The culture of Ireland, while being continuously mixed with the culture of the various centers on England has always maintained its independent style. Ireland has its own style of music, food and dance.
Irelan while being rather small has had quite a proliferation of great writers come out of it. The oldest vernacular peotry comes from Ireland, dating to the 6th century. In more modern times the writings of Jonathan Swift, most famous for Gulliver's Travels, has had a large impact upon the English language. This fame of Irish literature also includes Bernard Shaw, William Bulter Yeats, Samual Beckett, Seamus Heaney and James Joyce.
One of the most visable identifier of Irish cultiure is the Irish folk dance and music. Irish music and dance has enjoyed a recent day revival with modern bands using an irish flavor in their music, such as The Cranberries, Clannad, Van Morrison and U2, along with more traditional revivals of the calssic style in Gaelic Storm, Solas and Loreena McKennitt. This style of music with Irish roots has entered into the world scene and is a compliment to the power of the Irish culture from which is sprang.