Ireland, the 3rd largest island in Europe and 20th largest island in the world is situated in northwestern Europe. The island nation is surrounded by hundreds of islands and islets. Northern Ireland is a part of UK while the five-sixth of the state of Ireland is controlled by the Irish government. The Irish Sea separates Ireland and island of Great Britain. The North Atlantic Ocean borders the nation to the west. The capital of the state of Ireland is Dublin while the capital of Northern Ireland is Belfast.
HISTORY:- In the stone and Bronze ages, the north Ireland was inhabited by the Picts and the south Ireland was inhabited by the Erainn people. Around 4th century BC, a tall, red-haired people migrated from Gaul to Ireland and overthrew the local inhabitants. Around 431, five kingdoms- Ulster, Connacht, Leinster, Meath, and Munster reigned the nation. The Viking people arrived and settled in the land in the 9th century. In 12th century, Ireland was included in the British territory with Henry II of England as the ‘Lord of Ireland’. In 1690, in the Battle of the Boyne, the Catholic King James II was defeated by the Protestant King William III to start Protestant era in politics and economy. ‘United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland’ was formed with the ‘Act of Union’ by the merger of Great Britain and Ireland in 1801, though the demands for home rule for Ireland by the anti-British group continued. In the Easter Rebellion in Dublin in 1916, Irish nationalists failed to overthrow British crown. The Irish Free State was set up in the Northern Ireland under UK and the remaining portion was granted home rule. The Irish Republican Army struggled against the partition but failed. In 1937 a new constitution was adopted. During the reign of John A. Costello, independence was demanded which was withdrew in 1949 by the Commonwealth. Leaving the British Commonwealth in 1949, Ireland merged with the European Community in 1973. The Irish and British governments implemented the St. Andrews Agreement in 2006.
GEOGRAPHY:- Ireland is located at 53 00 N, 8 00 W in Western Europe, possessing 70,280 sq km area (land: 68,890 sq km, water: 1,390 sq km). The coastline is 1,448 km long along with the North Atlantic Ocean. The lowest point is Atlantic Ocean (0 m) and the highest point is Carrauntoohil (1,041 m). Ireland is mostly formed of rolling plains in the interior surrounded by rugged hills and low mountains with sea cliffs on the west coast.
CLIMATE:- The climate of Ireland is temperate maritime, which is modified by the North Atlantic Current, with mild winters and cool summers. The nation is mostly humid and remained overcast about half of the year.
GOVERNMENT:- The republic of Ireland has a parliamentary democracy. The constitution was adopted on 1st July 1937. The legal system is based on the English common law. The three branches of the government are:
Executive branch comprises the President (chief of state), the Prime minister (head of government), and the cabinet. President is elected by popular vote on a 7-year term. The cabinet is appointed by the President on the nomination of the Prime minister with the approval of the House of Representatives.
Legislative branch comprises the bicameral Parliament which comprises the Senate the Senate (60 seats), and the House of Representatives (166 seats).
Judicial branch comprises the Supreme Court.
Major political parties are Fianna Fail, Fine Gael, Labour, Progressive Democrats, Green Party, Sinn Fein. Suffrage is universal at 18.
President Mary McAleese
Prime Minister Bertie Ahern
Major political parties are Fianna Fail, Fine Gael, Labour, Progressive Democrats, Green Party, Sinn Fein. Suffrage is universal at 18.
President Mary McAleese
Prime Minister Bertie Ahern
ADMINISTRATIVE DIVISIONS:- Ireland is divided into 26 counties.
CULTURE:- Irish culture has a rich heritage of folk music and dances. Gaelic Football, Association Football, Hurling and Rugby are the most widely practiced sports of Ireland.
ECONOMY:- Irish economy is small, compact, modern, and trade-dependent economy. Agriculture based economy of Ireland is gradually overshadowed by industry.
GDP/PPP (2007 est.): $187.5 billion; per capita $45,600.
Real growth rate: 5%.
Inflation: 4.7%.
Unemployment: 4.2%.
Arable land: 16%.
Agriculture: Turnips, barley, potatoes, sugar beets, wheat; beef, dairy products.
Labor force: 2.21 million (2007 est.); agriculture 6%, industry 27%, services 67% (2006 est.).
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.
Budget:
Revenues: $93.97 billion
Expenditures: $88.27 billion (2007 est.)
Revenues: $93.97 billion
Expenditures: $88.27 billion (2007 est.)
Public debt: 24.7% of GDP (2007 est.)
Debt - external: $1.841 trillion (30 June 2007)
Natural resources: Zinc, lead, natural gas, barite, copper, gypsum, limestone, dolomite, peat, silver.
Exports: $124.8 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.): machinery and equipment, computers, chemicals, pharmaceuticals; live animals, and animal products.
Imports: $90.35 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.): data processing equipment, other machinery and equipment, chemicals, petroleum and petroleum products, textiles, and clothing.
Major trading partners: U.S., UK, Belgium, Germany, France, Netherlands, Italy (2006).
Monetary units: Euro
LANGUAGE:- English, and Irish are the official languages of Ireland.
CITIES:- The capital Dublin is the largest city of Ireland. Other large cities are Cork, Limerick, Galway.
POPULATION:- The population of Ireland is estimated 4,109,086 with growth the rate of 1.1%.
Density per sq mi: 154
Literacy rate: 99% (2003 est.)
Density per sq mi: 154
Literacy rate: 99% (2003 est.)
RACE:-
Irish 87.9%
Other white 6.9%
Asian 1.3%
Black 1.1%
Mixed 1.1%
Unspecified 1.7% (2006)
Irish 87.9%
Other white 6.9%
Asian 1.3%
Black 1.1%
Mixed 1.1%
Unspecified 1.7% (2006)
RELIGION:-
Roman Catholic 88.4%
Church of Ireland 3%
Other Christian 1.6%
Other 1.5%
Unspecified 2%
None 3.5% (2002)
Roman Catholic 88.4%
Church of Ireland 3%
Other Christian 1.6%
Other 1.5%
Unspecified 2%
None 3.5% (2002)
HEALTH:-
Birth rate: 14.33 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Death rate: 7.77 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Infant mortality rate: total: 5.14 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 78.07 years
Total fertility rate: 1.85 children born/woman (2008 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths: less than 100 (2003 est.)
Total expenditure on health per capita (Intl $, 2005): 3,122
Birth rate: 14.33 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Death rate: 7.77 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Infant mortality rate: total: 5.14 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 78.07 years
Total fertility rate: 1.85 children born/woman (2008 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths: less than 100 (2003 est.)
Total expenditure on health per capita (Intl $, 2005): 3,122
UNICEF:- UNICEF Ireland was set up in 1962. UNICEF Ireland’s priority is the poorest children all over the world. It works to establish rights of children worldwide. UNICEF Ireland raises funds for them. Presently UNICEF Ireland supports 12 programmes in 8 countries Afghanistan, Bosnia Herzegovina, Iraq, Kosovo, Sierra Leone, Ukraine, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
TRANSPORTATION:-
Railways: total: 3,237 km (2006).
Highways: total: 96,602 km; paved: 96,602 km (including 125 km of expressways); unpaved: 0 km (2003).
Waterways: 956 km (pleasure craft only) (2007).
Ports and harbors: Cork, Dublin, New Ross, Shannon Foynes, Waterford.
Airports: 34 (2007).
Railways: total: 3,237 km (2006).
Highways: total: 96,602 km; paved: 96,602 km (including 125 km of expressways); unpaved: 0 km (2003).
Waterways: 956 km (pleasure craft only) (2007).
Ports and harbors: Cork, Dublin, New Ross, Shannon Foynes, Waterford.
Airports: 34 (2007).
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