett (writer) and Bram Stoker (writer).

Find Out: What well-known book did Bram Stoker write and which other European country was the main character from?

Ireland

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Capital:

xx

Countryhello

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Pompeii: This city was destroyed by a massive volcanic eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD, covering the city and its inhabitants in volcanic ash until its discovery at the end of the 18th century. Excavators discovered human remains in volcanic ash as well as a wealth of art, jewellery and other materials, allowing archaeologists a valuable insight into how life was lived during that time.

Food: Italy is most famous for its pasta and pizza. Italians are very fond of gelato (ice cream)!

Famous Italians: Leonardo da Vinci (painter, sculptor, inventor), Christopher Columbus (who discovered America), Enzo Ferrari (founder of the Ferrari motor car company).

Find Out: Which famous lady did Leonardo da Vinci paint?

Did you know? Guglielmo Marconi, who invented the radio, was half-Irish and married Beatrice O’Brien, daughter of Baron Inchiquin of Dromoland Castle, County Clare.

Capital: RomeSize: 301,263 km²Population: 58.8 millionLanguage: ItalianNational Day: 2nd June

The Coliseum: One of the best preserved Roman monuments, the Coliseum was built to hold 50,000 people who came to see gladiatorial fi ghts, games and even executions in Roman times. Though the amphitheatre hasn’t been used for entertainment since the early Middle Ages, it is a major tourist attraction and an iconic symbol of Ancient Rome.

Italyciao!

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sveiki

Capital: RigaSize: 65,000 km²Population: 2.3 millionLanguage: LatvianNational Day: 18th November

The Doma Cathedral: Built in the 13th century, the Doma Cathedral is thought to be the largest church in the Baltic States. One of its key attractions is its magnifi cent organ which dates back to 1844.

The Historic Centre of Riga: Riga’s centre has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site; it is renowned for its Art Nouveau architecture. This style of architecture peaked in the early 20th century and is defi ned by fl owing, curved designs often including fl oral motifs. Food: Latvians enjoy borsch (beet soup), rasols (potato and meat salad) and pickled mushrooms.

Famous Latvians: Kārlis Baumanis (composer), Vizma Belševica (Nobel Prize winner in Literature), Leor Dimant (DJ Lethal, member of Limp Bizkit).

Find Out: See if you can fi nd a picture of Latvian Art Nouveau architecture and stick in onto your passport.

Did you know? Edward O’Rourke, a priest of Irish ancestry, was appointed the fi rst Bishop of Riga in 1918.

Latvia

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labas

Capital: VilniusSize: 65,300 km²Population: 3.4 millionLanguage: LithuanianNational Day: 16th February

Gediminas Castle: Legend has it that the Grand Duke Gediminas had a dream in which he saw an iron wolf howling like 100 wolves where the castle now stands. He thought the dream meant that it was God’s will that the castle be built there and so in 1230 it was.

Trakai: The historic capital of Lithuania, Trakai is noted for its beautiful surroundings as well as Trakai Castle which is an excellent example of Gothic architecture. It was home to Grand Duke Vytautas before Vilnius became the Lithuanian capital.

Food: Lithuanians enjoy kibinai (similar to Cornish pasties), cepelinai (meat fi lled dumplings) and sweet or savoury pancakes.

Famous Lithuanians: (poet), Laurynas Gucevičius (architect), and Steponas Darius and Stasys Girėnas (pilots).

Find Out: What event does the National Day commemorate?

Did you know? In 1935, Lithuanian American pilot, Feliksas Vaitkus, became the sixth person to fl y solo across the Atlantic and landed in a fi eld in Ballinrobe, Co.Mayo.

Lithuania

moien

Capital: LuxembourgSize: 2,586 km²Population: 0.5 millionLanguages: Luxembourgish,

French and German

National Day: 23rd June

The Grand Ducal Palace: Originally built as a town hall in 1572, the palace is now the offi cial residence of the Grand Duke of Luxembourg and his family. During World War II, the building’s interior and art collection was extensively damaged. However the palace has since undergone two major restorations.

Adolphe Bridge: This bridge is one of Luxembourg’s most popular tourist attractions and is 17.2 metres wide and carries four lanes of traffi c. Designed by Paul Sejourne and Paul Rodange, it was built between 1900 and 1903.

Food: Thuringer (small sausages), paté and quetsche tort (type of tart).

Famous Luxembourgers: Joseph Kutter (painter), Gabriel Lippmann (Nobel Prize winner), Frank Schleck (professional cyclist).

Find Out: What did Gabriel Lippmann win the Nobel Prize for?

Did you know? In 1693, Patrick Sarsfi eld was a commander in the army of the Duke of Luxembourg when he was fatally wounded at the battle of Landen.

Luxembourg

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Capital: VallettaSize: 316 km²Population: 0.4 millionLanguages: Maltese, EnglishNational Day: 8th September

Valletta: Named after the Grand Master of the Order of St. John, Jean Parisot de la Valette. Construction of this fortress city began in 1566 and was completed in a remarkably short 15 years.

St. Paul’s Cathedral: Built on the site of a Norman church which was destroyed in an earthquake in 1693, St. Paul’s cathedral crowns the city of Mdina and is topped by a magnifi cent dome designed by the cathedral’s architect Lorenzo Gafa.

Food: Traditional food includes fenek (rabbit) and pastizzi (savoury pastries).

Famous Maltese people: The Knights of Malta, Dun Karm Psaila (poet), Giuseppe Calì (painter), Edward de Bono (philosopher).

Find Out: Complete the title of the famous thriller ‘The Maltese ______’.

Did you know? Irishman, Richard More O’Ferrall, was appointed as the fi rst civil governor of Malta in 1847.

Malta

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bongu.

Capital:

xx

Countryhello

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Netherlandshallo!

Volendam: This historical village is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the Netherlands today. It’s famous for its fi shing boats and traditional Dutch costume which is still worn by some residents today.

Food: Typical Dutch food includes hutspot (stew), vla (cooled milk with custard) and blinde vink (meatballs).

Famous Dutch people: Vincent Van Gogh (painter), Anne Frank (diarist and holocaust victim), Ruud Van Nistelrooy (footballer).

Find Out: The name of the city that is the seat of government in the Netherlands (it’s not the capital!).

Did you know? The battle of the Boyne was won by a Dutchman, William of Orange, who became King of England.

Capital: AmsterdamSize: 41,864 km²Population: 16.3 millionLanguage: DutchNational Day: 30th April

Windmills: Although over 1,000 windmills are still standing in the Netherlands today, many of them are no longer in use. Windmills were mainly used to drain water, to produce paper and oil and to saw wood. For fi ve centuries windmills were the primary source of power in the Netherlands.

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cześć

Capital: WarsawSize: 313,000 km²Population: 38.1 millionLanguage: PolishNational Day: 11th November

Warsaw’s Old Town: Originally built in the 13th century, Warsaw’s Old Town was built around the Royal Castle. The Old Town was destroyed during World War II. After the war, it was painstakingly rebuilt, much of it brick by brick, and is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Gdansk Shipyard: This is where Lech started the Solidarity movement, the anti-communist trade union that altered the course of Polish and European history in the late 20th century. Though no longer the huge shipyard it once was, it is considered the birthplace of Polish resistance to Communism.

Food: Poland is home to urek (a type of sour soup). The national dish is bigos (cabbage and meat).

Famous Poles: Pope John Paul II, Fryderyk Chopin (composer), Maria Sk odowska-Curie (physicist and chemist).

Find Out: What was the birth name of Pope John Paul II?

Did you know? In the 17th century, Dr Bernard O’Connor, from Kerry, was personal physician to the king of Poland.

Poland

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olá

Capital: LisbonSize: 92,072 km²Population: 10.6 millionLanguage: Portuguese National Day: 10th June

The Vasco de Gama Bridge: This is the longest bridge in Europe, measuring 17.2 km in total. The bridge has six lanes and was built to alleviate traffi c on Lisbon’s other bridge (the 25 de Abril Bridge).

Belém Tower: The tower, situated in the Belém district of Lisbon, was built in the early 16th century to commemorate Vasco De Gama’s expedition. The infl uence of Moorish art can be found in the arched windows and balconies.

Food: Bacalhau (salted cod), sardines and leite-créme (egg custard)

Famous Portuguese people: Vasco De Gama (explorer), Cristiano Ronaldo (footballer), Fernando Pessoa (poet).

Find Out: What naval route did Vasco De Gama’s expedition discover?

Did you know? There was an Irish college in Lisbon from 1590 to 1834.

Portugal

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bun

Capital: Bucharest Size: 238,000 km²Population: 21.6 millionLanguage: RomanianNational Day: 1st December

The Parliament Palace: At 330,000 square metres, this is the largest building in the world after the US Pentagon. Built by order of the dictator Nicolae Ceau escu, many had argued that it be destroyed after he was deposed, so hated was his regime. However it is now a symbol of Romanian democracy.

Bran Castle: Built in 1212, this castle is commonly referred to as Dracula’s Castle, as legend has it that the castle was once home to Vlad III Dracula, the prince on whom the novel ‘Dracula’ was loosely based.

Food: Mititei, the national dish, which is a small skinless sausage.

Famous Romanians: Eugène Ionesco (writer), George Enesco (composer), Constantin Brâncu i (sculptor) and Angela Gheorghiu (soprano opera singer).

Find Out: What was the original name for the Parliament Palace?

Did you know? Dracula, the famous book about a vampire from Romania, was written by the Irish author, Bram Stoker.

Romania

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ahoj

Capital: BratislavaSize: 49,000 km²Population: 5.4 millionLanguage: SlovakNational Day: 1st September

St. Michael’s Gate: This is the sole remainder of Bratislava’s medieval fortifi cations and is one of the town’s oldest historic monuments. Originally one of four gates, it dates back to 1300.

Bratislava Castle: This is the main castle of Bratislava and stands on the hill of the Little Carpathians. On a good day, the view from it extends as far as Austria and Hungary. The castle itself contains four towers, a courtyard and an 80m deep well.

Food: Well known dishes include potato dumplings with sheep’s milk cheese and cabbage soup and sausage.

Famous Slovakians: Štefan Bani (invented the military parachute) and Andy Warhol (artist of Slovakian descent).

Find Out: In what year was the parachute invented?

Did you know? Today’s Slovaks are descendants of the Slavic tribes but Slovakia is also a region where Celts once dwelt. As you know, the Irish are the descendants of the Celts.

Slovakia

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zhivjo

Capital: LjubljanaSize: 20,000 km²Population: 2 millionLanguage: SloveneNational Day: 25th June

Postojna Caves: Carved by the Pivka River, the Postojna Caves are the longest caves in the country and one of the top tourist attractions. Ancient signatures at the entrance passage show that the caves have been visited since the 13th century.

Tromostovje: The Tromostovje, or Triple Bridge as it’s known in English, is one of the symbols of Ljubljana. It consists of a stone arch bridge as its central part and has a pedestrian bridge on either side.

Food: Slovenian food includes potica (cake) and bujta repa (a turnip dish).

Famous Slovenians: Jožef Stefan (writer), Franc Mikloši (linguist) and Jože Ple nik (architect).

Find Out: What mountain is depicted on Slovenia’s national fl ag?

Slovenia

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hola

Capital: MadridSize: 504,782 km²Population: 45.3 millionLanguage: SpanishNational Day: 12th October

Sagrada Familia: Designed by Antoni Gaudí, this cathedral was unfi nished at the time of his death in 1926 and is still under construction today. This cathedral is an excellent example of Art Nouveau architecture and is located in Barcelona.

El Escorial: This one-time monastery and royal palace is close to Madrid and is now a museum and art gallery.

Food: Spanish food includes paella (chicken, seafood and rice), tortilla (potato omelette) and chorizo (sausage).

Famous Spanish people: Penelope Cruz (actress), Salvador Dalí (artist), Fernando Torres (footballer).

Find Out: Find a picture of the Sagrada Familia and stick it onto your passport.

Did you know? Many of Ireland’s “wild geese” such as “Red” Hugh O’Donnell settled in Spain after fl eeing from Ireland.

Spain

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hej

Capital: StockholmSize: 450,000 km²Population: 9 millionLanguage: SwedishNational Day: 6th June

Gamla Stan: This is the old town of Stockholm. It dates back to the 13th century and consists of cobbled medieval streets and alleyways. It is home to Stockholm Cathedral and the Nobel Museum.

The Royal Palace Stockholm: Home to the Swedish Royal Family, Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia. The palace was completed in 1760 and is situated next to the parliament.

Food: Swedish food includes artsoppa (pea soup), gravad lax (cured salmon) and falukorv (sausage).

Famous Swedish people: Alfred Nobel (chemist, set up the Nobel Peace Prize), Sven-Göran Eriksson (football manager) and ABBA (music group).

Find Out: Name three multinational Swedish companies.

Did you know? Swedish home furnishings company, IKEA, opened it’s fi rst Irish branch in Dublin in July 2009.

Sweden

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hello

Capital: LondonSize: 242,500 km²Population: 60.4 millionLanguage: English

Tower Bridge: This is a combined bascule and suspension bridge over the river Thames in London. The bridge was opened in 1894 by the then future king Edward VII.

Big Ben: Perhaps one of the most famous clocks in the world, Big Ben is the world’s largest four faced chiming turret clock. Construction was completed in 1858. The clock has since become an international symbol of London and the United Kingdom.

Food: British food includes bacon and eggs, fi sh and chips, Shepherd’s pie to name but a few dishes!

Famous British people: David Beckham (footballer), J.K. Rowling (author) and William Shakespeare (playwright and poet).

Find Out: Can you name two of Shakespeare’s plays?

Did you know? Approximately 6,000,000 Britons or 10% of the population of the UK claim Irish ancestry.

United Kingdom

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1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

6.

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10. 11.

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13. 14. 15.

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21. 22.

23. 17. 24.

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ACROSS1. The home of pizza (5)5. One part of the Hungarian capital (4)7. Mobile phone company founded by Finnish man Fredrik

Idestam (5)8. The European fl ag features 12 of these (5)10. One of two EU countries which borders the Black Sea (8)12. ‘Hello’ in Cyprus (6)13. Democracy was invented in this country (6)15. The smallest country in the European Union (5)16. European capital which was divided by a wall for more

than a quarter of a century (6)18. In 1973, Ireland joined this organisation (8, 5)

23. Lithuanian castle built in the 13th century (9)25. Inventor of popular multicoloured puzzle cube (5)28. A form of greeting in Sofi a (7)29. Complete the name of the famous Italian Renaissance

artist: Leonardo da _____(5)30. Greek goddess Aphrodite’s other name (5)31. Ljubljana is the capital (8)

DOWN2. Famous Belgian cartoon character (3, 3)3. Footballer Cristiano Ronaldo is fl uent in this language (8)4. The longest river in the European Union and the subject

of a famous waltz (6)5. Central European capital located in Bohemia (6)6. The fi rst of this month is a holiday is most European countries (7)8. Nationality of footballer Zlatan Ibrahimovic (7)9. This European city has a pharmacy which is almost 600

years old! (7)11. Romance language spoken in Transylvania (8)14. The common currency of many European countries (4)16. The capital of Slovakia (8)17. This tower in Paris is one of the most famous landmarks

in Europe (6)19. Poland in Polish (6)20. The capital of Cyprus (7)21. Northern European country known as ‘Suomi’ to its

residents (7) 22. Baltic state (6)24. Nationality of Vincent Van Gogh (5)26. This castle was Dracula’s home in the hills (4)27. How to greet your friends in Florence and Rome (4)

Crossword

Answers PageAustria: Arnold SchwarzeneggerBulgaria: White, green, redCyprus: LoveCzech Republic: Martina NavratilovaDenmark: The Emperor’s New Clothes, The Princess and the Pea, The Ugly Duckling, Thumbelina, The Little Match Girl, The Little Mermaid, and many others.Finland: Santa ClausFrance: He was one of the founders of the European UnionGreece: 201Hungary: Austria, Romania, Slovakia, SloveniaIreland: Dracula, RomaniaItaly: Mona LisaLithuania: The signature of the Act of Independence on 16 February 1918Luxembourg: PhysicsMalta: FalconNetherlands: The HaguePoland: Karol Józef WojtyaPortugal: The route from Europe to IndiaRomania: The People’s HouseSlovakia: 1913 (although the

idea of parachutes had existed earlier)Slovenia: The Triglav mountain, the highest mountain in SloveniaSweden: IKEA (furniture), Volvo (cars), H&M (clothing), Ericcson (mobile phones), etc.United Kingdom: Hamlet, Romeo and Juliet, King Lear, Macbeth, Othello, A Midsummer’s Night Dream, The Merchant of Venice, and many others.

CrosswordACROSS: 1. Italy; 5. Pest; 7. Nokia; 8. Stars; 10. Bulgaria; 11. Yia’sou; 13. Greece; 15. Malta; 16. Berlin; 18. European Union; 23. Gediminas; 25. Rubik; 28. Zdravei; 29. Vinci; 30. Venus; 31. SloveniaDOWN: 2. Tin Tin; 3. Portuguese; 4. Danube; 5. Prague; 6. January; 8. Swedish; 9. Tallinn; 11. Romanian; 14. Euro; 16. Bratislava; 17. Eiffel 19. Polska; 20. Nicosia; 21. Finland; 22. Latvia; 24. Dutch; 26. Bran; 27. Ciao