Ireland
Geography - People - Economy - Government - Communications - Transportation - Military - Transnational IssuesCountry information - Ireland
Country name - conventional long form : none
Country name - conventional short form : Ireland
Country name - local long form : none
Country name - local short form : Eire
Country name - former :
Country code : EI
Government type : republic, parliamentary democracy
Capital - name : Dublin
Capital - time difference : UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
National holiday : Saint Patrick's Day, 17 March
Population : 4,156,119 (July 2008 est.)
Nationality - noun : Irishman(men), Irishwoman(women), Irish (collective plural)
Nationality - adjective : Irish
Languages : English (official) is the language generally used, Irish (Gaelic or Gaeilge) (official) spoken mainly in areas located along the western seaboard
Currency (code) : euro (EUR)
Currency code : EUR
Major infectious diseases - degree of risk :
Major infectious diseases - note :
Ireland is located Western Europe, occupying five-sixths of the island of Ireland in the North Atlantic Ocean, west of Great Britain. The climate is temperate maritime; modified by North Atlantic Current; mild winters, cool summers; consistently humid; overcast about half the time. The terrain is mostly level to rolling interior plain surrounded by rugged hills and low mountains; sea cliffs on west coast.
Background
This entry usually highlights major historic events and current issues and may include a statement about one or two key future trends.Background : Celtic tribes arrived on the island between 600-150 B.C. Invasions by Norsemen that began in the late 8th century were finally ended when King Brian BORU defeated the Danes in 1014. English invasions began in the 12th century and set off more than seven centuries of Anglo-Irish struggle marked by fierce rebellions and harsh repressions. A failed 1916 Easter Monday Rebellion touched off several years of guerrilla warfare that in 1921 resulted in independence from the UK for 26 southern counties; six northern (Ulster) counties remained part of the UK. In 1949, Ireland withdrew from the British Commonwealth; it joined the European Community in 1973. Irish governments have sought the peaceful unification of Ireland and have cooperated with Britain against terrorist groups. A peace settlement for Northern Ireland is being implemented with some difficulties. In 2006, the Irish and British governments developed and began to implement the St. Andrews Agreement, building on the Good Friday Agreement approved in 1998.
