| Geographical Information |
| Map Location |
Europe |
| Geographical Location |
53° 00' North Latitude
8° 00' West Longitude |
| Surface Area |
70,280 sq km |
| Climate |
Temperate maritime; modified by North Atlantic Current; mild winters, cool summers; consistently humid; overcast about half the time |
| Natural Resources |
Natural gas, peat, copper, lead, zinc, silver, barite, gypsum, limestone, dolomite |
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| Political Information |
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| Country Name |
Ireland |
| Capital City |
Dublin |
| Government Type |
Republic |
| Administrative Divisions |
26 counties; Carlow, Cavan, Clare, Cork, Donegal, Dublin, Galway, Kerry, Kildare, Kilkenny, Laois, Leitrim, Limerick, Longford, Louth,
Mayo, Meath, Monaghan, Offaly, Roscommon, Sligo, Tipperary, Waterford, Westmeath, Wexford, Wicklow
Note: Cavan, Donegal, and Monaghan are part of Ulster Province |
| Independence Day |
6 December 1921 (from UK by treaty) |
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| Demographical Information |
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| Population |
4,015,676 (July 2005 est.) |
| Nationality |
Irish |
| Ethnic Groups |
Celtic, English |
| Religion |
Roman Catholic 88.4%, Church of Ireland 3%, other Christian 1.6%, other 1.5%, unspecified 2%, none 3.5% (2002 Census) |
| Languages |
English (official) is the language generally used, Irish (official) (Gaelic or Gaeilge) spoken mainly in areas located along the western seaboard |
| Population Growth Rate |
1.16% (2005 est.) |
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| Economical Information |
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| Currency |
Euro (EUR) |
| 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 |
| Labor Force |
1.92 million (2004 est.) |
| Labor Force by Sectors |
Agriculture 8%, industry 29%, services 63% (2002 est.) |
| Agriculture Products |
Turnips, barley, potatoes, sugar beets, wheat; beef, dairy products |
| Export Commodities |
Machinery and equipment, computers, chemicals, pharmaceuticals; live animals, animal products |
| Export Partners |
US 20.2%, UK 17.5%, Belgium 14.8%, Germany 7.5%, France 5.9%, Italy 4.5%, Netherlands 4.4% (2004) |
| Import Commodities |
Data processing equipment, other machinery and equipment, chemicals, petroleum and petroleum products, textiles, clothing |
| Import Partners |
UK 35.2%, US 13.5%, Germany 8.9%, France 4.3%, Netherlands 4.3% (2004) |
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| Transportation |
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| Railways |
3,312 km |
| Highways |
95,736 km |
| Pipelines |
Gas 1,795 km (2004) |
| Airports |
36 (2004 est.) |
| Ports and Harbors |
Arklow, Cork, Drogheda, Dublin, Foynes, Galway, Limerick, New Ross, Waterford |
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| Communication |
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| Phone Code |
+353 |
| Internet Abbreviation |
.ie |
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| Other |
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| Short History |
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 United Kingdom.
In 1948 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, known as the Good Friday Agreement and approved in 1998, is being implemented with some difficulties. |
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