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Durrell, Lawrence

(Encyclopedia)Durrell, Lawrence dŭˈrəl, dûrˈəl [key], 1912–90, British author, b. India, of Irish parents. Durrell traveled widely, often serving in diplomatic positions; most of his works are set in exotic...

Church Slavonic

(Encyclopedia)Church Slavonic, language belonging to the South Slavic group of the Slavic subfamily of the Indo-European family of languages (see Slavic languages). Although it is still the liturgical language of m...

Sanskrit

(Encyclopedia)Sanskrit sănˈskrĭt [key], language belonging to the Indic group of the Indo-Iranian subfamily of the Indo-European family of languages (see Indo-Iranian). Sanskrit was the classical standard langua...

leprechaun

(Encyclopedia)leprechaun lĕpˈrəkŏn [key], Irish fairy represented as a tiny old man. Leprechauns are mischievous and elusive creatures, said to possess buried crocks of gold, the location of which they will rev...

Mathew, Theobald

(Encyclopedia)Mathew, Theobald, 1790–1856, Irish social worker and temperance leader, a Capuchin priest. Father Mathew spent many years working for the welfare and education of the poor. In 1838 he took a pledge ...

Gloucester City

(Encyclopedia)Gloucester City, city (2020 pop. 11,484), Camden co., SW N.J., on the Delaware River, a suburb adjoining Camden and opposite Philadelphia; site of Fort ...

Balfe, Michael William

(Encyclopedia)Balfe, Michael William bălf [key], 1808–70, Irish composer. Of his many operas, very popular in their time, the best known was The Bohemian Girl (1843). ...

Kenny, Enda

(Encyclopedia)Kenny, Enda ĕnˈdä [key], 1951–, Irish politician. After teaching primary school, he was elected to the Irish parliament in 1975, winning his late father's seat and becoming the body's youngest me...

Moore, Thomas

(Encyclopedia)Moore, Thomas, 1779–1852, Irish poet, b. Dublin. He achieved prominence in his day not only for his poetry but also for his love of Ireland and personal charm. A lawyer, he was for a time registrar ...

Meath

(Encyclopedia)Meath mēth, mēᵺ [key], county (1991 pop. 105,370), 903 sq mi (2,339 sq km), E Republic of Ireland. The county seat is Navan. The land is mostly level, being a part of the central plain of Ireland,...