Ireland (Irish: Éire; Ulster Scots: Airlann) is the third largest island in
Europe, and the twentieth largest in the world. It lies to the northwest of
Continental Europe and is surrounded by hundreds of islands and islets. To the
east of Ireland, separated by the Irish Sea, is the island of Great Britain.
Politically, the Republic of Ireland (also known simply as Ireland) covers five
sixths of the island, with Northern Ireland, part of the United Kingdom,
covering the remainder in the northeast.
The population of the island is slightly under six million (2006/7), with almost
4.25 million in the Republic of Ireland (1.7 million in Greater Dublin) and an
estimated 1.75 million in Northern Ireland (0.6 million in Greater Belfast).
This is a significant increase from a modern historical low in the 1960s.
Political geography
The island of Ireland has two distinct jurisdictions:
Ireland (legal name Ireland, legal description the Republic of Ireland), a
sovereign state, covers five sixths of the island. Its capital is Dublin.
Northern Ireland, part of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern
Ireland, covers the remaining sixth. Its capital is Belfast.
Climate
Overall, Ireland has a mild, but changeable, Oceanic climate with few
extremes. The warmest recorded air temperature was 33.3 °C (91.94 °F) at
Kilkenny Castle, County Kilkenny on 26 June 1887, where as the lowest recorded
temperature was -19.1 °C (-2.38 °F) at Markree Castle, County Sligo on 16
January 1881.
Places of interest
Some interesting places to visit on the island of Ireland include the following:
Achill Island, Co. Mayo
The Aran Islands, Co. Galway
Bangor, Co. Down
Blarney Castle, Co. Cork
The Book of Kells at Trinity College, Dublin
Bunratty Castle, Co. Clare
The Burren, Co. Clare
Cahir Castle nearby Cahir, Co Tipperary
Céide Fields, Co. Mayo
Clonmacnoise Co. Offaly
Croagh Patrick, Co. Mayo
Cliffs of Moher, Co. Clare
Walled City of Derry
Emain Macha (also known as Navan Fort), Co. Armagh
Galway City
The Giant's Causeway, Co. Antrim
Glendalough, Co. Wicklow
The Glens of Antrim, Co. Antrim
Hill of Tara, Co. Meath
The Botanic Gardens, Dublin
Jerpoint Abbey, Co Kilkenny
Killarney National Park, Co. Kerry
King John's Castle (Limerick)
Knock Shrine, Co. Mayo
Kylemore Abbey, Co. Galway
The Mourne Mountains, Co. Down
Newgrange, Co. Meath
The Rock of Cashel, Co. Tipperary
Trim Castle, Co. Meath
Tory Island, Co. Donegal
The Wicklow Way, Co. Wicklow
Culture of Ireland
The culture of the people living on the island of Ireland is far from
monolithic. Many notable cultural divides exist between the rural people and
city dwellers, between the Catholic and Protestant people of Northern Ireland,
between the Irish-speaking people inside and outside the Gaeltacht regions and
the English-speaking majority population, and increasingly between new
immigrants and the native population.
Economy
The economy of Ireland is modern and trade-dependent with growth averaging a
robust 10% in 1995–2000. Agriculture, once the most important sector, is now
dwarfed by industry, which accounts for 46% of GDP, about 80% of exports, and
employs 29% of the labour force. Although exports remain the primary engine for
Ireland's robust growth, the economy is also benefiting from a rise in consumer
spending and recovery in both construction and business investment. The annual
rate of inflation stands at 5.1% as of 2007, up from recent rates of between 3%
and 4%. On the EU HICP inflation index, inflation is 2.7% , against an EU
average of 1.8% . House price inflation has been a particular economic concern
(average house price was €251,281 in February 2005). Unemployment is low but is
rising and up to 30,000 jobs may be lost between 2007 and 2008 much of
which is attributed to a slowdown in house building. Incomes have been rising
rapidly as well as service charges (utilities, insurance, healthcare, legal
representation, etc.). Dublin, the nation's capital, was ranked 16th in a
worldwide cost of living survey in 2006 (up from 22nd in 2004 and 24th in 2003).
Health
Health care in the Republic of Ireland is governed by the Health Act 2004, which
established a new body to govern the national health service in the Republic of
Ireland, the Health Service Executive. The new health service came into being
officially on 1 January 2005; however the new structures are in the process of
being established. Hospital care is free to all, while citizens (and their
dependants, be they adult or child) who earn below a certain limit, or in some
other circumstances, are entitled to receive some more services (such as dental,
aural and oral care, prescription drugs and GP visits) for free, via a 'medical
card'.
