POPULATION:
The inhabitants of Ireland are 4,125,000 million people.
LOCATION:
Western Europe, occupying five-sixths of the island of Ireland in the North Atlantic Ocean, west of Great Britain
LANDSCAPE:
Ireland´s landscape has a great variety; from bizarre lunar landscapes and the mighty Atlantic to labyrinthine caves and crystal clear waterways.
WEATHER:
Ireland has mild winters, cool summers; consistently humid; overcast about half the time.
PUBLIC TRANSPORT:
Ireland has five main international airports: Dublin Airport, Belfast International Airport (Aldergrove), Cork Airport, Shannon Airport and Ireland West Airport (Knock).
Ireland has ports in Dublin, Belfast, Cork, Rosslare, Derry and Waterford. Smaller ports exist in Arklow, Ballina, Drogheda, Dundalk, Dún Laoghaire, Foynes, Galway, Larne, Limerick, New Ross, Sligo, Warrenpoint and Wicklow. The Ferry connections between Ireland and Great Britain are via the Irish Sea. Long distance passenger trains in the Republic of Ireland connect most major towns and cities.
RELIGION:
Roman Catholic is the top religion 87.4%
LANGUAGE:
Gaelic is the official language, but English is the main language spoken.
HISTORY:
- Its history dates back to 6000BC
- Vikings began attacking Ireland in 795 AD; 17 years later they returned and established Dyflinn (Dublin)
- England began seizing land in the 1100s, but many areas remained in Irish hands until the 16th centruy
- The Great Famine was “caused by a potato blight that struck crops over a four-year period from 1845-49.” Millions died from starvation and diseases (e.g, typhus).
- From 1848-1950, two million plus Irish emigrated (e.g., United States, the United Kingdom, Canada and Australia).
- During the 1990’s, good economy changed the tide of emigration to immigration.
LEGAL SYSTEM:
Based on English common law substantially modified by indigenous concepts; judicial review of legislative acts in Supreme Court.
AGRICULTURE – PRODUCTS:
Beef, dairy products, barley, potatoes, wheat.
CURRENCY:
Euro
