About Ireland

Ireland has a long and fascinating history and a rich and varied cultural life. Click here for a factual overview which will serve as a basis for further exploration on the Web.

Information for prospective visitors to Ireland may be obtained from Bord Fáilte, the Irish Tourist Board, and the Northern Ireland Tourist Board.

Location

The island of Ireland is situated in the extreme north-west of Europe between 51.5 and 55.5 degrees north latitude and between 5.5 and 10.5 degree west longitude.

The Irish Sea to the east, which separates Ireland from Britain, is from 11 to 120 miles (17.6 to 192. km.) wide.

The total area of the island is 32,595 sq. miles (84,421 sq. km.). The total area of the Republic of Ireland is 27,136 sq. miles (70,282 sq. km.) and the total area of Northern Ireland is 5,459 sq. miles (14,139 sq. km.).

Climate

The climate is equable, and temperatures are fairly uniform over the whole country. The coldest months are January and February with mean daily air temperatures of between 4oC and 7oC, while July and August are the warmest (14oC to 16oC). May and June are the sunniest months, averaging five to seven hours of sunshine daily.

In low-lying areas average annual rainfall is mostly between 31" and 47" (800 and 1200 mm.) but ranges from less than 30" (750 mm.) in some eastern areas to 59" (1500 mm.) in parts of the west. In mountainous areas annual rainfall may exceed 79" (2000 mm.).

Administrative structure

The Republic of Ireland is a parliamentary democracy with two houses of parliament, an elected President who is head of state and a Taoiseach (prime minister) who is head of government.

The Republic of Ireland is divided into 26 counties, all of which belong to one of the four provinces: 12 in Leinster, 6 in Munster, 5 in Connaught and 3 in Ulster.

Northern Ireland is part of the UK (the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland). It consists of 6 counties, all of which are in the province of Ulster.

Religion

According to the 1991 census, 91.6% of the population of the Republic of Ireland were Roman Catholics, 2.5% were Church of Ireland (Anglican), 0.4% Presbyterians, 0.1% Methodists and less than 0.1% Jewish. About 3% of the population belonged to other religious groupings or had no specific religious beliefs. No information on religion was supplied in respect of 2.4% of the population. The Constitution of Ireland guarantees freedom of conscience and the free profession and practice of religion to all citizens.

Population

Ireland has been inhabited by successive peoples including Celts, Vikings, Normans and the English.

Before the Great Famine in the 1840s, the population of the area comprising the present Republic of Ireland was 6.5 million. By 1851, the population had declined to 5.1 million. Large-scale emigration took place for over a century afterwards, so that the population of the Republic of Ireland in 1961 was 2.8 million, the lowest census figure on record. From then on, the pattern changed, owing to natural increase and the beginning of inward migration, and the population of the Republic of Ireland in 1996 was 3,626,087. Over one million of these people live in the greater Dublin area. About 41% of the population is aged under 25, and about 24% is aged under 15. In recent years, there has been a marked decrease in emigration and a marked increase in immigration.

Language

Article 8 of the Constitution of Ireland makes the following affirmation:

1. The Irish language as the national language is the first official language.
2. The English language is recognised as a second official language.

English is understood and spoken throughout Ireland.

The areas in which Irish is the community language are mainly on the western seaboard and are collectively known as the Gaeltacht. In the 1991 census the population of the Gaeltacht aged three years and over was 79,563, of whom 56,469 or 71% were returned as Irish-speaking. There are also many Irish-speaking individuals and families throughout the rest of the country. The latest figures available show that 35% of adults claim to have a knowledge of the language.

Cost of living

Living costs in Ireland are quite high, and accommodation can be expensive. Further information on accommodation costs can be obtained from the Residence Office.