Republic of Ireland

Republic of Ireland

Ireland, also called the Republic of Ireland, is a country in Northwestern Europe. It is made up of 26 of the 32 counties on the island of Ireland and has about 5.4 million people. The capital and largest city is Dublin, with over 1.5 million people living there.

The Republic of Ireland shares its only land border with Northern Ireland, which is part of the United Kingdom. The country is surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean, with the Celtic Sea to the south, St George's Channel to the southeast, and the Irish Sea to the east.

Ireland became an independent country in 1922 and joined the European Union in 1973. It is known for having a high quality of life and a strong economy. The country has a policy of military neutrality and is not a member of NATO, but it works with other countries for peace and cooperation.

Name

Main article: Names of the Irish state

The names Ireland and Éire come from an old word meaning "fertile soil." The country was made in 1922 and was first called the Irish Free State. In 1937, its constitution said the name of the country is Éire or Ireland in English. In 1948, a law said people could also call it the Republic of Ireland. Sometimes people call it "the Republic," "Southern Ireland," or "the South" to tell it apart from the whole island.

History

Main article: History of the Republic of Ireland

For the history of the entire island, see History of Ireland.

Home-rule movement

Main article: Irish Home Rule movement

From the Act of Union in 1801 until 1922, Ireland was part of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. During the Great Famine in the 1840s, many people died or left Ireland, mostly to the United States.

From 1874, the Irish Parliamentary Party tried to get more rights for Ireland. They wanted Ireland to have more control over its own affairs. This led to some changes in laws about land and farming.

Home Rule seemed possible when a law was passed in 1911. But some people in Ireland did not want this, especially in parts called Ulster.

Revolution and steps to independence

Though it received the Royal Assent and was placed on the statute books in 1914, the implementation of the Third Home Rule Act was suspended until after the First World War.

In 1916, some people in Ireland tried to break away from British rule. This was called the Easter Rising. It did not succeed, but it changed many people's minds.

In 1919, some Irish people set up their own parliament called Dáil Éireann. They said Ireland was independent.

After talks, Ireland became mostly independent in 1922 with the Anglo-Irish Treaty. But some people did not agree to this treaty.

Irish Civil War

Main article: Irish Civil War

The Irish Civil War happened in 1922–1923 because of disagreements about the treaty. Some people fought for and some against the new government.

Constitution of Ireland 1937

Following a national plebiscite in July 1937, the new Constitution of Ireland (Bunreacht na hÉireann) came into force on 29 December 1937. This replaced the Constitution of the Irish Free State and declared that the name of the state is Éire, or "Ireland" in the English language.

Ireland remained neutral during World War II. Ireland became a republic in 1949.

Recent history

Ireland joined the United Nations in 1955.

Ireland joined the European Communities in 1973 after signing the Treaty of Accession.

The economy grew very fast in the late 1990s, known as the Celtic Tiger period.

In 1998, a peace agreement called the Good Friday Agreement was made to end a conflict in Northern Ireland.

Geography

Main article: Geography of Ireland

The Republic of Ireland covers most of the island of Ireland, with Northern Ireland making up the rest. The island is surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean, the Irish Sea, the St George's Channel, and the Celtic Sea.

The west of Ireland has cliffs, hills, and mountains. The middle areas have lowlands with clay, sand, and bogland. The highest point is Carrauntoohil in the MacGillycuddy's Reeks mountains. The River Shannon is the longest river. The west coast has many islands, peninsulas, headlands, and bays.

Main article: Climate of Ireland

The Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf Stream keep Ireland's weather mild. Winter temperatures rarely drop below −5 °C, and summer temperatures seldom rise above 26 °C. Rain falls more in winter and less in early summer. The southwest gets the most rain. The southeast gets the most sunshine, and the far north and west are very windy, which helps make wind energy. Ireland usually gets between 1,100 and 1,600 hours of sunshine each year, with May and June being the sunniest months.

Government and politics

Main articles: Politics of the Republic of Ireland and Elections in the Republic of Ireland

Ireland is a constitutional republic with a parliamentary system of government. The Oireachtas is the national parliament. It has the President of Ireland and two Houses: Dáil Éireann (House of Representatives) and Seanad Éireann (Senate). Áras an Uachtaráin is the President’s home. The Houses of the Oireachtas meet at Leinster House in Dublin.

The President is the head of state, elected for seven years and can serve one more term. The President mainly acts on advice but has some important powers. Catherine Connolly became the tenth President of Ireland in November 2025. The Taoiseach (Prime Minister) is the head of government, chosen by the President after the Dáil nominates them. Most Taoisigh lead the party with the most seats, but often parties work together in coalitions to form a government.

The Dáil has 174 members called Teachtaí Dála elected to represent areas. The Seanad has sixty members, some chosen by the Taoiseach, some by universities, and others by public representatives. The government can only have fifteen members, with rules about who can serve.

Local government

Main article: Local government in the Republic of Ireland

Local government areas are based on the traditional counties of Ireland, with Cork, Dublin and Galway having more than one local authority. There are thirty-one local authorities. Local authorities handle planning, roads, cleaning, and libraries.

Law

Main articles: Law of the Republic of Ireland, Courts of the Republic of Ireland, and Law enforcement in the Republic of Ireland

Ireland uses a common law system with a written constitution. Courts include the Supreme Court, Court of Appeal, High Court, Circuit Court, and District Court. The Garda Síochána, or Gardaí, is Ireland’s police force. Most officers do not carry guns.

Foreign relations

Main article: Foreign relations of Ireland

See also: Ireland–NATO relations

Ireland’s foreign policy is shaped by being a member of the European Union, and also by its ties with the United Kingdom and the United States. Ireland is not part of NATO and has a policy of being neutral. This means Ireland can send troops to help keep peace in other places when the United Nations asks.

Military

Main article: Defence Forces (Ireland)

See also: Irish neutrality

Ireland is a neutral country and only sends troops to areas where the United Nations approves. The Defence Forces include the Army, Naval Service, Air Corps, and Reserve Defence Force. They help keep peace, protect Ireland’s waters, and support the United Nations in other countries.

Economy

Main article: Economy of the Republic of Ireland

Ireland has a strong economy and attracts many big companies from around the world. It ranks high for income for its people. Many large companies, especially from the United States, have set up offices in Ireland, which helps create jobs and bring in money.

Ireland uses the euro as its currency. After facing tough economic times following the Great Recession, the country has grown again, helped by these big companies. The country has worked to manage its finances and has become a popular place for many international businesses, especially in technology and pharmaceuticals.

Taxation policy

Ireland changed its tax rules to make it easier for big companies to set up there, offering lower taxes than many other places. This helped turn Ireland from a country mostly focused on farming into one with many technology and service industries. These changes brought strong growth for a while, known as the "Celtic Tiger" period.

Trade

Big companies play a big role in Ireland’s exports, selling things like medicines, computer software, and airplane parts. Ireland also exports farm products like beef and dairy. The country imports things like computers, chemicals, and clothing. Most of Ireland’s trade is with Europe, especially with the United Kingdom, and also with the United States.

Energy

Main article: Energy in Ireland

Ireland gets its electricity from companies like ESB and Bord Gáis Energy. The country has some natural gas and is working to use more wind power. Ireland has built many wind farms and aims to use cleaner energy sources more.

Transport

Main articles: Transport in Ireland, Rail transport in Ireland, and Roads in Ireland

Ireland has three big airports in Dublin, Shannon, and Cork, with Aer Lingus and Ryanair offering many flights. Trains run across the country, with Dublin as the main hub. The roads include motorways connecting major cities like Cork and Limerick to Dublin. Dublin also has buses, bike-sharing, and special train lines along the coast.

Demographics

Main article: Demographics of the Republic of Ireland

See also: Historical population of Ireland

Genetic research shows that the first people in Ireland came from Iberia after the last ice age. Later, people brought Celtic traditions. Today, most Irish people have roots from many places.

In 2022, Ireland’s population was about 5.1 million. Ireland had a high birth rate in 2011. By 2018, the average age of people in Ireland was 37.1 years.

See also: List of urban areas in the Republic of Ireland

Languages

Main articles: Languages of Ireland, Irish language, Hiberno-English, and Mid Ulster English

The Irish Constitution names Irish as the “national language” and English as the “second official language.” Most people speak English daily. Irish is spoken in certain areas called the Gaeltacht. Road signs in these areas are often in both languages. Irish appears on TV, radio, and online news.

Because of people moving to Ireland, Polish is now common after English, with Irish as third. Other languages spoken include Czech, Hungarian, Slovak, Lithuanian, Latvian, Shelta by Irish Travellers, and Scots by some in Donegal. In school, students can learn French, German, Italian, Spanish, and other languages.

Religion

Main article: Religion in the Republic of Ireland

Religious freedom is protected in Ireland. While Ireland was mostly Catholic, fewer people identify as Catholic today. Other groups include Protestant, Orthodox, Muslim, and people with no religion. Ireland’s patron saints are Saint Patrick, Saint Bridget, and Saint Columba. Saint Patrick's Day is celebrated on March 17th with parades.

Education

Main article: Education in the Republic of Ireland

Ireland has three education levels: primary, secondary, and higher education. Children must go to school from age six to fifteen. Most primary schools are run by the Catholic Church, but all schools must follow the same rules.

The Leaving Certificate is a big exam taken after secondary school. It helps students get into higher education. Ireland has many universities and colleges, and its education system is highly ranked.

Healthcare

Main article: Healthcare in the Republic of Ireland

Healthcare in Ireland is provided by public and private services. Everyone can use the public system, paid for by taxes. Some services may cost a small fee depending on income or age. Free care is provided for babies under six months and for pregnant women. People with a European Health Insurance Card can get free treatment in public hospitals. Private health insurance is also an option. Ireland has a high life expectancy and a low rate of infant deaths.

Culture

Main article: Culture of Ireland

Ireland's culture has been mainly Gaelic for centuries and is one of the six main Celtic cultures. After invasions from groups like the Anglo-Normans and later British rule, Irish culture mixed with English and Scottish influences. Even so, Irish culture stays unique and shares some traits with other English-speaking, Catholic European, and Celtic areas. The Irish people living outside Ireland have helped spread Irish culture worldwide through art, music, and science.

Literature and drama

Main articles: Irish literature, Irish short stories, Irish poetry, and Irish theatre

Ireland has greatly added to world literature in both English and Irish languages. Modern Irish fiction started with the 1726 novel Gulliver's Travels by Jonathan Swift. Important writers from the 18th century include Laurence Sterne and Oliver Goldsmith. Many famous Irish writers appeared in the 19th century, such as Maria Edgeworth, George Moore, and Bram Stoker.

James Joyce wrote his famous book Ulysses in 1922. After World War II, well-known authors included Flann O'Brien, Elizabeth Bowen, and Maeve Binchy. Modern writers like Roddy Doyle and Colm Tóibín are also very popular.

Patricia Lynch wrote great books for children, and Eoin Colfer became famous for his stories too. Ireland has many talented poets like William Butler Yeats and Seamus Heaney. Irish theatre began in the 1600s and has grown to include famous playwrights like Oscar Wilde, George Bernard Shaw, and Samuel Beckett.

Music and dance

Main articles: Irish music and Irish dance

Irish traditional music stays strong and has influenced many music styles around the world. Ireland has produced famous music groups like the rock band U2, known for selling millions of albums.

Ireland has groups that play classical music and two groups that perform opera. The country has taken part in the Eurovision Song Contest since 1965 and has won several times. The show Riverdance began as a performance during the contest in 1994.

Irish dance includes social dancing and performance dancing. Social dancing has styles like céilí and set dancing, while performance dancing is known as stepdance, famous for quick foot movements.

Architecture

Main article: Architecture of Ireland

Ireland has old buildings from the Neolithic period, like Brú na Bóinne. After the Viking time, towns grew up. Castles were built by new rulers, and towns were planned with special designs.

Gothic cathedrals were built later, and after a big battle in the 1690s, new building styles like palladianism appeared. In Dublin, buildings in neoclassical and Georgian styles became common. In the 20th century, modern styles took over, and new developments changed the look of cities like Dublin.

Media

Main article: Media of the Republic of Ireland

Raidió Teilifís Éireann (RTÉ) is Ireland’s main broadcaster, running two TV channels and several radio stations. Other channels like Virgin Media One and TG4 are also available. Many people watch the BBC from nearby Northern Ireland.

Ireland’s film industry has grown, making both local and international movies. There are many local and national radio stations, and newspapers are popular. Most Irish homes have internet access.

Cuisine

See also: Irish cuisine and List of Irish dishes

Traditional Irish food includes dishes like boxty, colcannon, and stew. The full Irish breakfast is a popular meal. New Irish cuisine uses old ingredients in new ways, with fresh vegetables, fish, and cheeses. Popular drinks include tea, coffee, and Guinness beer.

Sports

Main article: Sport in Ireland

Gaelic football and hurling are Ireland’s traditional sports. Association football (soccer) is also popular. The national soccer team plays internationally. Other sports like rugby, cricket, and golf are enjoyed too. Ireland has successful Olympic boxers and runners.

Society

See also: Abortion in the Republic of Ireland and LGBT rights in the Republic of Ireland

Ireland is known for its equality and charity. Laws protect people from discrimination, and same-sex marriage is allowed. Ireland was the first country to charge for plastic bags and to ban smoking in public places. The country works hard on recycling and environmental rules.

State symbols

Further information: Symbols of the Republic of Ireland

Ireland uses symbols like the colours green and blue, animals such as the Irish wolfhound, and designs like Celtic knots. The flag of Ireland is a tricolour of green, white, and orange. The national anthem is Amhrán na bhFiann, and the arms of Ireland feature a harp. These symbols are important to the country and its people.