Ireland

Basic information
Capital: Dublin
Population: 5,068,050
Currency: euro
Official languages: English and Gaelic
Area: 68,890 km2

Geography

Ireland is an island located in the North Atlantic Ocean, to the northwest of continental
Europe. It is separated from Great Britain by the Irish Sea. Ireland's landscape is characterized
by rolling hills, low mountains, and numerous rivers and lakes. The central lowland areas are
known as the Irish Midlands. The highest peak is Carrauntoohil in County Kerry, standing at
1,038 meters. The River Shannon is the longest river in Ireland Ireland is also known for its
many lakes, including Lough Neagh, the largest lake in the British Isles by area.

Political system
The government of Ireland operates as a parliamentary democracy with a President serving as th
head of state, elected every seven years. The head of government is the Prime Minister, known as
the Taoiseach, who is appointed by the President and nominated by the lower house of the
Parliament. The Parliament (Oireachtas) consists of two houses: the lower house, known as the
House of Representatives, whose members are elected by the public, and the upper house, called the
Senate, whose senators are either elected by the Taoiseach or by members of local authorities.
Ireland's electoral system employs proportional representation with a single transferable vote,
allowing voters to rank candidates in order of preference. Key political parties : Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael,
Sinn Féin, the Labour Party, the Green Party

Culture
National Irish meals include Irish soda bread, Irish coffee, Irish potato farls, and Irish beer.

A typical Irish sport is Hurling, which is a stick and ball game played by teams of 15 on a grass pitch
with H-shaped goals at each end.

Some famous people from Ireland include Oscar Wilde, known for his poetry and plays such as "The
Picture of Dorian Gray" and "The Happy Prince," as well as C.S. Lewis, the authorAmong the most
famous Irish actors are Liam Neeson and Cillian Murphy.
Saint Patrick’s Day
St. Patrick's Day is a cultural and religious holiday celebrated on March 17th, marking the death date
of Saint Patrick, the foremost patron saint of Ireland. Originally a feast day to commemorate Saint
Patrick and the arrival of Christianity in Ireland, it has evolved into a global celebration of Irish culture
and heritage. Common traditions include wearing green attire, attending parades featuring Irish
music and dance, and consuming traditional Irish food and drinks such as corned beef and cabbage,
Irish soda bread, and Guinness beer. The holiday is celebrated not only in Ireland but also in
countries around the world with large Irish communities.

History
Ancient Ireland was inhabited by Celtic tribes until the 12th century, when Norman invaders
established control, leading to centuries of English rule and conflict. The 19th and early 20th
centuries witnessed a surge in Irish nationalism, culminating in the Easter Rising of 1916 and the
subsequent War of Independence against British rule. The partition of Ireland in 1921 led to the
establishment of the Irish Free State (later Republic of Ireland) in the south, while Northern Ireland
remained part of the United Kingdom. The Troubles, a period of sectarian violence, plagued Northern
Ireland for decades. The Good Friday Agreement of 1998 brought relative peace, although tensions
persist. Today, Ireland is a modern, independent nation with a rich cultural heritage and a thriving
economy.