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{{three other uses|the island in Europe|the sovereign state named "Ireland"|Republic of Ireland|the constituent country of the United Kingdom|Northern Ireland}}

{{pp-move-indef}}
{{coord|53|N|07|W|type:country|display=title}}
{{Infobox Islands
|name = Ireland
|image name = Ireland from space edit.jpg|thumb|upright|right
|image caption = True colour image of Ireland, captured by a [[National Aeronautics and Space Administration|NASA]] [[satellite]] on 4 January 2003, with the [[Atlantic Ocean]] to the west and the [[Irish Sea]] to the east.
|locator map = Ireland (island) in Europe.png
|map_custom = no
|native name = Éire / Ireland
|native name link = Irish language
|location = [[Northern Europe]] or [[Western Europe]]<ref>https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ei.html</ref>|coordinates =
|area = {{km2 to mi2 | 84421 |abbr=yes}}<ref name="irlgeog">{{cite web |url=http://www.gov.ie/en/essays/geography.html |title=Geography of Ireland |publisher=[[Government of Ireland]] |accessdate=2009-11-11 |last=Nolan |first=Professor William }}</ref>
|rank = 20th
|coastline = {{convert|3700|km|mi|abbr=on}}
|highest mount = [[Carrauntoohil]]
|elevation = {{convert|1041|m|ft|0|abbr=on}}
|official_languages = [[Irish]], English
|country = {{flag|Ireland}}
|country largest city = [[Dublin]]
|country 2 = {{flag|United Kingdom}}
|country 2 admin divisions title = [[Constituent country]]
|country 2 admin divisions = [[Northern Ireland]]
|country 2 largest city = [[Belfast]]
|population = 6,300,000
|population as of = 2009
|ethnic groups = [[Irish people|Irish]], [[Ulster Scots people|Ulster Scots]], [[Irish Travellers]]
|density = 71
|}}
'''Ireland''' ({{IPA-en|ˈaɪrlənd|pron|en-us-Ireland.ogg}}, {{IPA2|ˈaɾlənd|locally}}; {{lang-ga|[[Éire]]}}, {{IPA-ga|ˈeːɾʲə|pron|Eire.ogg}}; [[Ulster Scots]]: ''Airlann'', {{lang-lat|[[Hibernia]]}}) is the [[List of European islands by area|third-largest island]] in [[Europe]] and the [[List of islands by area|twentieth-largest island]] in the world.<ref name='unep'>{{cite web|url=http://islands.unep.ch/Tiarea.htm|title=Islands by area|date=1998-02-18|work=UN system-wide earthwatch|publisher=[[United Nations Environment Programme]]|accessdate=2008-08-30}}</ref> It lies to the north-west of [[continental Europe]] and is surrounded by hundreds of islands and [[islet]]s. To the east of Ireland, separated by the [[Irish Sea]], is the island of [[Great Britain]]. The sovereign state of [[Republic of Ireland|Ireland]] (''official name Ireland, description "Republic of Ireland"'')<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.irishstatutebook.ie:80/1948/en/act/pub/0022/sec0002.html#zza22y1948s2 |title= Republic of Ireland Act 1948|date= 1948|work= Section 2|publisher= Government of Ireland|accessdate=2008-10-23}}</ref> covers five-sixths of the island, with [[Northern Ireland]] (part of the [[United Kingdom]]) covering the remaining one-sixth of the island, located in the northeast.

The first settlements in Ireland date from around 8000&nbsp;BC. By 200&nbsp;BC Celtic migration and influence had come to dominate Ireland. Relatively small scale settlements of both the [[Vikings]] and [[Norman invasion of Ireland|Normans]] in the Middle Ages gave way to complete [[Tudor reconquest of Ireland|English domination by the 1600s]]. Protestant English rule resulted in the marginalisation of the Catholic majority, although in the north-east, Protestants were in the majority due to the [[Plantation of Ulster]]. Ireland became part of the [[United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland]] in 1801. A [[Great Famine (Ireland)|famine]] in the mid-1800s caused large-scale death and emigration. The [[Irish War of Independence]] ended in 1921 with the British Government proposing a truce and during which the [[Anglo-Irish Treaty]] was signed, creating the [[Irish Free State]]. This was a [[Dominion]] within the British Empire, with effective internal independence but still constitutionally linked with the British Crown.<ref>[[#refHDBEv1|Olson]], p.&nbsp;58.</ref> Northern Ireland, consisting of six of the 32 [[Counties of Ireland|Irish counties]] which had been established as a devolved region under the 1920 [[Government of Ireland Act 1920|Government of Ireland Act]], immediately exercised its option under the treaty to retain its existing status within the United Kingdom.<ref>[[#refMagee|Magee]], p.&nbsp;108.</ref> The Free State left the [[Commonwealth of Nations|Commonwealth]] to become a [[Republic of Ireland Act 1948|republic in 1949]]. In 1973 both parts of Ireland joined the [[European Economic Community|European Community]]. [[The Troubles|Conflict in Northern Ireland]] led to much unrest from the late 1960s until the 1990s, which subsided following a [[Good Friday Agreement|peace deal]] in 1998.

The population of Ireland is slightly under six million (2006), with nearly 4.25 million residing in the Republic of Ireland<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cso.ie/statistics/Population1901-2006.htm |title=Population 1901 - 2006 |date=2006 |work=People and Society |publisher=[[Central Statistics Office (Ireland)|CSO]] |accessdate=2009-10-10}}</ref> and an estimated 1.75 million in Northern Ireland.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/7775349.stm |title=NI's population passes 1.75m mark |date=December 2000 |work=News |publisher=BBC News |accessdate=2009-08-30}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/mhcwkfmhsnkf/rss2/ |title=Migration pushes population in the North up to 1.75 million |date=July 2007 |work=Breaking News |publisher=Demography and Methodology Branch, NISRA |accessdate=2008-10-23}}</ref> This is a significant increase from a modern historic low in the 1960s, but still much lower than the peak population of over 8 million in the early 19th century, prior to the [[Great Famine (Ireland)|Great Famine]].<ref>{{cite web|url= http://lcweb2.loc.gov/learn/features/immig/irish2.html|title= Irish-Catholic Immigration to America|date= 7 May 2007|work= Immigration|publisher= Library of Congress|accessdate=2008-10-25}}</ref>

The name ''Ireland'' derives from the name of the [[Irish Mythology|Celtic goddess]] ''[[Ériu]]'' (in modern [[Irish language|Irish]], ''Éire'') with the addition of the [[Germanic languages|Germanic]] word ''land''. Most other western European names for Ireland, such as [[Spanish language|Spanish]] ''Irlanda'', derive from the same source.<ref>Also [[Italian language|Italian]], [[Romanian language|Romanian]] and [[Portuguese language|Portuguese]] ''Irlanda'', [[French language|French]] ''Irlande'', [[German language|German]] ''Irland'', and [[Dutch language|Dutch]] ''Ierland'', as well as [[Russian language|Russian]] ''Ирландия'' [irlˈanʲdʲijə].</ref>

==Geography==
=== Political geography ===
[[Image:Ireland-Capitals.PNG|thumb|right|200px|Political map of Ireland showing [[Republic of Ireland|the Republic of Ireland]] and [[Northern Ireland]]]]

{{further|for the political history of the island, see [[History of Ireland]]; for other political institutions, see [[Politics of Ireland]] and [[Demography and politics of Northern Ireland]]}}

Ireland is occupied by two political entities:

*'''[[Republic of Ireland|Ireland]]''' (also sometimes 'Republic of Ireland', such as seen on this map for disambiguation, is not normally used in international diplomacy), a [[Sovereignty|sovereign]] [[country]], covers five-sixths of the island. Its [[Capital (political)|capital]] is [[Dublin]].
*'''[[Northern Ireland]]''', part of the United Kingdom, covers the remaining sixth. Its capital is [[Belfast]].

==== All-island traditional subdivisions ====

Traditionally, Ireland is subdivided into [[Provinces of Ireland|four provinces]]: [[Connacht]], [[Leinster]], [[Munster]], and [[Ulster]]; and, in a political system that was developed between the 13th and 17th centuries, [[Counties_of_Ireland|thirty-two counties]].<ref>{{cite book | last =Crawford | first =John G. | title =Anglicizing the Government of Ireland: The Irish Privy Council & the Expansion of Tudor Rule 1556-1578 | publisher =Irish Academic Press | year =1993|isbn=0716524988 }}</ref> Twenty-six of the counties are in the Republic of Ireland, and [[Counties of Northern Ireland|six counties]] (six of Ulster's nine counties) are in Northern Ireland. "Ulster" is often used as a synonym for Northern Ireland, although Ulster and Northern Ireland are neither synonymous nor co-terminous, according to very old boundaries established in the [[early modern period]], since three counties of Ulster ([[County Cavan|Cavan]], [[County Donegal|Donegal]], and [[County Monaghan|Monaghan]]) are part of the Republic of Ireland. Counties Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Galway, Waterford, and Tipperary have been broken up into smaller administrative areas, but they are still considered by the [[Ordnance Survey Ireland]] to be official counties. The counties in Northern Ireland are no longer used for local governmental purposes, though their traditional boundaries are still used for informal purposes such as sports leagues, etc.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://ulster.gaa.ie/county/|title= Ulster county divisions|date=2008|work=Comhairle Uladh CLG|publisher=[[GAA]]|accessdate=2008-10-24}}</ref> and in some other cultural, ceremonial or tourism contexts.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.armaghanddown.com/|title= NI Tourist board comprising Counties Armagh and Down|date=2008|work=Armagh and Down|publisher= NI Tourist Board|accessdate=2008-10-24}}</ref>

[[Image:Ireland complete.svg|thumb|right|2oopx|Map of all the traditional counties and provinces on the island of Ireland]]

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Province !! Population<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.cso.ie/statistics/popofeachprovcountycity2006.htm|title= Population by Province|date=2006|work=Population|publisher=CSO|accessdate=2008-10-23}}</ref> !! Area (km²) !! Area (sq mi) !! Largest city
|-
| align=left| [[Connacht]] || 504,121 || 17,713 || 6,839 || [[Galway]]
|-
| align=left|[[Leinster]] || 2,295,123 || 19,774 || 7,635 || [[Dublin]]
|-
| align=left| [[Munster]] || 1,173,340 || 24,608 || 9,501 || [[Cork (city)|Cork]]
|-
| align=left| [[Ulster]] || 1,993,918 || 24,481 || 9,452 || [[Belfast]]
|}

==== All-island institutions ====
Despite the national separation resulting from differing governments, the entire island shares a [[highway]] and [[railway]] system, power and water grids, [[radio]] and [[television broadcasting]] systems, and phone and Internet systems. [[Satellite communications]] and the [[Internet]] serve all parts of Ireland and interconnect them with each other, as well as with the rest of the world.

The [[English language]] is spoken and understood by almost all people on both sides of the boundary, though some speak Irish Gaelic as well.

Ireland as an island operates as a single entity in a number of areas that transcend governmental divisions. With a few notable exceptions, this island operates as a single unit in all major [[Religion in Ireland|religious]] denominations, in many economic fields despite using two different currencies, and in sports such as [[hurling]], [[Gaelic football]], [[rugby football]] (union and league), [[golf]], [[tennis]], [[boxing]], [[cricket]], [[Baseball in Ireland|baseball]], [[American football]], [[field hockey]], and perhaps [[ice hockey]].

An exception to this is [[Association football|soccer]]: following [[Partition of Ireland|partition]], the (previously all-island) [[Irish Football Association]] retained control of soccer only in Northern Ireland, with a separate [[Football Association of Ireland]] being formed for the remainder of the island. The creation of an all-island soccer league and a single international team (as is the case for [[rugby union]]) has been publicly touted by various prominent figures on the island in recent years, such as [[Irish government]] minister [[Dermot Ahern]].<ref>{{cite web|url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/6280591.stm|title= Call for all-Ireland soccer team|date=19 January 2007|work=BBC Sport|publisher= BBC News|accessdate=2008-10-26}}</ref> More recently, there have been calls for an All-Ireland league, however due to contract commitments with sponsors and lack of interest between the two football associations this is unlikely in the near future.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/irish/7193678.stm|title= All-Ireland warning from Delaney|date=17 January 2008|work=BBC Sport|publisher= BBC News|accessdate=2008-10-26}}</ref> An all-Ireland club cup competition, the [[Setanta Cup]], was created in 2005.

All major religious bodies are organised on an all-Ireland basis, such as the [[Roman Catholicism in Ireland|Roman Catholic Church]], the [[Anglicanism|Anglican]] [[Church of Ireland]], the [[Presbyterian Church in Ireland]], the [[Methodist Church in Ireland]], the [[Association of Baptist Churches in Ireland]], and the [[Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland]]. Some [[trade union]]s are also organised on an all-island basis and associated with the [[Irish Congress of Trade Unions]] (ICTU) in Dublin, while others in Northern Ireland are affiliated with the [[Trades Union Congress]] (TUC) in the United Kingdom, and some affiliate to both—although such unions may organise in both parts of the island as well as in Great Britain. The [[Union of Students in Ireland]] (USI) organises jointly in Northern Ireland with the [[National Union of Students of the United Kingdom]] (NUS), under the name [[NUS-USI]].

Strand 2 of the [[Belfast Agreement]] provides for all-Ireland co-operation in various guises. For example, a [[North-South Ministerial Council]] was established as a forum in which ministers from the Irish government and the [[Northern Ireland Executive]] can discuss matters of mutual concern and formulate all-Ireland policies in twelve "areas of co-operation", such as agriculture, the environment and transport. Six of these policy areas have been provided with implementation bodies, an example of which is the Food Safety Promotion Board. Tourism marketing is also managed on an all-Ireland basis, by [[Tourism Ireland]].

Two political parties, [[Sinn Féin]] and the [[Irish Green Party]], contest elections and hold legislative seats in both jurisdictions. The largest party in the Republic of Ireland, [[Fianna Fáil]], registered with the [[Electoral Commission (UK)|Electoral Commission]] in Northern Ireland, and has considered extending its organisation into Northern Ireland, perhaps via a merger with another political party, the [[Social Democratic and Labour Party]] (SDLP).<ref>{{cite web | last = Jones | first = Steve | title = Ireland: Fianna Fail and SDLP float unity pact | publisher = World Socialist Web Site | date = 2003-02-01 | url = http://www.wsws.org/articles/2003/feb2003/irel-f01.shtml | accessdate = 2008-11-05 }}</ref>

An increasingly large amount of commercial activity operates on an all-Ireland basis, a development which is in part facilitated by the two jurisdictions' shared membership of the [[European Union]]. There have been calls for the creation of an "all-island economy" from members of the business community and policy-makers on both sides of the border, so as to benefit from [[economies of scale]] and boost competitiveness in both jurisdictions.<ref>{{cite web|archiveurl= http://web.archive.org/web/*/http://www.forfas.ie/ncc/reports/ncc_ndp_submission/ncc061114_ndp_submission_dept_finance_webopt.pdf| archivedate=2008-11-09|url=http://www.forfas.ie/ncc/reports/ncc_ndp_submission/ncc061114_ndp_submission_dept_finance_webopt.pdf| title= National Competitiveness Council Submission on the National Development Plan 2007-2013|date=October 2006|work=Submission|publisher= National Competitiveness Council|accessdate=2008-11-07}}</ref> This is a stated aim of the Irish government and [[Irish nationalism|nationalist]] political parties in the Northern Ireland Assembly.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.niassembly.gov.uk/io/agreement.htm |title= Agreement Reached in the Multi-party Negotiations|date=10 April 1998|work=Agreement|publisher= [[Northern Ireland Assembly]]|accessdate=2008-10-26}}</ref> One commercial area in which the island already operates largely as a single entity is the electricity market.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.allislandmarket.com/about/|title= About SEMO |date=2005|work=Publication|publisher= Single Electricity Market Operator (SEMO)|accessdate=2008-10-26}}</ref> and there are plans for the creation of an all-island gas market.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/breaking-news/ireland/politics/dup-minister-expresses-support-for-single-gas-market-13442926.html |title= DUP minister expresses support for single gas market|date=2007-05-18|work=Newspaper|publisher= Belfast Telegraph|accessdate=2008-10-26}}</ref>

March 17th is celebrated throughout Ireland as the traditional Irish holiday of [[St. Patrick's Day]].

=== Physical geography ===
[[Image:Ireland physical small.png|thumb|upright|right|Physical features of Ireland. See also [[:Image:Ireland physical large.png|this larger version]].]]
{{Main|Geography of Ireland}}

A ring of coastal mountains surrounds low central [[plain]]s. The highest peak is [[Carrauntoohil]] ({{lang-ga|Corrán Tuathail}}) in [[County Kerry]], which is {{convert|1038|m|ft|0|abbr=on}}.<ref name="OSIFAQS">{{cite web |title =Ordnance Survey FAQs |publisher=[[Ordnance Survey of Ireland]] |url=http://www.osi.ie/en/faq/faqs.aspx |accessdate=2009-09-30 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title = Kerry: Key Facts | publisher = Discoverireland.ie | url = http://www.discoverireland.ie/southwest/kerry/what-to-do/key-facts.aspx | accessdate = 2008-10-23 }}</ref> The [[River Shannon]], at {{convert|386|km|mi|0|abbr=on}}, is the longest river in Ireland.<ref>{{cite web | title = Nature and Scenery | work = Ireland's landscape | publisher = Discover Ireland (Official Ireland tourism website) | url = http://www.discoverireland.com/gb/about-ireland/nature/ | accessdate = 2008-11-09 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title = Ireland | work = Encarta Encyclopedia | publisher = Micsosoft Corporation | date = | url = http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761566701/ireland.html | accessdate = 2008-11-09 |archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/5kwrVypco|archivedate=2009-10-31|deadurl=yes}}</ref> The island's lush vegetation, a product of its mild climate and frequent rainfall, earns it the [[sobriquet]] "Emerald Isle". The island's area is {{convert|84421|km2|mi2|0|abbr=on}}. <ref name="irlgeog">{{cite web |url=http://www.gov.ie/en/essays/geography.html |title=Geography of Ireland |publisher=[[Government of Ireland]] |accessdate=2009-11-11 |last=Nolan |first=Professor William }}</ref>

Ireland's least arable land lies in the south-western and western counties.{{Citation needed|date=October 2008}} These areas are largely mountainous and rocky, with green [[Panorama|panoramic vistas]].

==== Climate ====
{{seealso|Climate of Ireland}}
Overall, Ireland has a mild but changeable [[oceanic climate]] with few extremes. The warmest recorded air temperature was {{nowrap|33.3 °C}} {{nowrap|(91.9 °F)}} at [[Kilkenny Castle]], [[County Kilkenny]] on 26 June 1887, whereas the lowest recorded temperature was {{nowrap|−19.1 °C}} {{nowrap|(−2.4 °F)}} at [[Markree Castle]], [[County Sligo]] on 16 January 1881.<ref>{{cite web | title = Temperature in Ireland | work = Climate | publisher = Met Éireann | url = http://www.met.ie/climate/temperature.asp | accessdate = 2008-11-05}}</ref>

Other statistics show that the greatest recorded annual rainfall was {{convert|3964.9|mm|in|1|abbr=on}} in the Ballaghbeena Gap in 1960. The driest year on record was 1887, with only {{convert|356.6|mm|in|1|abbr=on}} of rain recorded at [[Glasnevin]], while the longest period of absolute drought was in Limerick where there was no recorded rainfall over 38 days during April and May 1938.<ref name="MErainfall">{{cite web | title = Rainfall | work = Climate | publisher = Met Éireann | url = http://www.met.ie/climate/rainfall.asp | accessdate = 2008-11-05}}</ref>

The climate is typically insular, and as a result of the moderating moist winds which ordinarily prevail from the South-Western Atlantic, it is temperate, avoiding the extremes in temperature of many other areas in the world at similar latitudes.<ref name="MEclimate">{{cite web | title =Climate of Ireland | work =Climate | publisher =Met Éireann | url =http://www.met.ie/climate/climate-of-ireland.asp | accessdate =2008-11-11 }}</ref>

Precipitation falls throughout the year, but is light overall, particularly in the east. The west, however, tends to be wetter on average and prone to the full force of Atlantic storms, especially in the late autumn and winter months, which occasionally bring destructive winds and high rainfall totals to these areas, as well as snow and hail. The regions of North [[Galway]] and East Mayo have the highest incidents of recorded lightning annually (5 to 10 days per year).<ref name="MErainfall"/> Munster in the south records the least snow with Ulster in the north more prone to snow. In 2009 temperatures went belowbr> {{convert|-7|°C|°F}} and caused up to<br>{{convert|1/2|m|ft|2|abbr=on}} of snow in the mountains where as in Dublin there was {{convert|10|cm|in|1|abbr=on}} of snow in places.

Inland areas are warmer in summer and colder in winter &ndash; there are usually around 40 days of below freezing temperatures<br> ({{convert|0|°C|°F|disp=s}}) at inland weather stations, but only 10 days at coastal stations. Ireland is sometimes affected by heat waves, most recently in 1995, [[2003 European heat wave|2003]] and [[2006 European heat wave#Ireland|2006]].

==== Geology ====
Geologically the island consists of a number of provinces&mdash;in the far west around Galway and Donegal is a medium to high grade metamorphic and igneous complex of [[Caledonides|Caledonide]] (Scottish Highland) affinity. Across southeast Ulster and extending southwest to [[Longford]] and south to [[Navan]] is a province of Ordovician and Silurian rocks with more affinities with the [[Southern Uplands]] province of [[Scotland]]. Further south, there is an area along the [[Wexford]] coast of granite [[Intrusion|intrusives]] into more Ordovician and Silurian rocks with a more Welsh affinity.<ref>{{cite web | title = Geology of Ireland | work = Geology for Everyone | publisher = Geological Survey of Ireland | url = http://www.gsi.ie/Education/Geology+for+Everyone/Geology+of+Ireland.htm | accessdate = 2008-11-05}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title = Bedrock Geology of Ireland | work = Geology for Everyone | publisher = Geological Survey of Ireland | url = http://www.gsi.ie/NR/rdonlyres/0302F251-C4ED-4938-BCF0-CF228A3E8F6A/0/GSI_GeolIreland_A4.pdf | accessdate = 2008-11-05}}</ref>

[[Image:Carrantuohill.jpg|180px|thumb|left|[[Carrauntoohil]], the highest peak in Ireland, located in Macgillycuddy's Reeks]]
In the southwest, around [[Bantry Bay]] and the mountains of [[Macgillicuddy's Reeks]], is an area of substantially deformed but only lightly [[Metamorphic rock|metamorphosed]] Devonian-aged rocks.<ref>{{cite web | title = Geology of Kerry-Cork - Sheet 21 | work = Maps | publisher = Geological Survey of Ireland | date = 2007 | url = http://www.gsi.ie/Publications+and+Data/Maps/Geology+of+Kerry-Cork+-+Sheet+21.htm | accessdate = 2008-11-09}}</ref>

This partial ring of "hard rock" geology is covered by a blanket of Carboniferous limestone over the centre of the country, giving rise to the comparatively fertile and famously "lush" landscape of the country. The west coast district of [[The Burren]] around [[Lisdoonvarna]] has well developed [[karst]] features.<ref>{{cite web | last = Karst Working Group 2000 | title = The Burren: Karst of Ireland - the Burren | publisher = County Clare Library | date = 2000 | url = http://www.clarelibrary.ie/eolas/coclare/places/the_burren/burren_karst.htm | accessdate = 2008-11-05}}</ref> Elsewhere, significant stratiform lead-zinc mineralization is found in the limestones (around [[Silvermines]] and [[Tynagh]]).

Hydrocarbon exploration is ongoing. The first major find was the [[Kinsale Head]] gas field off [[Cork (city)|Cork]]/[[Cobh]] by [[Marathon Oil]] in the mid-1970s.<ref>{{cite web | title = Irish Natural Gas Market | work = Story of Natural Gas | publisher = Bord Gáis | url = http://www.bordgais.ie/corporate/index.jsp?1nID=93&2nID=97&3nID=353&nID=363 | accessdate = 2008-11-05 }}</ref><ref name="sch">{{cite book | last = Shannon | first = P.| coauthors = Haughton, P.D.W.; Corcoran, D.V. | title = The Petroleum Exploration of Ireland's Offshore Basins | publisher = Geological Society Publishing House: Lyell Collection—Special Publications | date = 2001 | location = London | pages = 2 | url = http://books.google.com/books?id=F7yJAAAACAAJ | isbn = 1423711637}}</ref> More recently, in 1999, Enterprise Oil announced the discovery of the [[Corrib Gas Field]]. This has increased activity off the west coast in parallel with the "[[North Sea oil#West of Shetland|West of Shetland]]" step-out development from the [[North Sea oil|North Sea hydrocarbon province]]. The Helvick oil field, estimated to contain over {{convert|28|Moilbbl|m3}} of oil, is another recent discovery.<ref>{{cite web | title = Providence sees Helvick oil field as key site in Celtic Sea | publisher = [[Irish Examiner]] | date = 2000-07-17 | url = http://archives.tcm.ie/irishexaminer/2000/07/17/current/bpage_2.htm | accessdate = 2008-01-27 }}</ref>

== Wildlife ==
Ireland has fewer animal and plant species than either Great Britain or mainland [[Europe]] because it became an [[island]] shortly after the end of the last [[last glacial period|ice age]], about 10,000 years ago. Many different [[habitat (ecology)|habitat]] types are found in Ireland, including farmland, open woodland, [[temperate broadleaf and mixed forests]], [[conifer]] plantations, [[peat]] [[bogs]], and various coastal habitats. According to the [[World Wide Fund for Nature|WWF]], the territory of Ireland can be subdivided into two [[ecoregion]]s: the Celtic broadleaf forests and North Atlantic moist mixed forests.

=== Fauna ===
{{Main|Fauna of Ireland}}

[[Image:Red deer.jpg|170px|thumb|left|The [[red deer]] (''Cervus elaphus'') is Ireland's largest wild mammal.]]
Only 26 land [[mammal]] species are native to Ireland because it was isolated from Europe by rising sea levels after the [[Ice Age]]. Some species, such as the [[red fox]], [[hedgehog]], and [[badger]] are very common, whereas others, like the [[Mountain Hare|Irish hare]], [[red deer]] and [[pine marten]] are less so. Aquatic wild-life, such as species of [[turtle]], [[shark]], [[whale]], and [[dolphin]], are common off the coast. About 400 species of birds have been recorded in Ireland. Many of these are migratory, including the [[Barn Swallow]]. Most of Ireland's bird species come from [[Iceland]], [[Greenland]], [[Africa]] among other territories. There are no snakes in Ireland and only one reptile (the [[Viviparous lizard|common lizard]]) is native to the country. Extinct species include the [[Irish Elk|great Irish elk]], the [[wolf]] and the [[great auk]]. Some previously extinct birds, such as the [[Golden Eagle]], have recently been reintroduced after decades of [[extirpation]].

Agriculture drives current land use patterns in Ireland, limiting natural habitat preserves,<ref name="www2000">{{cite web | title = Land cover and land use | work = Environmental Assessment | publisher = Environmental Protection Agency | date = 2000 | url = http://www.epa.ie/whatwedo/assessment/land/ | accessdate = 2007-07-30 }}</ref> particularly for larger wild mammals with greater territorial needs. With no top predator in Ireland, populations of animals (such as semi-wild deer) that cannot be controlled by smaller predators (such as the fox) are controlled by annual culling.

=== Flora ===
{{See also|List of the vascular plants of Britain and Ireland|Trees of Britain and Ireland}}
[[Image:Ulex europaeus.jpg|thumb|right|Gorse (''[[Ulex europaeus]]'')]]

[[Phytogeography|Phytogeographically]], Ireland belongs to the Atlantic European province of the [[Circumboreal Region]] within the [[Boreal Kingdom]]. Until mediæval times Ireland was heavily forested with [[oak]], [[pine]] and [[birch]]. Forests now cover about 9% (4,450&nbsp;km² or one million acres) of the land.<ref name="coillte">{{cite web | title = National forestation statistics | work = Forest Facts | publisher = [[Coillte Teoranta]] | date = 2007-01-05 | url = http://www.coillte.ie/forests/forest_facts/forest_facts_by_county/national/ | accessdate = 2008-11-05 }}</ref> Because of its mild climate, many species, including [[subtropics|sub-tropical]] species such as [[Arecaceae|palm trees]], are grown in Ireland. Much of the land is now covered with pasture, and there are many species of wild-flower. Gorse (''[[Ulex europaeus]]''), a wild [[furze]], is commonly found growing in the uplands, and ferns are plentiful in the more moist regions, especially in the western parts of Ireland. It is home to hundreds of plant species, some of them unique to the island. The country has been "invaded" by some grasses, such as ''[[Spartina anglica]]''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.habitas.org.uk/invasive/species.asp?item=2680 |title= Invasive Alien Species in Northern Ireland - Spartina anglica, Common Cord-grass |accessdate=2008-10-23 |publisher=National Museums Northern Ireland}}</ref>

The [[algae|algal]] and seaweed flora is that of the cold-temperate. The total number of species is: 264 [[Rhodophyta]]; 152 [[Heterokontophyta]]; 114 [[Green algae|Chloropyta]]; and 31 [[Cyanophyta]], giving a total of 574. Rarer species include: ''Itonoa marginifera'' (J.Ag.) Masuda & Guiry); ''[[Schmitzia hiscockiana]]'' Maggs and Guiry; ''[[Gelidiella calcicola]]'' Maggs & Guiry; ''Gelidium maggsiae'' Rico & Guiry and ''Halymenia latifolia'' P.Crouan & H.Crouan ex Kützing.<ref name="Guiry and Nic Dhonncha 01">{{Citation | last = Guiry | first = M.D. | last2 = Nic Dhonncha | first2 = E.N | title = The marine macroalgae of Ireland : biodiversity and distribution in Marine Biodiversity in Ireland and Adjacent Waters | place = Belfast | publisher = Ulster Museum | year = 2001 | volume = Proceedings of a Conference 26–27 April 2001 | edition = Publication no. 8 }}</ref> The country has been invaded by some algae, some of which are now well established: ''Asparagopsis armara'' Harvey &ndash; which originated in Australia and was first recorded by M. De Valera in 1939; ''[[Colpomenia peregrina]]'' Sauvageau &ndash; now locally abundant and first recorded in the 1930s; ''[[Sargassum]] muticum'' (Yendo) Fensholt &ndash; now well established in a number of localities on the south, west, and north-east coasts; ''Codium fragile'' ssp. ''fragile'' (formerly reported as ssp. ''tomentosum'') &ndash; now well established.<ref name="Minchin 01">{{Citation | last = Minchin | first = D. | title = Biodiversity and Marine Invaders (Appendix): in Marine Biodiversity in Ireland and Adjacent Waters | place = Belfast | publisher = Ulster Museum | year = 2001 | volume = Proceedings of a Conference 26–27 April 2001 | edition = Publication no. 8 }}</ref> ''Codium fragile'' ssp. ''atlanticum'' has recently been established to be native, although for many years it was regarded as an alien species.

==== The impact of agriculture ====
The long history of agricultural production coupled with modern intensive agricultural methods (such as pesticide and fertiliser use) has placed pressure on biodiversity in Ireland.{{Citation needed|date=October 2008}} "Runoff" of contaminants into streams, rivers and lakes impact the natural fresh-water ecosystems. A land of green fields for crop cultivation and cattle rearing limits the space available for the establishment of native wild species. Hedgerows however, traditionally used for maintaining and demarcating land boundaries, act as a refuge for native wild flora. Their ecosystems stretch across the countryside and act as a network of connections to preserve remnants of the ecosystem that once covered the island. Subsidies under the [[Common Agricultural Policy]] which supported these agricultural practices are undergoing reforms.<ref name="cap_reforms">{{Citation | title = CAP reform - a long-term perspective for sustainable agriculture | publisher = European Commission | url=http://ec.europa.eu/agriculture/capreform/index_en.htm | accessdate = 2007-07-30}}
</ref> The CAP still subsidises some potentially destructive agricultural practices, however, the recent reforms have gradually decoupled subsidies from production levels and introduced environmental and other requirements.<ref name="cap_reforms"/>

Forest covers about 10% of the country, with most designated for commercial production.<ref name="www2000"/> Forested areas typically consist of monoculture plantations of non-native species which may result in habitats that are not suitable for supporting a broad range of native species of invertebrates. Remnants of native forest can be found scattered around the country, in particular in the [[Killarney National Park]]. Natural areas require fencing to prevent over-grazing by [[Deer of Ireland|deer]] and sheep that roam over uncultivated areas. This is one of the main factors preventing the natural regeneration of forests across many regions of the country.<ref>{{Citation | first = Dick | last = Roche | authorlink = Dick Roche | title = National Parks | publisher = Seanad Éireann | url=http://historical-debates.oireachtas.ie/S/0185/S.0185.200611080008.html | volume = 185 | date = 2006-11-08 | accessdate = 2007-07-30}} [[Seanad Éireann|Seanad]] Debate involving Former Minister for Environment Heritage and Local Government</ref>

== History ==
{{Main|History of Ireland}}
{{History of Ireland}}
A long cold climatic spell prevailed until the end of the last glacial period about 9,000 years ago, and most of Ireland was covered with ice. Sea-levels were lower then, and Ireland, as with its neighbour Britain, rather than being islands, were part of a greater continental Europe. [[Mesolithic]] [[stone age]] inhabitants arrived some time after 8000 BC. Agriculture arrived with the [[Neolithic]] circa 4500 to 4000 BC, when sheep, goats, cattle and cereals were imported from southwest continental Europe. At the [[Céide Fields]] in [[County Mayo]], an extensive Neolithic field system &ndash; arguably the oldest in the world<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.heritageireland.ie/en/West/CeideFields/ |title=Heritage Ireland - Céide Fields |publisher=Heritage Ireland |accessdate=2008-10-23}}</ref> &ndash; has been preserved beneath a blanket of peat. Consisting of small fields separated from one another by dry-stone walls, the Céide Fields were farmed for several centuries between 3500 and 3000 BC. Wheat and barley were the principal crops.<ref name="neolithic_farming">{{cite web | title = The Neolithic Stone Age in Ireland : Farming | work = The Ireland Story | publisher = Wesley Johnson | date = 2000 | url = http://www.wesleyjohnston.com/users/ireland/past/pre_norman_history/neolithic_age.html | accessdate = 2008-11-07 }}</ref>

[[Image:Carrowmore tomb, Ireland.jpg|thumb|left|Stone age passage tombs at [[Carrowmore]], [[County Sligo]]]]
The [[Bronze Age]], which began around 2500 [[Anno Domini|BC]], saw the production of elaborate gold as well as bronze ornaments, weapons and tools. The [[Iron Age]] in Ireland was supposedly associated with people known as [[Celts]]. They are traditionally thought to have colonised Ireland in a series of waves between the 8th and 1st centuries BC, with the [[Gaels]], the last wave of Celts, conquering the island and dividing it into five or more kingdoms. Many scientists and academic scholars now favour a view that emphasises cultural diffusion from overseas over significant colonisation such as what [[Clonycavan Man]] was reported to be.<ref name="prospectmag">{{cite journal | last = Oppenheimer | first = Stephen | title = Myths of British ancestry | journal = Prospect Magazine | issue = 127 | publisher = Prospect Magazine | date = [[2006-10-21]] | url = http://www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/2006/10/mythsofbritishancestry/ | accessdate = 2008-11-07 |issn=1359-5024}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal | last = Mascheretti | first = Silvia | coauthors = Rogatcheva, Margarita B.; Gündüz, Islam; Fredga, Karl; and Searle, Jeremy B | title = How did pygmy shrews colonize Ireland? Clues from a phylogenetic analysis of mitochondrial cytochrome b sequences | journal = Proceedings of the Royal Society | volume = 270 | issue = 1524 | publisher = Royal Society | location = | date = 2003-08-07 | url = http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=1691416 | doi = 10.1098/rspb.2003.2406 | accessdate = 2008-11-07 | pages = 1593 }}</ref>

The Romans referred to Ireland as [[Hibernia]],<ref>{{cite web | title = Hibernia | work = Roman Empire | publisher = United Nations of Roma Victrix | url = http://www.unrv.com/provinces/hibernia.php | accessdate = 2008-11-08 }}</ref> or [[Scotia]].<ref>{{cite book |last=O'Hart |first=John |title=Irish Pedigrees; Or, The Origin and Stem of the Irish Nation |publisher=J. Duffy and Co |date=1892 |location=Dublin |pages=725 |url=http://books.google.com/books?id=qFRmAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA725 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | last = | first = | authorlink = | coauthors = | title = Scotia | work = The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition 2001–05 | publisher = Encyclopedia.com | date = 2007 | url =http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/Scotia.aspx | accessdate = 20089-11-11 }}</ref> [[Ptolemy]]<ref>http://www.informaworld.com/smpp/section?content=a791562641&fulltext=713240928</ref>in [[Anno Domini|AD]] 100 recorded Ireland's geography and tribes.<ref>{{cite web | last = | title = The Geography of Ptolemy | publisher = Roman-Britain.org | date = 2003-04-23 | url = http://www.roman-britain.org/ptolemy.htm | accessdate = 2008-11-08 }}</ref> Native accounts are confined to [[Irish poetry]], myth, and archaeology. The exact relationship between the Roman Empire and the tribes of Hibernia is unclear; the only references are a few Roman writings.

In early medieval times, there was a [[High King of Ireland|High King]] who presided over the (then five: the fifth being [[Kingdom of Mide|Meath]]) [[provinces of Ireland]]. These provinces too had their own kings, who were at least nominally subject to the [[Kings of Tara|monarch]], who resided at [[Hill of Tara|Tara]]. This concept of national kingship is first articulated in the 7th century, but only became a political reality in the [[Viking Age#Ireland|Viking Age]], and even then not a consistent one.<ref name="koch">{{cite book |title=Celtic Culture: A Historical Encyclopedia |year=2006 |first=John T. |last=Koch |publisher=ABC-CLO}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |title=Tales of the Elders of Ireland |year=1999 |last=Roe |first=Harry |coauthors=Ann Dooley |publisher=Oxford University Press}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |title=Early Irish history and pseudo-history |year=1957 |author=Michael Roberts et al. |publisher=Bowes & Bowes Michigan University Press}}</ref> The early written judicial system was the [[Brehon Laws|Brehon Law]], and it was administered by professional learned jurists who were known as the Brehons.

According to [[The Chronicle of Ireland|early medieval chronicles]], in 431, Bishop [[Palladius]] arrived in Ireland on a mission from [[Pope Celestine I]] to minister to the Irish "already believing in Christ." The same chronicles record that [[Saint Patrick]], Ireland's patron saint, arrived in 432. There is continued debate over the missions of Palladius and Patrick, but the general consensus is that they both existed.<ref>{{cite book | last = De Paor | first = Liam | title = Saint Patrick's World: The Christian Culture of Ireland's Apostolic Age | publisher = Four Courts, Dublin | date = 1993 | location = Dublin | page = 78, 79 | url = | isbn = 1-85182-144-9 }}</ref>

The [[druid]] tradition collapsed in the face of the spread of the new religion.<ref name="cah">{{cite book |last=Cahill|first=Tim| title= How the Irish Saved Civilization |year=1996|publisher= Anchor Books |isbn= 0385418493}}</ref> Irish Christian scholars excelled in the study of [[Latin]] and Greek learning and Christian theology in the monasteries that flourished, preserving Latin and Greek learning during the [[Middle Ages|Early Middle Ages]].<ref name="cah"/><ref name="Eer">{{cite book |editor=Dowley, Tim, et al.| title=Eerdman's Handbook to the History of Christianity |year=1977|publisher= Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co. |location= Grand Rapids, Michigan|language= |isbn= 0-8028-3450-7}}</ref> The arts of manuscript illumination, metalworking, and sculpture flourished and produced such treasures as the [[Book of Kells]], ornate jewellery, and the many carved stone crosses that dot the island. From the 9th century, waves of [[Viking]] raiders plundered monasteries and towns, adding to a pattern of endemic raiding and [[endemic warfare|warfare]]. Eventually Vikings settled in Ireland, and established many towns, including the modern day cities of [[Dublin]], Cork, [[Limerick]] and [[Waterford City|Waterford]].

[[Image:Aughnanure Castle (pixinn.net).jpg|thumb|left||220px|[[Aughnanure Castle|Aughnanure]], the main castle of [[O'Flaherty]]]]
In 1169, the [[Norman invasion of Ireland]] commenced with the landing at Bannow Co. Wexford of a group of Cambro-Norman warlords and their retinue of about six hundred. Led by [[Richard de Clare, 2nd Earl of Pembroke]] (Strongbow),<ref>{{cite web | last = Chrisafis | first = Angelique | title = Scion of traitors and warlords: why Bush is coy about his Irish links | work = World News | publisher = The Guardian | date = 2005-01-25 | url = http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2005/jan/27/usa.angeliquechrisafis | accessdate = 2008-11-08 }}</ref> the knights arrived on the invitation of Dermot Mc Murrough, Ri of Leinster. Mc Morrough was in conflict with the Ard Ri, Rudhri O'Conor and Tighernan O'Ruairc of Breifne. In 1171, the [[Angevin]] [[King Henry II of England]] arrived in Ireland. His mission was to review progress, to exert royal control of the expanding expedition and to promote the church reorganisation which was already in progress at the ecclesiastical level. Under the provisions of the Papal [[Laudabiliter|Bull Laudabiliter]] by [[Pope Adrian IV|Adrian IV]], Henry claimed dominion over Ireland and the Celtic Christian Church (which was not then affiliated with the Roman system) on the Pope's behalf. He imposed his authority over the Cambro-Norman warlords and persuaded some of the [[Gaelic Ireland|Gaelic Irish]] Ri and chieftains to accept him as their overlord. This arrangement was later confirmed in the [[Treaty of Windsor 1175]]. From the 13th century onward, Norman feudal law began to replace the existing [[Brehon Law]] in Ireland. In 1172 the new [[Pope Alexander III]] encouraged Henry to advance the Romanization of the church, and impose the penny per hearth tithe of [[Peter's Pence]]. Henry accepted the title of Dominus Hiberniae [[Lord of Ireland]] which was assumed by his son Prince [[John Lackland]] in 1185, and confirmed by [[Pope Lucius III]]. This defined the Irish state as The [[Lordship of Ireland]] until the establishment of [[The Kingdom of Ireland]] under the [[Crown of Ireland Act]] of the [[Irish Parliament]] 1542.
By the late 13th century the [[Hiberno-Norman|Norman-Irish]] had established the feudal system throughout most of lowland Ireland. Their settlement was characterised by the establishment of baronies, manors, towns and large land-owning monastic communities, and the county system. The towns of [[Dublin]], [[Cork (city)|Cork]], [[Wexford]], [[Waterford]], [[Limerick]], [[Galway]], [[New Ross]], [[Kilkenny]], [[Carlingford, County Louth|Carlingford]], [[Drogheda]], [[Sligo]], [[Athenry]], [[Arklow]], [[Buttevant]], [[Carlow]], [[Carrick-on-Suir]], [[Cashel, County Tipperary|Cashel]], [[Clonmel]], [[Dundalk]], [[Enniscorthy]], [[Kildare]], [[Kinsale]], [[Mullingar]], [[Naas]], [[Navan]], [[Nenagh]], [[Thurles]], [[Wicklow]], [[Trim, County Meath|Trim]] and [[Youghal]] were all under Norman-Irish control.

In the 14th century the [[Norman Ireland|English settlement]] went into a period of decline and large areas, for example Sligo, were re-occupied by Gaelic [[sept (social)|septs]]. The medieval English presence in Ireland (''[[The Pale]]'') was deeply shaken by the [[Black Death]], which arrived in Ireland in 1348.<ref>{{cite web | last = Ibeji | first = Mike | title = Black death: The spread of the Plague: Ireland | work = British History: Middle Ages | publisher = BBC | date = | url = http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/british/middle_ages/black_08.shtml | accessdate = 2008-11-08 }}</ref> From the late 15th century English rule was once again expanded, first through the efforts of the [[Earls of Kildare]] and Ormond then through the activities of the [[Tudor dynasty|Tudor State]] under [[Henry VIII]] and Mary and [[Elizabeth I of England|Elizabeth]]. This resulted in the complete [[Nine Years' War (Ireland)|conquest of Ireland]] by 1603 and the final collapse of the Gaelic social and political superstructure at the end of the 17th century, as a result of English and Scottish Protestant colonisation in the [[Plantations of Ireland]], and the [[Wars of the Three Kingdoms]] and the [[Williamite War in Ireland]]. Approximately 600,000 people, nearly half the Irish population, died during the [[Cromwellian conquest of Ireland#Guerrilla warfare, famine and plague|Cromwellian conquest of Ireland]].<ref>{{cite web | title = The curse of Cromwell | work = A Short History of Ireland | publisher = BBC Northern Ireland | url = http://www.bbc.co.uk/northernireland/ashorthistory/archive/intro99.shtml | accessdate = 2008-11-08 }}</ref>

[[Image:Hanging.gif|thumbnail|150px|[[Half-hanging]] of suspected [[United Irishmen]]''.]]
After the [[Irish Rebellion of 1641]], Irish Catholics and nonconforming Protestants were barred from voting or attending the [[Parliament of Ireland|Irish Parliament]]. Under the [[Penal Laws (Ireland)|penal laws]] (introduced from 1691) no Irish Catholic could sit in the Parliament of Ireland, even though some 90% of Ireland's population was native Irish Catholic. This ban was followed by others in 1703 and 1709 as part of a comprehensive system disadvantaging the Catholic community, and to a lesser extent, Protestant dissenters.<ref>{{cite web | title = Laws in Ireland for the Suppression of Popery | publisher = University of Minnesota Law School | url = http://local.law.umn.edu/irishlaw/offices.html | accessdate = 2008-11-08 }}</ref> The new English Protestant ruling class was known as the [[Protestant Ascendancy]]. Towards the end of the 18th century the (entirely Protestant) Irish Parliament attained a greater degree of independence from the British Parliament than it had previously held. The [[Irish Famine (1740–1741)|Irish Famine]] of 1740–41 killed about 400,000 people.

In 1798, many members of the Protestant dissenter tradition made common cause with Catholics in a rebellion inspired and led by the [[Society of United Irishmen]]. It was staged with the aim of creating a fully independent Ireland as a state with a republican constitution. Despite assistance from France the [[Irish Rebellion of 1798]] was put down by British forces.

In 1800, the British and subsequently the Irish Parliament passed the [[Act of Union, 1801|Act of Union]] which, in 1801, merged the [[Kingdom of Ireland]] and the [[Kingdom of Great Britain]] to create the [[United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland]]. The passage of the Act in the Irish Parliament was achieved with substantial majorities, in part (according to contemporary documents) through [[bribery]], namely the awarding of [[peerage]]s and [[honour]]s to critics to get their votes.<ref>{{cite book | last = Ward | first = Alan J. | title = The Irish Constitutional Tradition: Responsible Government and Modern Ireland, 1782-1992 | publisher = Catholic University of America Press | date = 1994 | location = Washington, DC | page = 28 | url = | isbn = 0-81320-784-3 }}</ref> Thus, Ireland became part of an extended United Kingdom, ruled directly by the [[Parliament of the United Kingdom|UK Parliament]] in [[London]].

[[Image:Emigrants Leave Ireland by Henry Doyle 1868.jpg|thumb|left|170px|''Emigrants Leave Ireland'', an engraving by Henry Doyle depicting the emigration to The United States because of the [[Great Famine (Ireland)|Great Famine]] in Ireland.]]
The [[Great Famine (Ireland)|Great Famine]], which began in the 1840s, caused the deaths of one million Irish people, and caused over a million to emigrate.<ref>{{cite web | title = The Irish Potato Famine | publisher = Digital History | date = 2008-11-07 | url = http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/historyonline/irish_potato_famine.cfm | accessdate = 2008-11-08 }}</ref> By the late 1840s, as a result of the famine, half of all [[Immigration to the United States|immigrants]] to the United States originated from Ireland. A total of 35 million [[American ancestry|Americans]] (12% of total population) reported [[Irish diaspora|Irish ancestry]] in the 2005 [[American Community Survey]].<ref>{{cite web | title = Irish-American Heritage Month (March) and St. Patrick's Day (17 March) 2007 | work = Press releases | publisher = U.S Census Bureau | date = 2007-01-17 | url = http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/facts_for_features_special_editions/009465.html | accessdate = 2008-11-08 }}</ref> Mass emigration became entrenched as a result of the famine and the population continued to decline until late in the 20th century. The pre-famine peak was over 8 million recorded in the [[Demography of the United Kingdom#United Kingdom|1841 census]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/this-britain/1841-a-window-on-victorian-britain-475516.html |title=1841: A window on Victorian Britain - This Britain |publisher=[[The Independent]] |date=2006-04-25 |accessdate=2009-04-16 |last=Vallely |first=Paul }}</ref> The population has never returned to this level.<ref>{{cite web | last = Quinn| first = Eamon | title = Ireland Learns to Adapt to a Population Growth Spurt | work = Europe | publisher = New York Times | date = 2007-08-19 | url = http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/19/world/europe/19ireland.html?ex=1345176000&en=ab2b49203b6fb511&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss | accessdate = 2008-11-08 }}</ref>

The 19th and early 20th century saw the rise of [[Irish nationalism]] among the Roman Catholic population. [[Daniel O'Connell]] led a successful campaign for [[Catholic Emancipation]], which was passed by the United Kingdom parliament. A subsequent campaign for repeal of the Act of Union failed. Later in the century [[Charles Stewart Parnell]] and others campaigned for self-government within the Union or "[[Irish Home Rule Bills|Home Rule]]". Unionists, especially those located in the Northern part of the island, who considered themselves to be British as well as Irish, were strongly opposed to Home Rule, under which they felt they would be dominated by Catholic and Southern Irish interests.<ref>{{cite book | last = Kee | first = Robert | title = The Green Flag: A History of Irish Nationalism | publisher = Weidenfeld and Nicholson | date = 1972 | location = London | pages = 376–400 | url = | isbn = 029717987X }}</ref> To prevent Home Rule the [[Ulster Volunteers]] were formed in 1913 under the leadership of [[Edward Carson|Lord Carson]]. This was followed by the [[Irish Volunteers]], formed in 1914 to support the enactment of the [[Third Home Rule Act|Home Rule Act]], which was suspended on the outbreak of [[World War I]]. Under [[John Redmond]] the [[National Volunteers]] broke away from the Irish Volunteers to serve with the [[Irish regiments]] of the [[Kitchener's Army|New British Army]].<ref>{{cite book | last = Kee | first = Robert | title = The Green Flag: A History of Irish Nationalism | publisher = Weidenfeld and Nicholson | date = 1972 | location = London | pages = 478–530 | url = | isbn = 029717987X }}</ref>

Armed rebellions, such as the [[Easter Rising]] of 1916 and the [[Irish War of Independence]] of 1919, occurred in this period. In 1921, a treaty was concluded between the British Government and the leaders of the [[Irish Republic]]. The [[Anglo-Irish Treaty]] recognised the two-state solution created in the [[Government of Ireland Act 1920]]. Northern Ireland was presumed to form a [[home rule]] state within the new [[Irish Free State]] unless it opted out. Northern Ireland had a majority Protestant population and opted out as expected, choosing to rejoin the United Kingdom, incorporating, however, within its border a significant Catholic and nationalist minority.<ref>{{cite book | last = Kee | first = Robert | title = The Green Flag: A History of Irish Nationalism | publisher = Weidenfeld and Nicholson | date = 1972 | location = London | pages = 719–748 | url = | isbn = 029717987X }}</ref> A [[Boundary Commission (Ireland)|Boundary Commission]] was set up to decide on the boundaries between the two Irish states, though it was subsequently abandoned after it recommended only minor adjustments to the border. Disagreements over some provisions of the treaty led to a split in the nationalist movement and subsequently to the [[Irish Civil War]]. The Civil War ended in 1923 with the defeat of the anti-treaty forces.

=== Post-partition ===
==== Irish Independence ====
{{Main|History of Ireland}}
[[File:Anglo-Irish Treaty Griffith annotated2.gif|200px|right|thumbnail|Annotated page from the [[Anglo-Irish Treaty]] that established the [[Irish Free State]] and independence for 26 out of 32 [[Counties of Ireland|Irish counties]].]]
The Anglo-Irish Treaty was ratified by the [[Dáil]] in January 1922 by a vote of 64 - 57. The minority refused to accept the result and this resulted in the Irish Civil War, which lasted until 1923. On 6 December 1922, in the middle of the Civil War, the Irish Free State came into being. During its early years the new state was governed by the victors of the Civil War. However, in the 1930s [[Fianna Fáil]], the party of the opponents of the treaty, was elected into government. The party proposed, and the electorate accepted in a referendum in 1937, a new constitution which declared the state to be "[[Éire]] or in the English language, Ireland" ''(article 4 of the Constitution)''.
[[Image:Leinsterhouse.jpg|thumb|left|190px|[[Leinster House]] in Dublin, seat of Dáil Éireann.]]

[[Irish neutrality|The country of Ireland was a neutral]] during [[World War II]], which was sometimes known internally as [[The Emergency (Ireland)|"The Emergency"]]. It offered some assistance to the Allies, especially in the potential defense of Northern Ireland. Of course, citizens of Northern Ireland fought in the armed forces of the [[United Kingdom]], nearly all of them on a voluntary basis.

It has been estimated<ref>{{cite web | last = Connolly | first = Kevin | title = Irish who fought on the beaches | work = Northern Ireland News | publisher = BBC | date = 2004-06-01 | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/northern_ireland/3749629.stm | accessdate = 2008-11-08 }}</ref> that about 50,000 volunteers from the independent country of ''Éire''/Ireland also voluntarily joined the British armed forces during the Second World War.

Just a few years after the end of World War II, independent ''Éire''/Ireland Ireland declared itself to be a Republic in 1949.

There was again large-scale emigration from Ireland in the 1950s and again in the 1980s, with emigrants bound for such countries as [[Australia]], [[Canada]], the [[United States]], [[New Zealand]], and [[Brazil]]. Beginning in 1987, the Irish economy improved, and the 1990s saw the beginning of unprecedented economic success, in a phenomenon known as the "[[Celtic Tiger]]".<ref name=clancy3>{{cite book | last =Clancy|first =Patrick|coauthors= Sheelagh Drudy, Kathleen Lynch, Liam O'Dowd| title =Irish Society: Sociological Perspectives |pages= 68–70| publisher =Institute of Public Administration | year =1997|isbn=1872002870}}</ref> By 2007 it had become the fifth richest country (in terms of GDP per capita) in the world, and the second richest in the [[European Union]], moving from being a net recipient of the [[European Union Budget|budget]] to becoming a net contributor during the next budget round (2007&ndash;13), and from a country of net emigration to one of net immigration. In October 2006, there were negotiations between Ireland and the United States to negotiate new immigration policies between these two countries. This was in response to the growth of the Irish economy and desire of a significant number of American citizens who sought to move to Ireland for work.<ref>{{cite web | title = Ireland considering immigration deal with U.S. | work = Politics | publisher = Reuters | date = 2006-10-25 | url = http://www.reuters.com/article/politicsNews/idUSL2525249520061025 | accessdate = 2008-11-08 }}</ref>

==== Northern Ireland ====
[[File:Carson signing Solemn League and Covenant.jpg|200px|left|thumbnail|[[Edward Carson]] signing the [[Ulster Covenant|Solemn League and Covenant]] declaring opposition to [[Irish Home Rule bills|Home Rule]] "using all means which may be found necessary".]]
[[Image:Parliament Buildings Stormont 4.jpg|thumb|[[Parliament Buildings (Northern Ireland)|Parliament Buildings]], seat of the present [[Northern Ireland Assembly]].]]

{{Main|History of Northern Ireland}}

Northern Ireland was created as a division of the United Kingdom by the [[Government of Ireland Act 1920]]. From 1921 until 1972, Northern Ireland enjoyed limited self-government within the United Kingdom, with its own parliament and prime minister.

In the first half of the 20th century, Northern Ireland was largely spared the strife of the Civil War, but there were sporadic episodes of inter-communal violence between nationalists and unionists during the decades that followed partition. Although the Irish Free State was neutral during World War II, Northern Ireland as part of the United Kingdom was not, and became involved in the British war effort (albeit without military [[conscription]] as it was introduced in Great Britain). [[Belfast Blitz|Belfast suffered a bombing raid]] from the German [[Luftwaffe]] in 1941.

In elections to the 1921&ndash;1972 regional government, the [[Protestant]] and [[Catholic]] communities in Northern Ireland each voted largely along [[sectarian]] lines, meaning that the Government of Northern Ireland (elected by [[Plurality electoral system|"first past the post"]] from 1929) was controlled by the [[Ulster Unionist Party]]. Over time, the minority Catholic community felt increasingly alienated by the regional government, with further disaffection fuelled by practices such as [[gerrymandering]] of the [[Derry City Council|local council in Derry]], and [[discrimination]] against Catholics in housing and employment<ref name=whyte>{{cite web | url = http://cain.ulst.ac.uk/issues/discrimination/whyte.htm | title = 'How much discrimination was there under the Unionist regime, 1921-1968?' by John Whyte | accessdate = 2008-10-23 | last = Whyte | first = John | work = Contemporary Irish Studies | publisher = [[Conflict Archive on the Internet]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = http://cain.ulst.ac.uk/hmso/cmd380.htm | title = Fair Employment in Northern Ireland | accessdate = 2008-10-23 | publisher = [[Northern Ireland Office]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = http://cain.ulst.ac.uk/events/crights/nicra/nicra78.htm | title = "We Shall Overcome" .... The History of the Struggle for Civil Rights in Northern Ireland 1968 - 1978 by NICRA (1978) | accessdate = 2008-10-23 | publisher = Conflict Archive on the Internet }}</ref>.

In the late 1960s nationalist grievances were aired publicly in mass [[civil rights]] protests, which were often confronted by [[Ulster loyalism|loyalist]] counter-protests.<ref>{{cite book|last=Taylor|first= Peter |year=1997|title=Provos: The IRA and Sinn Féin|pages=33–56|location=London|publisher= Bloomsbury Publishing Plc|isbn= 0-74753392X}}</ref> The Government's reaction to confrontations was seen to be one-sided and heavy-handed, and law and order broke down as unrest and inter-communal violence increased.<ref>{{cite book|last=Taylor|first= Peter |year=1997|title=Provos: The IRA and Sinn Féin|pages=56–100|location=London|publisher= Bloomsbury Publishing Plc|isbn= 0-74753392X}}</ref>

In August 1969, the regional government requested that the [[British Army]] be deployed to aid the police, who were exhausted after several nights of serious rioting. In 1969, the [[paramilitary]] [[Provisional Irish Republican Army|Provisional IRA]], which favoured the creation of a [[united Ireland]], was formed and began a campaign against what it called the "British occupation of the six counties". Other groups, on both the unionist side and the nationalist side, participated in the violence and the period known as "[[The Troubles]]" began, resulting in over 3,600 deaths over the subsequent three decades.<ref>{{cite web | title = Turning the pages on lost lives | work = | publisher = BBC News | date = 1999-10-08 | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/467904.stm | accessdate = 2008-11-08 }}</ref> Owing to the civil unrest during "The Troubles", the [[British government]] suspended home rule in 1972 and imposed "[[direct rule]]" by the [[Parliament of the United Kingdom|British Parliament]] and the Cabinet.

There were several (ultimately unsuccessful) political attempts to end "The Troubles", such as the [[Sunningdale Agreement]] of 1973 and the [[Anglo-Irish Agreement]] of 1985. In 1998, following a Provisional IRA ceasefire and multi-party talks, the [[Belfast Agreement]] was concluded and ratified by referendum. This agreement attempted to restore self-government to Northern Ireland on the basis of power-sharing between the two communities. Violence decreased greatly after the signing of the accord, and on 28 July 2005, the Provisional IRA announced the end of its armed campaign and [[Independent International Commission on Decommissioning|international weapons inspectors]] supervised what they currently regard as the full decommissioning of the Provisional IRA's weapons.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://cain.ulst.ac.uk/events/peace/decommission/iicd190106.pdf |first=Brigadier Tauno |last=Nieminen |coauthors=General John de Castelain, Andrew D. Sens|title=Independent International Commission on Decommissioning |format=PDF|accessdate=2008-10-15}}</ref> The power-sharing [[Northern Ireland Assembly|assembly]] was suspended several times but restored from 8 May 2007.

From 2 August 2007, the British government officially ended its military support of the police in Northern Ireland, and began withdrawing troops (in 1972, British troops numbered more than 25,000 in Northern Ireland; after the withdrawal, a garrison of approximately 1,500 remain on garrison duty).<ref>{{cite web | title = Where are British troops and why? | work = UK News | publisher = BBC | date = 2008-04-29 | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4094818.stm | accessdate = 2008-11-09}}</ref>

== Culture ==
{{Main|Culture of Ireland|Culture of Northern Ireland|Irish people}}

{{IrishArts|clear="right"}}

===Language===
{{Main|Languages of Ireland|Irish language|Hiberno-English}}

=== Literature and the arts ===
{{Main|Irish literature|Celtic Revival|Irish art|Irish theatre}}
[[Image:Revolutionary Joyce.jpg|thumb|upright|left|[[James Joyce]], widely considered one of the most significant writers of the 20th century.]]

For an island with a relatively small population, Ireland has made a large contribution to world literature in all its branches, mainly in English.<ref>{{cite web | title = Background Note: Ireland | work = Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs | publisher = US Department of State | date = July 2008 | url = http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/3180.htm | accessdate = 2008-11-08 }}</ref> Poetry in Irish represents the oldest [[Vernacular literature|vernacular]] poetry in Europe with the earliest examples dating from the 6th century. [[Jonathan Swift]], still often called the foremost [[satirist]] in the [[English language]], was wildly popular in his day for works such as ''[[Gulliver's Travels]]'' and ''[[A Modest Proposal]]'', and he remains so in modern times. More recently, Ireland has produced four winners of the [[Nobel Prize for Literature]]: [[George Bernard Shaw]], [[William Butler Yeats]], [[Samuel Beckett]] and [[Seamus Heaney]]. Although not a [[Nobel Prize]] winner, [[James Joyce]] is widely considered one of the most significant writers of the 20th century; Samuel Beckett himself refused to attend his own Nobel award ceremony, in protest at Joyce not having received the award. Joyce's 1922 novel ''[[Ulysses (novel)|Ulysses]]'' is considered one of the most important works of [[Modernist literature]], and his life is celebrated annually on 16 June in Dublin as the [[Bloomsday]] celebrations.<ref>{{cite web | title = Bloomsday 2007 Community Wide Events | work = Past Events | publisher = The James Joyce Centre | date = | url = http://www.jamesjoyce.ie/detail.asp?ID=86 | accessdate = 2008-11-08 }}</ref>

The story of art in Ireland begins with Stone Age carvings found at sites such as [[Newgrange]].<ref>{{cite book | last = O'Kelly | first = Michael J. | coauthors = O'Kelly, Claire | title = Newgrange. Archaeology Art and Legend | publisher = Thames and Hudson | date = 1982 | location = London | pages = | url = http://books.google.com/books?id=bGiMHQAACAAJ | isbn = 978-0500273715 }}</ref> It is traced through [[Bronze age]] artifacts, particularly ornamental gold objects, and the religious carvings and [[illuminated manuscripts]] of the mediæval <!--Hiberno-English spelling--> period. During the course of the 19th and 20th centuries, a strong indigenous tradition of painting emerged, including such figures as [[John Butler Yeats]], [[William Orpen]], [[Jack Yeats]] and [[Louis le Brocquy]].

Modern Irish literature is still often connected with its rural heritage,{{Citation needed|date=July 2009}} through writers such as [[John McGahern]] and poets such as Seamus Heaney.

Another famous Irish writer is Oscar Wilde known for most for his quotable witty sayings.

In the performing arts, playwrights such as [[Seán O'Casey]], [[Brian Friel]], [[Sebastian Barry]], [[Conor McPherson]] and [[Billy Roche]] have placed Ireland on the world stage.<ref>{{cite book | last =Houston | first =Eugenie | title =Working and Living in Ireland | publisher =Working and Living Publications | year =2001|isbn=0-95368-968-9}}</ref> There is a thriving performing arts culture all over the country, performing international as well as Irish plays. In addition, Galway has [[An Taibhdhearc]], the Irish Language Theatre established in 1928.<ref>{{cite web | title = Stair na Taibhdheirce | publisher = An Taibhdheirce | date = 2005 | url = http://www.antaibhdhearc.com/stair.html | accessdate = 2008-11-08 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title = An Taibhdhearc | publisher = Fodors | date = | url = http://www.fodors.com/world/europe/ireland/western-ireland-with-galway/review-102098.html | accessdate = 2008-11-08 }}</ref>

=== Music and dance ===
{{Main|Music of Ireland|Irish dance}}

The Irish tradition of [[folk music]] and [[dance]] is known worldwide,<ref>{{cite book | last =O'Lochlainn | first =Colm | title =More Irish Street Ballads | publisher =Pan |page = vii| year =1965|isbn=0-33025-317-4}}</ref> not least through the phenomenon of [[Riverdance]].<ref>{{cite book | last = Butler | first = Jean | coauthor = Edited by Andrew Higgins Wyndham | title = Re-imagining Ireland: Re-imaging Irish Dance | publisher = University of Virginia Press | date = 2006 | location = Virginia | page = 141 | url = http://books.google.com/books?id=Oo-u0p31yjQC | isbn = 0-81392-544-4 }}</ref>

In the middle years of the 20th century, as Irish society was attempting to modernise, traditional music tended to fall out of favour, especially in urban areas.<ref>{{cite book | last =Geraghty | first =Des | title =Luke Kelly: A Memoir | publisher =Basement Press | year =1994|page = pps. 26-30|isbn= 1-85594-090-6}}</ref> During the 1960s, and inspired by the American folk music movement, there was a revival of interest in the Irish tradition. This revival was led by such groups as [[The Dubliners]], [[The Chieftains]], [[Emmet Spiceland]], [[The Wolfe Tones]], the [[Clancy Brothers]], [[Sweeney's Men]], and individuals like [[Seán Ó Riada]] and [[Christy Moore]].<ref>{{cite book | last =Moore | first =Christy | title =One Voice: My Life in Song | publisher =Hodder and Stoughton/Lir | year =2000|isbn= 0-34076-839-8}}</ref>

Before too long, groups and musicians including [[Horslips]], [[Van Morrison]], and [[Thin Lizzy]] were incorporating elements of traditional music into a rock idiom to form a unique new sound. During the 1970s and 1980s, the distinction between traditional and rock musicians became blurred, with many individuals regularly crossing over between these styles of playing as a matter of course. This trend can be seen more recently in the work of artists like [[U2]], [[Enya]], [[Flogging Molly]], [[Moya Brennan]], [[The Saw Doctors]], [[Bell X1 (band)|Bell X1]], [[Damien Rice]], [[The Corrs]], [[Aslan (rock band)|Aslan]], [[Sinéad O'Connor]], [[Clannad]], [[The Cranberries]], [[Rory Gallagher]], [[Westlife]],[[The Script]], [[B*witched]], [[BoyZone]], [[Gilbert O'Sullivan]], [[Black 47]], [[Stiff Little Fingers]], [[VNV Nation]], [[Rob Smith (musician)|Rob Smith]], [[Ash (band)|Ash]], [[The Thrills]], Stars of Heaven, Something Happens, [[A House]], [[Sharon Shannon]], [[Damien Dempsey]], Declan O' Rourke, [[The Frames]] and [[The Pogues]].

During the 1990s, a subgenre of [[folk metal]] emerged in Ireland that fused [[heavy metal music]] with Irish and Celtic music. The pioneers of this subgenre were [[Cruachan (band)|Cruachan]], [[Primordial (band)|Primordial]], [[Geasa (band)|Geasa]] and [[Waylander (band)|Waylander]].

Irish music has shown an immense increase in popularity with many attempting to return to their roots. Some contemporary music groups stick closer to a "traditional" sound, including [[Altan]], [[Téada]], [[Danú]], [[Dervish]], [[Lúnasa (band)|Lúnasa]], and [[Solas (group)|Solas]]. Others incorporate multiple cultures in a fusion of styles, such as [[Afro Celt Sound System]] and [[Kíla]].

Ireland has done well in the [[Eurovision Song Contest]], being the most successful country in the competition, with seven wins in 1970 with [[Dana Rosemary Scallon|Dana]], 1980 and 1987 with [[Johnny Logan]], 1992 with [[Linda Martin]], 1993 with [[Niamh Kavanagh]], 1994 with [[Paul Harrington]] and [[Charlie McGettigan]] and in 1996 with [[Eimear Quinn]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/tv_and_radio/4563257.stm|title=Ireland in shock Eurovision exit|publisher=BBC Online|date=2005-05-19|accessdate=2008-01-10}}</ref>

=== Science ===
Ireland has a rich history in science<ref name="scientists">{{cite web | last = Reville | first = William | title = Ireland's Scientific Heritage | work = Understanding Science" series: Famous Irish Scientists | publisher = University College Cork; Faculty of Science | date = 2000-12-14 | url = http://understandingscience.ucc.ie/pages/irishscientists.htm | accessdate = 2008-11-08 }}</ref> and is known for its excellence in scientific research conducted at its many universities and institutions. Noted particularly are Ireland's contributions to [[Optical fiber|fiber optics technology]] and related technologies.

The Irish philosopher and theologian [[Johannes Scotus Eriugena]] (c. 815–877) was considered one of the leading intellectuals of his era. Sir [[Ernest Henry Shackleton]] CVO OBE, (15 February 1874 – 5 January 1922) was an Anglo-Irish explorer who was one of the principal figures of the period known as the Heroic Age of Antarctic Exploration. He along with his expedition made the first ascent of Mount Erebus, and the discovery of the approximate location of the South Magnetic Pole, reached on 16 January 1909 by Edgeworth David, Douglas Mawson, and Alistair MacKay.

[[Image:Robert Boyle 0001.jpg|thumb|upright|left|[[Robert Boyle]], best known for the formulation of Boyle's Law.]]
[[Robert Boyle]] (1627–1691) was an Irish natural philosopher, chemist, physicist, inventor and early [[gentleman scientist]], largely regarded one of the founders of modern chemistry. He is best known for the formulation of [[Boyle's law]], stating that the [[pressure]] and [[volume]] of an [[ideal gas]] are inversely proportional.<ref name="scientists"/>

Irish physicist [[John Tyndall]] (1820-1893) discovered the [[Tyndall effect]], explaining why the sky is blue.

Other notable Irish [[physicists]] include [[Ernest Walton]] (winner of the 1951 [[Nobel Prize in Physics]] with [[Sir John Douglas Cockcroft]] for splitting the nucleus of the atom by artificial means and contributions in the development of a new theory of [[wave equation]]),<ref>{{cite web | last = Finch | first = Eric | coauthors = Denis Weaire | title = Walton Biography | work = | publisher = [[Trinity College, Dublin|Trinity College]] School of Physics | date = 2006-10-06 | url = http://www.tcd.ie/Physics/history/walton/walton_biography.php | accessdate = 2008-10-22 }}</ref> William Thomson, 1st Baron Kelvin (or [[Lord Kelvin]]) which the absolute temperature unit [[Kelvin]] is named after. Sir [[Joseph Larmor]] a physicist and mathematician who made innovations in the understanding of electricity, dynamics, thermodynamics, and the electron theory of matter. His most influential work was Aether and Matter, a theoretical physics book published in 1900. <ref name="physicsworld">{{cite news|first=Mark|last=McCartney|title=William Thomson: king of Victorian physics|work=Features|publisher=[[Physics World]]|url=http://physicsworld.com/cws/article/print/16484|date=2002-12-01|accessdate=2008-11-22}}</ref> [[George Johnstone Stoney]] (who introduced the term ''[[electron]]'' in 1891), [[John Stewart Bell]] (the originator of [[Bell's Theorem]] and a paper concerning the discovery of the [[Chiral anomaly|Bell-Jackiw-Adler anomaly]]), who was nominated for a Nobel prize, mathematical physicist [[George Francis FitzGerald]], Sir [[George Gabriel Stokes]] and many others.<ref name="scientists"/>

Notable mathematicians include Sir [[William Rowan Hamilton]] (mathematician, physicist, astronomer and discoverer of [[quaternions]]), [[Francis Ysidro Edgeworth]] (influential in the development of neo-classical economics, including the [[Edgeworth box]]), [[John B. Cosgrave]] (specialist in [[number theory]], former head of the mathematics department of [[St. Patrick's College, Drumcondra|St. Patrick's College]] and discoverer of a new 2000-digit [[prime number]] in 1999 and a record composite [[Fermat number]] in 2003) and [[John Lighton Synge]] (who made progress in different fields of science, including mechanics and geometrical methods in general relativity and who had mathematician [[John Nash]] as one of his students).

[[Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies|The Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies]] (DIAS) was established in 1940 by the [[Taoiseach]] [[Éamon de Valera]].<ref name="dias">{{cite web | title = School of Theoretical Physics: History - Formation of the School | publisher = Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies | date = 2007-06-01 | url = http://www.stp.dias.ie/history/history1.shtml | accessdate = 2008-11-08 }}</ref> In 1940, physicist [[Erwin Schrödinger]] received an invitation to help establish the Institute. He became the Director of the School for Theoretical Physics and remained there for 17 years, during which time he became a naturalised Irish citizen.<ref name="dias"/>

== Sports ==
{{Main|Sports in Ireland}}
:''See also: [[Irish people#Sports|List of Irish sports people]]''

The most popular sports in Ireland are [[Gaelic Football]] and [[Association Football]].<ref name="esri">{{cite web |url=http://www.esri.ie/pdf/BKMNINT180_Main%20Text_Social%20and%20Economic%20Value%20of%20Sport.pdf|publisher=The Economic and Social Research Institute |title=The Social Significance of Sport|accessdate=2008-10-21}}</ref> Together with [[Hurling]] and [[Rugby union|Rugby]], they make up the four biggest team sports in Ireland. Gaelic Football is the most popular in terms of match attendance and community involvement,<ref>{{cite web | title = Culture and Sport | work = About Ireland | publisher = Government of Ireland | url = http://www.irlgov.ie/aboutireland/eng/cultureandsport.asp | accessdate = 2008-11-08 }}</ref> and the [[All-Ireland Football Final]] is the biggest day in Ireland's sporting calendar. [[Association football]], meanwhile, is the most commonly played team sport in Ireland and the most popular sport in which Ireland fields international teams.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.esri.ie/UserFiles/publications/20070223162340/BKMNINT178_Main%20Text%20Chapters%201-4.pdf |title=Sports Participation and Health Among Adults in Ireland |publisher=The Economic and Social Research Institute |accessdate=2008-10-15}}</ref> Furthermore, there is significant Irish interest in the [[FA Premier League|English]] and (to a lesser extent) [[Scottish Premier League|Scottish]] soccer leagues. Many other sports are also played and followed, particularly [[golf]] and [[horse racing]] but also [[show jumping]], [[greyhound racing]], [[swimming (sport)|swimming]], [[boxing]], [[baseball]], [[basketball]], [[cricket]], [[fishing]], [[Gaelic handball|handball]], [[motorsport]], [[tennis]] and [[hockey]].

Hurling and [[Gaelic football]], along with [[camogie]], [[ladies' Gaelic football]], handball and [[rounders]], make up the national sports of Ireland, collectively known as [[Gaelic games]]. All Gaelic games are governed by the [[Gaelic Athletic Association]] (GAA), with the exception of ladies' Gaelic football and camogie, which are governed by separate organisations. The GAA is organised on an all-Ireland basis with all 32 counties competing. The headquarters of the GAA (and the main stadium) is located at the 82,500<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.crokepark.ie/ |title=Croke Park. Not just a venue. A destination. | publisher=Croke Park Stadium | accessdate=2007-10-03}}</ref> capacity [[Croke Park]] in north Dublin. Major GAA games are played there, including the semi-finals and finals of the [[All-Ireland Senior Football Championship]] and [[All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship]]. During the redevelopment of the [[Lansdowne Road|Lansdowne Road stadium]], international rugby and soccer are played there.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/02/05/AR2007020501459.html|title=For First Time, Croke Park Is Ireland's Common Ground |date=2007-02-06 |accessdate=2008-08-14 |publisher=The Washington Post}}</ref> All GAA players, even at the highest level, are amateurs, receiving no wages (although they are permitted to receive a limited amount of sport-related income from commercial sponsorship.

[[Image:Tyrone Blanket Defence.jpg|thumb|200px|right|[[Tyrone GAA|Tyrone]] v [[Kerry GAA|Kerry]] at the [[All-Ireland Senior Football Championship|All-Ireland Football Final]] in [[All-Ireland Senior Football Championship 2005|2005.]]]]
The [[Irish Football Association]] (IFA) was originally the governing body for Association football throughout the island. The game has been played in Ireland since the 1860s ([[Cliftonville F.C.]] of Belfast being Ireland's oldest club) but remained a minority sport outside of Ulster until the 1880s. However, some clubs based outside Belfast felt that the IFA largely favoured Ulster-based, Protestant clubs in such matters as selection for the national team. Following an incident in which, despite an earlier promise, the IFA, for security reasons, moved an [[Irish Cup]] final replay from Dublin to Belfast,<ref>{{cite web | title = FAI History: 1921–1930 | work = | publisher = Football Association of Ireland | date = 2006-03-20 | url = http://www.fai.ie/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=32&Itemid=9 | accessdate = 2008-10-21 }}</ref> the clubs based in what would soon become the [[Irish Free State|Free State]] set up a new Football Association of the Irish Free State (FAIFS) - now known as the [[Football Association of Ireland]] (FAI) - in 1921. Despite being initially blacklisted by the [[Home Nations]]' associations, the FAI was recognised by [[FIFA]] in 1923 and organised its first international fixture in 1926 (against [[Italy national football team|Italy]]). However, both the IFA and FAI continued to select their teams from the whole of Ireland, with some players earning international caps for matches with both teams. Both also referred to their respective teams as "Ireland". In 1950, FIFA directed the associations only to select players from within their respective territories, and in 1953 FIFA further clarified that the FAI's team was to be known only as "[[Republic of Ireland national football team|Republic of Ireland]]", and the IFA's team only as "[[Northern Ireland national football team|Northern Ireland]]" (with certain exceptions). Northern Ireland qualified for the [[FIFA World Cup|World Cup]] finals in [[1958 FIFA World Cup|1958]] (reaching the quarter-finals), [[1982 FIFA World Cup|1982]] and [[1986 FIFA World Cup|1986]]. Team Republic qualified for the World Cup finals in [[1990 FIFA World Cup|1990]] (reaching the quarter-finals), [[1994 FIFA World Cup|1994]], [[2002 FIFA World Cup|2002]] and the [[UEFA European Championship|European Championships]] in [[UEFA Euro 1988|1988]].

The [[Ireland national rugby union team|Irish rugby team]] includes players from north and south, and the [[Irish Rugby Football Union]] (IRFU) governs the sport on both sides of the border. Consequently in international rugby, the Ireland team represents the whole island. The Irish rugby team have played in every [[Rugby World Cup]], making the quarter-finals at four of them. Ireland also hosted games during the [[1991 Rugby World Cup|1991]] and the [[1999 Rugby World Cup]]s (including a quarter-final). There are four professional provincial sides that contest the [[Magners League]] and [[Heineken Cup]]. Irish rugby has become increasingly competitive at both the international and provincial levels since the sport went professional in 1994. During that time, [[Ulster Rugby|Ulster]] ([[1998–99 Heineken Cup|1999]]<ref>{{cite web | title = The Fourth Heineken Cup Final | work = Match report| publisher = European Rugby Cup | date = 1999-01-30 | url = http://www.ercrugby.com/eng/82_629.php | accessdate = 2008-11-08 }}</ref>), [[Munster Rugby|Munster]] ([[2005–06 Heineken Cup|2006]]<ref>{{cite web | title = Munster fulfil their destiny | work = Match report| publisher = European Rugby Cup | date = 2006-05-20 | url = http://www.ercrugby.com/eng/12_5287.php | accessdate = 2008-11-08 }}</ref> and [[2007-08 Heineken Cup|2008]]<ref>{{cite web | title = Munster claim second Heineken Cup | work = Match report| publisher = European Rugby Cup | date = 2008-05-24 | url = http://www.ercrugby.com/eng/12_10240.php | accessdate = 2008-11-08 }}</ref>) and [[Leinster Rugby|Leinster]] ([[2008–09 Heineken Cup|2009]]<ref>{{cite web | title = Leicester Tigers v Leinster | work = Match report| publisher = European Rugby Cup | date = 2009-05-23 | url = http://www.ercrugby.com/eng/12_12682.php | accessdate = 2009-06-11 }}</ref>) have won the Heineken Cup. In addition to this, the Irish International side have had increased success in the 6 nations Rugby tournament against Europes other elite sides. This success, including triple crowns (victories over all other home nations in Great Britain)in 2006 and 2007, culminated with a clean sweep of victories, known as a grand slam, in the six nations 2009.<ref> www.rbs6nations.com/en/match-centre_multimedia.php. Subsequent to this, Ireland provided the majority of the squad for the British and Irish lions tour of South Africa in summer 2009.</ref>

The [[Ireland cricket team]] was among the associate nations which qualified for the [[2007 Cricket World Cup]], where it defeated [[Pakistan national cricket team|Pakistan]] and finished second in its pool, earning a place in the [[2007 Cricket World Cup Super Eight stage|Super 8 stage]] of the competition. They also competed in the [[2009 ICC World Twenty20]] after jointly winning the [[2009 ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier|qualifiers]]. Here they made the Super 8 stage.

The [[Ireland national rugby league team|Irish rugby league team]] is also organised on an all-Ireland basis. The team is made up predominantly of players based in England with Irish family connections, with others drawn from the local competition and Australia. Ireland reached the quarter-finals of the [[2000 Rugby League World Cup]].

As with rugby and Gaelic games, cricket, golf, tennis, [[Rowing (sport)|rowing]], hockey and most other sports are organised on an all-island basis. Greyhound racing and horse racing are both popular in Ireland: greyhound stadiums are well attended and there are frequent horse race meetings. The Republic is noted for the breeding and training of race horses and is also a large exporter of racing dogs. The horse racing sector is largely concentrated in the [[County Kildare|central east]] of the Republic. Boxing is also an all-island sport governed by the [[Irish Amateur Boxing Association]]. In 1992, [[Michael Carruth]] won a [[gold medal]] for boxing in the [[1992 Summer Olympics|Barcelona Olympic Games]] and in 2008 Kenny Egan won a silver medal for boxing in the Olympic Games in Beijing. Irish athletics has seen some development in recent times, with [[Sonia O'Sullivan]] winning two notable medals at 5,000 metres; gold at the 1995 [[IAAF World Championships in Athletics|World Championships]] and silver at the [[2000 Summer Olympics|2000 Sydney Olympics]]. [[Gillian O'Sullivan]] won silver in the 20k walk at the 2003 World Championships, while sprint hurdler [[Derval O'Rourke]] won gold at the 2006 World Indoor Championship in [[Moscow]]. Olive Loughnane won a silver medal in the
20k walk in the World Athletics Championships in Berlin in 2009.
Golf is a popular sport in Ireland and golf tourism is a major industry. The [[2006 Ryder Cup|2006]] [[Ryder Cup]] was held at [[The Kildare Hotel and Golf Club|The K Club]] in [[County Kildare]].<ref>{{cite web | title = 2006 Ryder Cup Team Europe | publisher = PGA of America, Ryder Cup Limited | date = 2006-01-23 | url = http://www.rydercup.com/2006/europe/news/20060123_home.html | accessdate = 2008-11-08 }}</ref> [[Pádraig Harrington]] became the first Irishman since [[Fred Daly (golfer)|Fred Daly]] in 1947 to win the [[The Open Championship|British Open]] at [[Carnoustie]] in July 2007.<ref>{{cite web | last = Brennan | first = Séamus | authorlink = Séamus Brennan | title = Séamus Brennan, Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism comments on victory by Padraig Harrington in the 2007 British Open Golf Championship | work = Press release | publisher = | date = 2007-07-22 | url = http://www.arts-sport-tourism.gov.ie/publications/release.asp?ID=2028 | accessdate = 2008-11-08 }}</ref> He successfully defended his title in July 2008 <ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.opengolf.com/ChampionshipGolf/TheOpenChampionship/News.aspx?searchstring=Peter+Dawson |title=Peter Dawson speaks about golf's Olympic ambition |work=The Open Championship 2008 |publisher=Opengolf.com |date=2008-10-14 |accessdate=2008-10-15}}</ref> before going on to win the [[PGA Championship]] in August.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rte.ie/sport/golf/2008/0811/harrington.html|title=In Pictures: Harrington wins US PGA|date=2008-08-11|accessdate=2008-08-14|publisher=[[Raidió Teilifís Éireann|RTÉ]]}}</ref> Harrington became the first European to win the PGA Championship in 78 years ([[Tommy Armour]] in 1930), and was the first winner from Ireland.

The west coast of Ireland, [[Lahinch]] and [[Donegal Bay]] in particular, have popular surfing beaches; being fully exposed to the [[Atlantic Ocean]]. Donegal Bay is shaped like a funnel and catches West/South-West Atlantic winds, creating good surf - especially in winter. In recent years, [[Bundoran]] has hosted European championship surfing. The south-west of Ireland, such as the [[Dingle Peninsula]] and Lahinch, also has surf beaches. [[Scuba diving]] is increasingly popular in Ireland with clear waters and large populations of sea life, particularly along the western seaboard. There are also many shipwrecks along the coast of Ireland, with some of the best [[wreck dives]] being in [[Malin Head]] and off the [[County Cork]] coast. With thousands of lakes, over {{convert|14000|km|mi|-2}} of fish bearing rivers, and over {{convert|3700|km|mi|-1}} of coastline, Ireland is a popular [[angling]] destination. The temperate Irish climate is suited to sport angling. While [[salmon]] and [[trout]] fishing remain popular with anglers, salmon fishing in particular received a boost in 2006 with the closing of the salmon driftnet fishery. [[Coarse fishing]] continues to increase its profile. Sea angling is developed with many beaches mapped and signposted, and in recent times the range of sea angling species has increased.<ref>{{cite web | title = Fishing in Ireland | publisher = Central Fisheries Board | url = http://www.cfb.ie/fishing_in_ireland/ | accessdate = 2008-11-08}}</ref>

== Places of interest ==
There are three [[World Heritage Site]]s on the island; these are the [[Boyne Valley|Bend of the Boyne]], [[Skellig Michael]] and the [[Giant's Causeway]].<ref>{{cite web | title = World Heritage Sites in Ireland | last = Els | first = Slots | publisher = UNESCO's World Heritage Site | url = http://www.worldheritagesite.org/countries/ireland.html | accessdate = 2008-10-22 }}</ref>
<ref>{{cite web | title = World Heritage Sites in UK | last = Els | first = Slots | publisher = UNESCO's World Heritage Site | url = http://www.worldheritagesite.org/countries/unitedkingdom.html | accessdate = 2008-10-22 }}</ref> A number of other places are on the tentative list, for example [[the Burren]] and [[Mount Stewart]].<ref>{{cite web | title = World Heritage List - Tentative listings database | publisher = UNESCO | url = http://whc.unesco.org/en/tentativelists/308/ | accessdate = 2008-10-22 }}</ref>

Some of the most visited sites in Ireland include [[Bunratty Castle]], the [[Rock of Cashel]], the [[Cliffs of Moher]], [[Holy Cross Abbey]] and [[Blarney Castle]].<ref name="facts2006">{{cite web |url=http://www.failteireland.ie/getdoc/975fbac0-cf5d-4574-946e-26700b8a4efa/Tourism-Facts-2006.aspx |title=Tourism Facts |accessdate=2008-10-22 |author=Fáilte Ireland |date=2006 |format=PDF |publisher=National Tourism Development Authority}}</ref> Historically important monastic sites include [[Glendalough]] and [[Clonmacnoise]], which are maintained as [[National Monument (Ireland)|national monuments]].<ref>{{cite web | title = National Monuments in Ireland | work = National Monuments | publisher = National Monuments Service | url = http://www.archaeology.ie/NationalMonuments/ | accessdate = 2008-10-22 }}</ref>

[[Dublin]] is the most heavily touristed region,<ref name="facts2006"/> and home to several top attractions such as the [[Guinness Storehouse]] and [[Book of Kells]].<ref name="facts2006"/> The west and south west (including the [[Lakes of Killarney|Killarney]] and Dingle regions in County Kerry, and Galway and the [[Aran Islands]]) are also popular tourist destinations.<ref name="facts2006"/>

The [[stately home]]s, built during the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries in [[Palladian]], [[Neoclassical architecture|Neoclassical]] and [[neo-Gothic]] styles, such as, [[Castle Ward]], [[Castletown House]], [[Bantry House]], are of interest to tourists, and those converted into hotels, such as [[Ashford Castle]], [[Castle Leslie]] and [[Dromoland Castle]] can be enjoyed as accommodation.<ref>{{cite book | last = Fisher, Robert; Editor: | title = Fodor's Ireland 2008 | publisher = [[Fodor's]] | date = 2008 | location = New York | url = http://www.fodors.com/world/europe/ireland/ | isbn = 1-4000-1821-5 | pages = pps. = 30–31 }}</ref>

<gallery widths="200px" align=center>
Image:Blarney Castle 01.jpg|[[Blarney Castle]].
Image:Causeway-code poet-4.jpg|[[Giant's Causeway]].
Image:Lough Leane (pixinn.net).jpg|[[Killarney National Park]].
</gallery>

== Demographics ==
{{Main|Demographics of Ireland}}
[[Image:IrelandEuropePopulation1750.PNG|thumb|left|The population of Ireland and Europe relative to population density showing the disastrous consequence of the [[Great Famine (Ireland)|Great Famine (1845-9)]].]]

Ireland has been inhabited for at least 9,000 years, although little is known about the [[paleolithic]] and [[neolithic]] inhabitants of the island (other than by inference from genetic research in 2004 that challenges the idea of migration from central Europe and proposes a flow along the Atlantic coast from Spain).<ref name="prospectmag"/> Early historical and genealogical records note the existence of dozens of different peoples that may or may not be "mythological" ([[Cruithne (people)|Cruithne]], [[Attacotti]], [[Conmaicne]], [[Eóganachta]], [[Érainn]], [[Soghain]], to name but a few).
[[File:Population_density_of_Ireland_map2002.svg|thumb|right|[[Population density]] map of Ireland 2002 showing the heavily weighted eastern seaboard and the northern province of Ulster. Prior to the Great Famine, the provinces of Connacht, Munster and Leinster were more or less evenly populated. Ulster was far less densely populated than the other three.]]

During the past 1,000 years or so, [[Vikings]], [[Normans]], [[Scottish people|Scots]] and [[English people|English]] have all added to the indigenous gene pool.

Ireland's largest religious group is [[Christianity]], of which the largest denomination is the [[Catholic Church]] (over 73% for the entire island, and about 86.8%<ref name="census2006-religion"/> for the Republic), and most of the rest of the population adhere to one of the various [[Protestant]] denominations. The largest is the Anglican [[Church of Ireland]]. The Irish [[Muslim]] community is growing, mostly through increased immigration (see [[Islam in Ireland]]). The island also has a small [[Judaism|Jewish community]] (see [[History of the Jews in Ireland]]). Over 4% of the Republic's population describe themselves as of no religion.<ref name="census2006-religion">{{cite web|url=http://www.cso.ie/census/census2006results/volume_13/volume_13_religion.pdf|title=Census 2006 Volume 13 Religion|format=PDF|publisher=Central Statistics Office|accessdate=2008-01-29}}</ref>

Ireland has for centuries been a place of emigration, particularly to England, Scotland, the United States, Canada, and Australia. With growing prosperity, Ireland has become a place of immigration instead. Since joining the EU in 2004, [[Poles|Polish]] people have been the largest source of immigrants (over 150,000)<ref>{{cite web | last = Sullivan| first =Kevin | authorlink =Kevin Sullivan (journalist) | title = Hustling to Find Classrooms For All in a Diverse Ireland | work = | publisher = Washington Post | date = 2007-10-24| url = http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/10/23/AR2007102302162_pf.html | accessdate = 2008-11-09}}</ref> from [[Central Europe]], followed by other immigrants from [[Lithuania]], the [[Czech Republic]] and [[Latvia]].<ref>{{cite web | title = eircom launches two new Talktime International packages | work =Press Releases: Latest News | publisher =Eircom | date =July 2007 | url =http://home.eircom.net/about/press/2007/July/10763015 | accessdate =2008-11-09}}</ref> According to the 2006 census, 420,000 foreign nationals, or about 10% of the population, lived in the [[Republic of Ireland]].<ref>[http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/0905/p06s02-woeu.html Ireland steps up as immigration leader]. The Christian Science Monitor. September 5, 2007.</ref> Up to 50,000 eastern European migrant workers had left Ireland towards the end of 2008.<ref>[http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/apr/05/ireland-economy-vat-unemployment Ireland's age of affluence comes to an end]. The Guardian. April 5, 2009.</ref>

Ireland's high standard of living, high wage economy and EU membership attract migrants from [[EU expansion|the newest of the European Union countries]]: Ireland has had a significant number of [[Romania]]n immigrants since the 1990s. In recent years, mainland [[Overseas Chinese|Chinese]] have been migrating to Ireland in significant numbers (up to 100,000).<ref>{{cite web | last = Casey| first =Garrett | title =Up to 10,000 Chinese Christians in Ireland: DUFEM report | work = Gazette | publisher =Church of Ireland | date =2008-03-21 | url =http://gazette.ireland.anglican.org/2008/210308/index210308.htm | accessdate =2008-11-09 }}</ref> [[Nigerian]]s, along with people from other African countries have accounted for a large proportion of the non-[[European Union]] migrants to Ireland.

Ireland has been predominantly [[Hiberno-English|English-speaking]] since the nineteenth century, with [[Irish language|Irish]] now the first language only of a tiny minority, and less than 10% of the population use the language regularly outside of the education system.<ref>{{cite web | last = | first = | authorlink = | coauthors = | title =Table 15: Irish speakers aged 3 years and over in each Province, County and City, classified by frequency of speaking Irish, 2006 | work =Census 2006 - Volume 9 - Irish Language | publisher =CSO | date = | url = http://beyond2020.cso.ie/Census/TableViewer/tableView.aspx?ReportId=75639 | accessdate =2008-11-09 }}(37.6% of workforce (>15 years) classified as "Irish speakers")</ref> In the North, English is the de facto official language, but official recognition is afforded to both Irish and [[Ulster-Scots|Ulster-Scots language]]. All three languages are spoken on both sides of the border. In recent decades, with the increase of immigration on an all-Ireland basis, many more languages have been introduced, particularly deriving from Asia and Eastern Europe, such as Chinese, Polish, Russian, Turkish and Latvian.

== Cities ==

{{Main|Cities in Ireland}}

After Dublin (1.7m in Greater Dublin), Ireland's largest cities are [[Belfast]] (700,000 in Belfast Metropolitan Area), [[Cork (city)|Cork]] (380,000 in [[Greater Cork]]), [[Derry]] (110,000 in [[Derry Urban Area]]), [[Limerick]] (93,321 including suburbs), [[Galway]] (71,983), [[Lisburn]] (71,465), [[Waterford]] (49,240 including suburbs), [[Newry]] (27,433), [[Kilkenny]] (23,967 incl. suburbs) and [[Armagh]] (14,590); there are several towns with larger populations than many of these, but not having historic [[charter]]s are not recognised as cities.

== Transport ==
{{Main|Transport in Ireland}}
=== Air ===
[[Image:Aerlingus.a320-200.ei-dei.arp.jpg|thumb|[[Aer Lingus]] [[Airbus A320]] jet]]
There are five main international airports in Ireland: [[Dublin Airport]], [[Belfast International Airport]] (Aldergrove), [[Cork Airport]], [[Shannon Airport]] and [[Ireland West Airport Knock|Ireland West Airport (Knock)]]. Dublin Airport is the [[world's busiest airports by international passenger traffic|busiest airport in Ireland]],<ref>{{cite web | title =About us | work =Dublin Airport | publisher =Dublin Airport Authority | url =http://www.dublinairport.com/about-us/ | accessdate =2008-11-09 }}</ref> carrying over 22 million passengers per year;<ref>{{cite web | title =Dublin Airport tops 23 million passengers in 2007 | work =Business | publisher =Thomas Crosbie Media | date =2008-01-22 | url =http://www.breakingnews.ie/business/mheyojojcwgb/ | accessdate =2008-11-09 }}</ref> a new terminal and runway is now under construction, costing over €2 billion.<ref>{{cite web | title =DAA To Begin Building New Terminal Within Weeks | work =Press Releases | publisher =Dublin Airport Authority | date =2007-07-29 | url =http://www.dublinairportauthority.com/media-centre/press-releases/112007.html | accessdate =2008-11-09 }}</ref> All provide services to Britain and continental Europe, while Belfast International, Dublin, Shannon, and Ireland West (Knock) also offer a range of transatlantic services. Shannon was decades ago an important stopover on the trans-Atlantic route for refueling operations<ref>{{cite web | title =Shannon stopover to go by 2008 | work =Business News | publisher =RTE | date =2005-11-11 | url =http://www.rte.ie/business/2005/1111/shannon.html | accessdate =2008-11-09 }}</ref> and, with Dublin, is still one of the Ireland's two designated transatlantic gateway airports.

There are several smaller regional airports: [[George Best Belfast City Airport]], [[City of Derry Airport]] (Eglinton), [[Galway Airport]], [[Kerry Airport]] (Farranfore), [[Sligo Airport]] (Strandhill), [[Waterford Airport]], and [[Donegal Airport]] (Carrickfinn). Scheduled services from these regional points are mostly limited to the rest of Ireland and to Great Britain.

Airlines in Ireland include: [[Aer Lingus]] (the former [[national airline]] of Ireland), [[Ryanair]], [[Aer Arann]], and [[CityJet]].

===Ports and harbours===
[[Image:H&W Cranes2.jpg|thumb|left|[[Samson and Goliath (cranes)|Samson and Goliath cranes]] at [[Harland & Wolff]] shipyard in [[Belfast]], [[Northern Ireland]].]]
Ireland has ports in the towns of [[Arklow]], Belfast ([[Port of Belfast]]), Cork ([[Cork Harbour]]), Derry ([[Londonderry Port]]), [[Drogheda]], Dublin ([[Dublin Port]]), [[Dundalk]], [[Dún Laoghaire]], [[Foynes]], Galway, [[Larne]], Limerick, [[New Ross]], [[Rosslare Europort]], Sligo, [[Warrenpoint]], Waterford ([[Port of Waterford]]), and [[Wicklow]].

Ports in the Republic handle 3,600,000 travelers crossing the [[Irish Sea]] between Ireland and [[Great Britain|Britain]] each year, amounting to 92% of all sea travel.<ref>[http://www.cso.ie/statistics/passengermovementbysea.htm CSO figures]</ref> This has been steadily dropping for a number of years (20% since 1999), probably as a result of [[Low-cost carrier|low cost airlines]].

Ferry connections between [[Great Britain|Britain]] and Ireland via the Irish Sea include the routes from [[Swansea]] to Cork, [[Fishguard]] and [[Pembroke, Pembrokeshire|Pembroke]] to Rosslare, [[Holyhead]] to Dún Laoghaire, [[Stranraer]] to Belfast and Larne, and [[Cairnryan]] to Larne. There is also a connection between [[Liverpool]] and Belfast via the [[Isle of Man]]. The world's largest car ferry, ''[[MV Ulysses|Ulysses]]'', is operated by [[Irish Continental|Irish Ferries]] on the Dublin&ndash;Holyhead route.

In addition, Rosslare and Cork run ferries to [[France]].

The vast majority of heavy goods trade is done by sea. Northern Irish ports handle 10 megatonnes (Mt) (11&nbsp;million [[short tons]]) of goods trade with Britain annually, while ports in the south handle 7.6 Mt (8.4&nbsp;million short tons), representing 50% and 40% respectively of total trade by weight.

Several potential Irish Sea tunnel projects have been proposed, most recently the "[[Tusker Tunnel]]" between the ports of Rosslare and Fishguard proposed by the [[Institution of Engineers of Ireland]] in 2004.<ref>[http://www.iei.ie/Publications/GetPublicationDetails.pasp?PublicationID=69&Module=Papers&txt_freetext=&RecordsPerPage=1000&PageNumber=1&MenuID=24 IEI report (pdf)]</ref><ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/south_west/4121001.stm BBC report]</ref> A different proposed route is between Dublin and Holyhead, proposed in 1997 by a leading British engineering firm, Symonds, for a rail tunnel from Dublin to Holyhead. Either tunnel, at {{convert|80|km|abbr=on}}, would be by far the longest in the world, and would cost an estimated €20bn.

=== Rail ===
[[Image:Ireland rail network.png|right|thumb|Railway routes, with major towns/station, mountains, ports and airports.]]

The [[Rail transportation|railway]] network in Ireland was developed by various private companies, some of which received (British) Government funding in the late 19th century. The network reached its greatest extent by 1920. The [[broad gauge]] of 1,600&nbsp;mm (5 ft 3 in)<ref name="ciatrans">{{cite web | title =CIA World Factbook - Ireland - Transportation | publisher =CIA | date =2008-11-06 | url =https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ei.html#Trans | accessdate =2008-11-11 }}</ref> was eventually settled upon throughout the island, although there were also hundreds of kilometres of 914&nbsp;mm (3 ft) [[narrow gauge railways]].<ref name="ciatrans"/>

Long distance passenger trains in the Republic are managed by [[Iarnród Éireann]] (''Irish Rail'') and connect most major towns and cities across the country.

In Dublin, two local rail networks provide transport in the city and its immediate vicinity. The [[Dublin Area Rapid Transit]] (DART) links the city centre with coastal suburbs, while a new [[light rail]] system named [[Luas]], opened in 2004, transports passengers to the central and western suburbs. Several more Luas lines are planned as well as an eventual upgrade to [[Dublin Metro|metro]]. The DART is run by Iarnród Éireann while the Luas is being run by [[Veolia]] under franchise from the [[Railway Procurement Agency]] (R.P.A.).

Under the Irish government's [[Transport 21]] plan, reopening the [[Navan]]-[[Clonsilla]] rail link, the Cork-[[Midleton]] rail link and the Western Rail Corridor are amongst plans for Ireland's railways.<ref>{{cite web | title =Heavy Rail | work =Project | publisher =Transport 21 | date =2008-06-18 | url =http://www.transport21.ie/Projects/Heavy_Rail/Heavy_Rail.html | accessdate =2008-11-11 }}</ref>

In Northern Ireland, all rail services are provided by [[Northern Ireland Railways]] (N.I.R.), part of [[Translink (Northern Ireland)|Translink]]. Services in Northern Ireland are sparse in comparison to the rest of Ireland or Britain. A large railway network was severely curtailed in the 1950s and 1960s (in particular by the [[Ulster Transport Authority]]). The current situation includes suburban services to [[Larne]], Newry and [[Bangor, Northern Ireland|Bangor]], as well as services to Derry. There is also a branch from [[Coleraine]] to [[Portrush]]. Waterside Station in Derry is the main railway station for [[County Londonderry|Derry]] as well as [[County Donegal]], which no longer has a rail network.

Ireland also has one of the largest dedicated [[freight]] [[railway]]s in Europe, operated by [[Bord na Móna]]. This company has narrow gauge railways<ref name="ciatrans"/> totalling nearly 1,400 kilometres (870 miles).<ref>{{cite web | title =The Bog Railway | work =Student Room | publisher =[[Bord na Móna]] | url =http://www.bnm.ie/corporate/index.jsp?nID=358&pID=357 | accessdate =2008-11-11 }}</ref>

=== Roads ===
[[Image:DublinPortTunnelConstruction 2004 SeanMcClean.jpg|thumb|[[Dublin Port Tunnel]] under construction.]]
{{Main|Roads in Ireland}}

Motorists must drive on the [[Driving on the left or right|left]] in both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. There is an extensive road network, with a (developing) motorway network fanning out from Belfast, Cork and Dublin. Historically, land owners developed most roads and later [[Turnpike Trusts]] collected tolls so that as early as 1800 Ireland had a 16,100&nbsp;km (10,000 mi) road network.<ref>{{cite web | title =History of Transport in Ireland, Part 1 | work =About Us | publisher =[[Córas Iompair Éireann]] | url =http://www.cie.ie/about_us/schools_and_enthusiasts.asp#1 | accessdate =2008-11-11 }}</ref>

In recent years, the Irish Government launched a new transport plan that is the largest investment project ever in Ireland's transport system - with €34 billion being invested from 2006 until 2015. Work on a number of road projects has already commenced while a number of objectives have been completed.<ref>{{cite web | title =Roads | work =Projects | publisher =Transport 21 | date =2008-06-18 | url =http://www.transport21.ie/Projects/Roads/Roads.html | accessdate =2008-11-11 }}</ref> The new transport plan can largely be divided into five categories, Metro / Luas, Heavy rail, roads, buses and airports. The plan was announced on 1 November 2005, by the Minister for Transport, Martin Cullen.<ref>{{cite web | last = Ahern | first = Bertie | authorlink = Bertie Ahern | title = Speech by An Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern T.D., at the launch of Transport 21 in Dublin Castle | work = Media: Launch Materials | publisher =[[Transport 21]] | date = 2005-11-05 | url = http://www.transport21.ie/MEDIA/Launch_Material/Speech_by_An_Taoiseach,_Bertie_Ahern_T.D.,_at_the_launch_of_Transport_21_in_Dublin_Castle.html | accessdate = 2008-11-08 }}</ref>

The year 1815 marked the introduction of the first [[horsecar]] service from Clonmel to Thurles and Limerick run by [[Charles Bianconi]].<ref>{{cite web | last =Murphy | first =John | title =Bianconi home to become Clonmel hotel | work = | publisher =Irish Examiner | date =2005-01-04 | url =http://archives.tcm.ie/irishexaminer/2005/01/04/story573513087.asp | accessdate =2008-11-11 }}</ref> Now, the main bus companies are [[Bus Éireann]] in the Republic and [[Ulsterbus]], a division of Translink, in Northern Ireland, both of which offer extensive passenger service in all parts of the island. [[Dublin Bus]] specifically serves the greater Dublin area, and a further division of Translink called [[Metro (Belfast)|Metro]], operates services within the greater Belfast area. Translink also operate [[Derry#Transport|Ulsterbus Foyle]] in the Derry Urban Area.

All speed limit signs in the Republic of Ireland were changed to the metric system in 2005, but some direction signs still show distance in miles.<ref>{{cite web | last =Nolen | first =Kevin | title =Lost: Dublin signpost with distances in miles | publisher =ErasmusPC | date =2007-04-17 | url =http://www.erasmuspc.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=318&Itemid=88 | accessdate =2008-11-11 }}</ref> Distance and speed limit signs in Northern Ireland use imperial units.

== Ireland's Power Networks ==
For much of their existence [[electricity network]]s in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland were entirely separate. Both networks were designed and constructed independently, but are now connected with three interlinks and also connected through [[Great Britain|Britain]] to mainland Europe. The [[Electricity Supply Board]] (ESB) in the Republic drove a rural electrification programme in the 1940s until the 1970s.
[[EirGrid]] is building a [[High-voltage direct current|HVDC]] transmission line between Ireland and Britain with a capacity of 500&nbsp;MW — about 10% of Ireland's peak demand.<ref> {{cite web
| url= http://www.interconnector.ie/projects/east-westinterconnector/projectactivity/
| title= Project Activity
| date= 16&nbsp;September 2009 | work= East-West Interconnector | publisher= [[EirGrid]]
| accessdate= 2009-09-29 }} </ref>

[[File:RingsendPowerStation1459.jpg|thumb|right|Ringsend power station, Dublin.]]
The situation in the North is complicated by the issue of private companies not supplying NIE with enough power, while in the South, the ESB has failed to modernise its power stations. In the latter case, availability of power plants has averaged 66% recently, one of the worst such figures in Western Europe.

The [[natural gas]] distribution network is also now all-Ireland, with a pipeline linking [[Gormanston, County Meath]], and [[Ballyclare]], [[County Antrim]].<ref>{{cite web | title = Bord Gáis Networks :: Northern Ireland :: South-North Pipeline | publisher = [[Bord Gáis]] | url = http://www.bordgais.ie/networks/index.jsp?1nID=102&pID=109&nID=313 | accessdate = 2009-05-08}}</ref> Most of Ireland's gas now comes through the interconnectors between [[Twynholm]] in [[Scotland]] and [[Ballylumford]], County Antrim, Gormanston or [[Loughshinny]], [[County Dublin]] with a decreasing supply from the Kinsale field.<ref>{{cite web | title =
Northern Ireland Energy Holdings - Frequently Asked Questions
| publisher = [[Northern Ireland Energy Holdings]] | url = http://www.nienergyholdings.com/FAQs/Index.php | accessdate = 2009-05-08}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title = Gas Capacity Statement 2007 | publisher = [[Commission for Energy Regulation]] | url = http://www.cer.ie/GetAttachment.aspx?id=d9f0b11e-3a13-42bb-86b7-f7470a9c68cc
| format = pdf
| accessdate = 2009-05-08}}</ref> The [[Corrib Gas Field]] off the coast of [[County Mayo]] has yet to come on-line, and is facing some localized opposition over the [[Corrib gas controversy|controversial decision]] to refine the gas onshore.

There have been recent efforts in Ireland to use [[renewable energy]] such as [[wind power]] with large [[wind farm]]s being constructed in coastal counties such as Donegal, Mayo and Antrim. What will be the world's largest offshore wind farm is currently being developed at [[Arklow Bank Wind Park|Arklow Bank]] off the coast of [[County Wicklow|Wicklow]]. It is predicted to generate 10% of Ireland's power needs when it is complete. These constructions have in some cases been delayed by opposition from locals, most recently on [[Achill Island]], some of whom consider the [[wind turbine]]s to be unsightly. Another issue in the Republic of Ireland is the failure of the aging network to cope with the varying availability of power from such installations. The ESB's [[Turlough Hill]] is the only power storage fcility in Ireland.<ref>{{cite web | last = | first = | authorlink = | coauthors = | title =Options For Future Renewable Energy Policy, Targets And Programmes issued by Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources | publisher =Hibernian Wind Power Ltd | date =2004-02-27 | url =http://www.hibernianwindpower.ie/hiberwindresponse_dcmnr.pdf | accessdate =2008-11-11 }}</ref>

== Economy ==
{{main|Economy of the Republic of Ireland|Economy of Northern Ireland|Economic history of Ireland}}
Ireland was periodically troubled by [[emigration]] until the 1980s. About half a million people left Ireland in the 1950's alone.<ref>[http://migration.ucc.ie/pmeinishowenfinal.htm Irish Emigration, past and present. Lessons to be learned?]. University College Cork.</ref> These problems virtually disappeared over the course of the 1990s, which saw the beginning of unprecedented economic growth, in a phenomenon known as the "[[Celtic Tiger]]."<ref>[http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/may/10/ireland-financial-crisis-emigration End of the road]. The Guardian. May 10, 2009.</ref> In 2005, Ireland was ranked the best place to live in the world, according to a "[[quality of life]]" assessment by Economist magazine.<ref>{{cite journal|title=The Economist Intelligence Unit’s quality-of-life index|journal=The Economist: The World in 2005|publisher=The Economist Group|url=http://www.economist.com/media/pdf/QUALITY_OF_LIFE.PDF}}</ref> [[Republic of Ireland|Ireland]] has been in recession since second quarter of 2008 and some commentators have claimed it is in a depression. <ref>[http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2009/0520/breaking8.htm Ireland 'technically' in depression...]</ref><ref>[http://www.huffingtonpost.com/sheldon-filger/irelands-economy-in-free_b_185874.html Ireland's Economy in Free Fall Collapse]</ref> In August 2009, the unemployment rate for Ireland was 12.5%.<ref>[http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/tgm/table.do?tab=table&language=en&pcode=teilm020&tableSelection=1&plugin=1 Harmonised unemployment rate by gender - total - % (SA)]. Eurostat.</ref>

== See also ==
{{portal|Ireland|Lightningireland.png}}
<div style="-moz-column-count:2; column-count:2;">
* [[Culture of Ireland]]
* [[List of islands of Ireland]]
* [[List of Ireland-related topics]]
* [[List of topics related to Northern Ireland]]
* [[List of Counties in Ireland]]
* [[List of towns in Ireland]]
* [[Tourist destinations in Ireland]]
* [[The Ireland Funds]]
* [[Lordship of Ireland]]
* [[List of divided islands]]
</div>

== Notes ==
{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}

== References ==
{{Refbegin|2}}
* {{cite book | last = Arnold | first = Bruce | title = Irish Art: A Concise History | publisher = Thames & Hudson | date = 1977 | location = London | pages = 180 | isbn = 0-500-20148-X }}
* {{cite book | last = Becker| first = Annette | authorlink = | coauthors = Wang, Wilfried | title = 20th-century Architecture: Ireland | publisher = Prestel | date = 1997 | location = Munich | pages = 198 | isbn = 3-7913-1719-9 }}
* {{cite book | last = Collins | first = Neil | coauthors = Cradden, Terry | title = Irish Politics Today | publisher = Manchester University Press | date = 2001 | location = Manchester, UK | pages = pps. 163 | url = http://books.google.com/books?id=081Qopn2zbUC | isbn = 0-71906-174-1 }}
*{{citation|last=Cullinane|first= J.P.|year=1973|title=Phycology of the south coast of Ireland|publisher= University College Cork}}
* {{cite book | last = Dennison | first = Gabriel | coauthors = Ni Fhloinn, Baibre | title = Traditional Architecture in Ireland | publisher = Environmental Institute, University College Dublin | date = 1994 | location = Dublin | pages = 94 | isbn = 1-898473-09-9 }}
* {{cite book | last = Dooney | first = Sean | coauthors = O'Toole, John | title = Irish Government Today | publisher = Gill and Macmillan | date = 1992 | location = Dublin | pages = 247 | url = http://www.gillmacmillan.ie/Ecom/Library3.nsf/CatalogByCategory/86E3F0EC0519FDAF80256AE000373702?OpenDocument | isbn = 0-71711-703-0 }}
* {{cite book |last=Ellis | first=Steven G.|title=The Story of the Irish Race: A Popular History of Ireland |date=1921 |publisher=The Irish Publishing Co |location=Ireland | pages = 768 | url = http://books.google.com/books?id=YPgEAAAACAAJ |isbn = 0-517-06408-1}}
*{{citation|last= Fairley|first= J.S.|year= 1975|title=An Irish Beast Book. A Natural History of Ireland's Furred Wildlife|publisher= Blackstaff Press, Belfast|isbn= 85640 090 4}}
* {{cite book | last = Foster | first = Robert Fitzroy | authorlink = R. F. Foster (historian) | title = Modern Ireland, 1600-1972 | publisher = Penguin Books | date = 1988 | location = | pages = 688 | url = http://books.google.com/books?id=h95zAAAAIAAJ&pgis=1 | isbn = 0-7139-9010-4 }}
* {{cite book | last = Hackney, P. Ed. | title =Stewart and Corry's Flora of the North-east of Ireland | publisher =Institute of Irish Studies, The Queen's University | date = 1992 | location = Belfast | isbn = 0 85 389 4469}}
* {{cite Journal | last =Haigh | first =A. | coauthors =Lawton, C. | title =Wild mammals of an Irish urban forest | journal=The Irish Naturalists' Journal | volume=28 | issue=10 | pages=395–403 | publisher = I.N.J. Committee | location =Belfast | date =2007 | issn =0021-1311 }}
*{{citation|last1=Hardy|first1= F.G.|last2= Guiry|first2= M.D.|year= 2006|title=A Check-list and Atlas of the Seaweeds of Britain and Ireland|edition=revised|pages= x + 435|place= London|publisher= British Phycological Society, available from Koeltz Books, Germany|isbn= 3-906166-35-X}}
*{{citation | last = Herm | first = Gerhard | year = 2002 | title = The Celts | place = Ireland | publisher = St. Martin's Press | isbn = 0312313438 }}
*{{citation|last=Knowles|first= M.C.|year= 1929|title= The Lichens of Ireland|journal=Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy|volume=38|pages=179&ndash; 434}}
*{{citation|last=Morton|first= O.|year= 1994|title= Marine Algae of Northern Ireland|publisher= Ulster Museum|isbn= 0 900761 28 8}}
*{{citation|last=Morton|first= O.|year= 2003|title= The marine algae macroalgae of County Donegal, Ireland|journal=Bulletin Irish biogeog. Society|volume=27|pages=3&ndash;164}}
* {{Citation | last = Nunn | first = J.D. | title = Marine Biodiversity in Ireland and Adjacent Waters | place = Belfast | publisher = Ulster Museum | year = 2002 | volume = Proceedings of a Conference 26–27 April 2001 | edition = Publication no. 8 }}
* {{cite book | last = O'Croinin | first = Daibhi | authorlink = Dáibhí Ó Cróinín | title = Prehistoric and Early Ireland | publisher = Oxford University Press | date = 2005 | location = Oxford, UK | pages = 1219 | url = http://books.google.com/books?id=SJSDj1dDvNUC | isbn = 0-19821-737-4 }}
* {{cite book | last = Ó Gráda | first = Cormac | title = A Rocky Road: The Irish Economy Since the 1920s | publisher = Manchester University Press | date = 1997 | location = | pages = 246 | url = http://books.google.com/books?id=zVHgO4-nkhkC | isbn = 0-71904-584-3 }}
* {{cite book | last = Oppenheimer | first = Stephen | title = Origins of the British: A Genetic Detective Story | publisher = [[Carroll & Graf]] | date = 2006 | location = New York | pages = 534 | isbn = 0-78671-890-0 }}
*{{citation | last = O'Rahilly | first = T. F. | author-link =T. F. O'Rahilly | year = 1947 | title = Early Irish History and Mythology | place = US | publisher = Medieval Academy of America}}
* {{cite book | last =Scannell | first =Mary J.P. | coauthors =Synnott, Donal M. | title =Census catalogue of the flora of Ireland | publisher =Department of Agriculture & Fisheries | date =1972 | location =Dublin }}
*{{citation|last=Seaward|first= M.R.D.|year= 1984|title=Census Catalogue of Irish Lichens|journal=Glasra|volume=8|pages= 1&ndash;32}}
* {{cite book | last = Woodcock | first = N.H. | coauthors = Strachan, Robin A. | title = Geological History of Britain and Ireland | publisher = [http://www.blackwellpublishing.com/contents.asp?ref=9780632036561&site=1 Blackwell Publishing] | date = 2000 | location = Hoboken, New Jersey | pages = 423 | url = http://books.google.ie/books?id=dTkKn8Ufzd4C | isbn = 0-63203-656-7 }}
* {{cite book | last = Wallis | first = Geoff | coauthors = Wilson, Sue | title = The Rough Guide to Irish Music | publisher = [[Rough Guides]] | date = 2001 | location = | pages = 599 | isbn = 1-85828-642-5 }}
{{Refend}}

== External links ==
{{wikiquote}}
{{commons cat|Ireland (island)|Ireland}}
* {{wikitravel|Republic of Ireland}}
* {{wikitravel|Northern Ireland}}
* [http://eudocs.lib.byu.edu/index.php/History_of_Ireland:_Primary_Documents History of Ireland: Primary Documents]
* [http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/293754/Ireland Encyclopaedia Britannica's Ireland country page]
* [http://reference.aol.com/planet-earth/geography/ireland-facts Ireland Facts] Photo and information gallery from AOL Research & Learn
*[http://sources.nli.ie Sources: A National Library of Ireland database for Irish research]
* [http://www.lookaroundireland.com Ireland Views]
* [http://www.timeline-help.com/ireland-historical-timeline.html Ireland historical timeline]

{{Template group
|title = Articles Related to Ireland
|list =
{{Ireland counties}}
{{Celtic nations||state=autocollapse}}
{{British Isles|Britain and Ireland}}
{{Ireland topics}}
{{National personifications}}
}}

[[Category:Divided regions]]
[[Category:Ireland| ]]
[[Category:Celtic nation]]
[[Category:Northern Europe]]
[[Category:Western Europe]]

{{Link FA|ast}}

[[af:Ierland]]
[[am:አየርላንድ]]
[[ang:Īrland]]
[[ar:الجزيرة الأيرلندية]]
[[arc:ܐܝܪܠܢܕ (ܓܙܪܬܐ)]]
[[ast:Islla d'Irlanda]]
[[zh-min-nan:Éire-tó]]
[[be:Востраў Ірландыя]]
[[be-x-old:Ірляндыя (выспа)]]
[[bcl:Irlandya]]
[[bs:Irska (ostrvo)]]
[[br:Iwerzhon]]
[[bg:Ирландия (остров)]]
[[ca:Irlanda]]
[[cs:Irsko (ostrov)]]
[[cy:Iwerddon]]
[[da:Irland (ø)]]
[[de:Irland (Insel)]]
[[dz:ཨའིརི་ལེནཌ་]]
[[et:Iirimaa saar]]
[[el:Ιρλανδία]]
[[eo:Irlando (insulo)]]
[[es:Irlanda]]
[[eu:Irlandako uhartea]]
[[fa:جزیره ایرلند]]
[[fo:Írland (oyggj)]]
[[fr:Irlande (île)]]
[[ga:Éire]]
[[gv:Nerin]]
[[gd:Èirinn]]
[[gl:Illa da Irlanda]]
[[gu:આયરલેંડનું ગણતંત્ર]]
[[hak:Oi-ngì-làn]]
[[ko:아일랜드 섬]]
[[hr:Irska (otok)]]
[[id:Pulau Irlandia]]
[[ia:Irlanda]]
[[is:Írland]]
[[it:Irlanda (isola)]]
[[he:אירלנד (אי)]]
[[kaa:İrlandiya]]
[[kw:Wordhon]]
[[kg:Irlande]]
[[ku:Îrland (girav)]]
[[la:Hibernia]]
[[lv:Īrija (sala)]]
[[lt:Airijos sala]]
[[hu:Ír-sziget]]
[[mr:आयर्लंड]]
[[nl:Ierland (eiland)]]
[[ja:アイルランド島]]
[[no:Irland (øy)]]
[[nn:Irland]]
[[nrm:Irlande]]
[[oc:Irlanda (illa)]]
[[pnb:آئرلینڈ]]
[[pms:Irlanda (ìsola)]]
[[tpi:Aialan]]
[[pl:Irlandia (wyspa)]]
[[pt:Irlanda]]
[[ro:Irlanda (insulă)]]
[[rmy:Irland (dvip)]]
[[rm:Irlanda]]
[[qu:Ilanda wat'a]]
[[ru:Ирландия (остров)]]
[[sm:'Aealani]]
[[sa:आयर्लैंड]]
[[sco:Ireland]]
[[simple:Ireland]]
[[sl:Irska (otok)]]
[[szl:Irlandyjo (wyspa)]]
[[sr:Ирска]]
[[fi:Irlanti (saari)]]
[[tl:Pulo ng Irlanda]]
[[ta:அயர்லாந்து]]
[[th:เกาะไอร์แลนด์]]
[[tr:İrlanda (ada)]]
[[uk:Ірландія (острів)]]
[[ug:Irlandiye]]
[[vi:Đảo Ireland]]
[[vls:Ierland]]
[[wuu:爱尔兰]]
[[yi:אירלאנד (אינזל)]]
[[zh:爱尔兰岛]]

Revision as of 10:31, 9 December 2009

haha! Brits rule!

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