Bit of a random topic but something that has been bothering me since I was a small child.
When you look at a map of Ireland what animal would you say it resembles? I don’t want to influence peoples opinions but suffice to say I’ve most often heard it described as one thing when I’ve always only been able to visualise it as another. And when I try to describe what I think it looks like people look at me like I’m insane (granted, I’m used to that by now but still).
A very stubby, cartoony-looking bird flapping its wings was the first thought that came to mind. Lough Neagh is the eye, the large outcropping over by Belfast with the other lake is the beak, Nephinbeg is in the short, stubby wing feathers, and Carrauntoohill is in the short, stubby tail feathers. That little land blip out by Waterford is its feet all bunched up for flying. Dublin rests on its fat tummy.
Although having read the previous post, yes, it does look like a cockatoo facing right. If you imagine this had its wings outstretched behind it, and less of a crest.
My first thought was amoeba but then I turned my head and decided a sheep (ram). Although I can see koala now, I think my mind went to sheep because there’s more sheep there than koalas.
I first saw an elephant (with a slightly deformed trunk) standing on its hind legs. I can kind of see the koala, but I’m not really seeing the cockatoo.
It doesn’t look like much of anything, but if you stare at it long enough it slightly resembles a troll under a bridge. Or a bunch of doctors on strike.
Oh thank god, its not just me. I always thought it resembled a bird flying to the right but nobody else seemed to be able to see it.
Most people seem to picture Ireland as a bear, something I could never quite perceive although this pic helps:
There’s even a rebel song about it, ‘Teddy Bears Head’ (I haven’t heard that song for a very long time, so don’t get bent out of shape if you google it and there’s offensive lyrics, I don’t condone the politics therein)
