Hello--Dia Duit
Good-Bye--Slán
Ireland is an island nation on the westernmost edge of Europe. It is the continent's second-largest island (after Great Britain).
FAST FACTS
OFFICIAL NAME: Ireland
FORM OF GOVERNMENT: Constitutional Democracy
CAPITAL: Dublin
POPULATION: 5,068,050
MONEY: Euro
OFFICIAL LANGUAGES: English and Gaelic
AREA: 26,592 square miles (68,890 square kilometers)
MAJOR MOUNTAIN RANGES: Macgillycuddy's Reeks, Wicklow Mountains
MAJOR RIVERS: Shannon, Liffey, Boyne, Moy, Barrow
GEOGRAPHY--Ireland is an island nation on the westernmost edge of Europe. It is the continent's second-largest island (after Great Britain). The Republic of Ireland occupies 80 percent of this landmass, while a large chunk of land in the north is part of the United Kingdom. Ireland is known for its wide expanses of lush, green fields. Its nickname is the Emerald Isle. But there are also large areas of rugged, rocky landscape. The movement of these giant sheets of ice stripped the soil, leaving huge tracts of flat, limestone pavement. Ireland's midlands and west coast are dotted with damp peat bogs, the soggy remains of dried-up ancient lakes left by the glaciers. Ireland's highlands rise mainly in the southwest, often ending at sheer cliffs that plunge thousands of feet into the Atlantic Ocean.
PEOPLE & CULTURE
Ireland is a nation of storytellers. The tradition dates back to Celtic bards, who recorded and recited the country's history. Many famed writers come from Ireland, including several Nobel Prize for literature winners. St. Patrick’s Day—observed internationally every March 17—is packed with parades, good luck charms, and all things green. The event started as a religious holiday, but over time it’s become a celebration of Irish culture.?
NATURE
The Irish have a great affection for nature and rural life. The country's first coins even featured pictures of animals. Low levels of development and pollution in Ireland have left most of the nation's open spaces relatively undisturbed. Did you know that there are no wild snakes in Ireland? The sea has stopped many animals common on mainland Europe from reaching the island. There are only two wild mouse species, one type of lizard, and just three kinds of amphibians. To preserve natural habitat, the government has established six national parks and hundreds of national heritage areas throughout the country.
