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About Ireland
The island of Ireland is located in the north-western tip of Europe. Ireland is surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean, with the Celtic Sea to the south, Saint George’s Channel to the south-east and the Irish Sea to the east. The island of Ireland is over 32,000 sq. miles/84,000 sq. km in size. The island is 301 miles/486 km from north to south and 170 miles/275 km from east to west. There are two parts of the island of Ireland:
1. The Republic of Ireland occupies approximately 80% of the island of Ireland. The capital and largest city is Dublin, which is located on the eastern part of the island. The population of the Republic of Ireland is approximately 5 million, 1 million of whom reside in the Dublin area. The head of government is the Taoiseach (Prime Minister). There is also an elected President who serves as the largely ceremonial head of state, but with some important powers and duties. The Irish Free State (later to become the Republic of Ireland) was formed in 1922 following independence from British rule. The Republic of Ireland became a member of the United Nations in December 1955. It joined the European Economic Community (EEC), the predecessor of the European Union, in 1973. The Republic of Ireland ranks among the top twenty-five wealthiest countries in the world in terms of GDP per capita, and as the twelfth most prosperous country in the world according to The Legatum Prosperity Index 2019. The Irish government has followed a policy of military neutrality through non-alignment since immediately prior to World War II and the country is consequently not a member of NATO, although it is a member in Partnership for Peace.
2. Northern Ireland remains part of the United Kingdom and is located in the northeast of the island of Ireland. The population of Northern Ireland is over 1.8 million. Belfast is the capital and largest city in Northern Ireland and has a population of over 300,000. Established by the Northern Ireland Act 1998 as part of the Good Friday Agreement, the Northern Ireland Assembly holds responsibility for a range of devolved policy matters, while other areas are reserved for the British government. Northern Ireland co-operates with the Republic of Ireland in several areas, and the Agreement granted the Republic the ability to “put forward views and proposals” with “determined efforts to resolve disagreements between the two governments.”
The geography of the island of Ireland comprises relatively low-lying mountains surrounding a central plain, with several navigable rivers extending inland. The earliest evidence of
human presence in Ireland is dated at 10,500 BC. Irish culture has had a significant influence on other cultures, especially in the field of literature. Alongside mainstream Western culture, a strong indigenous culture exists, as expressed through Gaelic games, Irish music and the Irish language.
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