Borders: Ireland is an island in the North Atlantic Ocean. The Republic of Ireland takes up most of the island with Northern Ireland (which is part of the United Kingdom) taking up a northern section.
Total Size: 70,280 square km
Size Comparison: slightly larger than West Virginia
General Terrain: mostly level to rolling interior plain surrounded by rugged hills and low mountains; sea cliffs on west coast
Geographical Low Point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
Geographical High Point: Carrauntoohil 1,041 m
Climate: temperate maritime; modified by North Atlantic Current; mild winters, cool summers; consistently humid; overcast about half the time
Major Cities: DUBLIN (capital) 1.084 million (2009), Belfast, Cork
Major Landforms: Macgillycuddy's Reeks mountain range, Wicklow Mountains, Mourne Mountains, Twelve Bens, Achill Island, Giant's Causeway, Cliffs of Moher, The Burren plateau, Bog of Allen
Major Bodies of Water: River Shannon, Barrow River, Blackwater River, Lough Neagh, Lough Erne, Lough Conn, St. George's Channel, Irish Sea, Atlantic Ocean
Famous Places: Barney Castle and the Blarney Stone, Boyne Palace, Ring of Kerry, Cliffs of Moher, Giant's Causeway, Aran Islands, The Burren, Trinity College in Dublin, Saint Patrick's Cathedral, River Shannon, Killarney National Park, Benbulbin, Dublin Castle, Croke Park
Economy of Ireland
Major Industries: steel, lead, zinc, silver, aluminum, barite, and gypsum mining processing; food products, brewing, textiles, clothing; chemicals, pharmaceuticals; machinery, rail transportation equipment, passenger and commercial vehicles, ship construction and refurbishment; glass and crystal; software, tourism
Major Exports: machinery and equipment, computers, chemicals, pharmaceuticals; live animals, animal products
Major Imports: data processing equipment, other machinery and equipment, chemicals, petroleum and petroleum products, textiles, clothing
Irish Provinces
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Currency: euro (EUR)
National GDP: $187,100,000,000
Government of Ireland
Type of Government: republic, parliamentary democracy
Independence: 6 December 1921 (from UK by treaty)
Divisions: Ireland is divided up into four provinces (Ulster, Munster, Leinster, and Connacht) and 26 counties. Northern Ireland is sometimes considered part of the region of Ulster and is divided into 6 counties. The largest counties in the Republic of Ireland by population are Dublin, Cork, and Galway. See the map to the right for the names and locations of all the provinces and counties.
National Anthem or Song: Amhran na bhFiann (The Soldier's Song)
National Symbols:
Animal - Irish wolfhound, Stag
Tree - Sessile Oak
Bird - Lapwing
National symbol - Shamrock
Coat of arms - Navy blue shield with a gold Irish harp
Other symbols - Irish harp, Celtic cross
Description of flag: The flag of Ireland was adopted in the early 1900s. It has three vertical stripes of green (left or hoist side), white (middle), and orange (right). It is often called the Irish tricolour. The color green represents the Gaelic traditions of Ireland, the white represents peace, and the orange represents the supporters of William of Orange.
National Holiday: Saint Patrick's Day, 17 March
Other Holidays: New Years' Day (January 1), Saint Patrick's Day (March 17), Easter, May Day, June Holiday, August Holiday, October Holiday, Christmas (December 25), Saint Stephen's Day (December 26).
The People of Ireland
Languages Spoken: English (official) is the language generally used, Irish (official) (Gaelic or Gaeilge) spoken mainly in areas located along the western seaboard
Religions: Roman Catholic 88.4%, Church of Ireland 3%, other Christian 1.6%, other 1.5%, unspecified 2%, none 3.5% (2002 census)
Origin of the name Ireland: The name "Ireland" comes from the Irish word for the country "Eire." The word "Eire" comes from a Celtic goddess named Eiru.
Famous People:
Anne Bonny - Pirate
Bono - Lead singer for the band U2
Robert Boyle - Scientist considered the founder of modern chemistry
Jocelyn Bell Burnell - Astrophysicist
Michael Collins - Revolutionary hero
Colin Farrel - Actor
Niall Horan - Singer with One Direction
John Hume - Politician
James Joyce - Author
Roy Keane - Soccer player
C.S. Lewis - Author who wrote the Chronicles of Narnia series
Rory McIlroy - Professional golfer
Sinéad O'Connor - Singer
Maureen O’Hara - Actress
Grace O'Malley - 16th century Irish leader
Liam Neeson - Actor
Jonathon Swift - Author who wrote Gulliver's Travels
