Celtic tribes arrived on the island between 600-150 B.C. Invasions by Norsemen that began in the late 8th century were finally ended when King Brian BORU defeated the Danes in 1014. English invasions began in the 12th century and set off more than seven centuries of Anglo-Irish struggle marked by fierce rebellions and harsh repressions. A failed 1916 Easter Monday Rebellion touched off several years of guerrilla warfare that in 1921 resulted in independence from the UK for 26 southern counties; six northern (Ulster) counties remained part of the UK. In 1948 Ireland withdrew from the British Commonwealth; it joined the European Community in 1973. Irish governments have sought the peaceful unification of Ireland and have cooperated with Britain against terrorist groups. A peace settlement for Northern Ireland, known as the Good Friday Agreement and approved in 1998, is being implemented with some difficulties.
Country profile: Ireland
Although the history of Ireland has seen troubled times, its people have always been associated with a love of music, storytelling and a bit of craic, as a good time with friends is known.Since joining the European Community in 1973, the Republic of Ireland has accelerated its growth from a largely agricultural society into a prosperous, modern, technologically-advanced Celtic Tiger economy. Tourism too continues to flourish.
For centuries British dominion in Ireland gave rise to unrest which erupted into violence with the Easter Rising of 1916 when independence was proclaimed. The rising was crushed and many of its leaders executed but the campaign carried on.
In the early 1920s, 26 counties of Ireland gained independence from London following negotiations which led to partition. The island's other six counties, part of the province of Ulster, remained in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Partition was followed by a year of civil war.
Relations between Dublin and London remained strained for many years afterwards. Northern Ireland saw decades of violent conflict between those campaigning for a united Ireland and those wishing to stay in the United Kingdom.
In an unprecedented and concerted effort to resolve the situation, the Irish and UK governments worked closely together in negotiations which led to the Good Friday Agreement on the future of Northern Ireland in 1998.
Ireland's economy began to grow rapidly in the 1990s, fuelled by foreign investment. This attracted a wave of incomers to a country where, traditionally, mass emigration had been the norm.
Ireland is the birthplace of many famous English-language writers, among them W.B. Yeats, James Joyce, Samuel Beckett, Oscar Wilde and George Bernard Shaw.
- Official name: Ireland (Irish: Éire)
- Population: 4 million (UN, 2004)
- Capital: Dublin
- Area: 70,182 sq km (27,097 sq miles)
- Major languages: English, Irish
- Major religion: Christianity
- Life expectancy: 75 years (men), 80 years (women) (UN)
- Monetary unit: 1 euro = 100 cents
- Main exports: Machinery and equipment, chemicals, foodstuffs
- GNI per capita: US $40,150 (World Bank, 2006)
- Internet domain: .ie
- International dialling code: +353
President: Mary McAleese
Prime minister: Bertie Ahern
Prime Minister Ahern's government has overseen economic prosperity Profile: Bertie Ahern
Fianna Fail's Bertie Ahern, prime minister (taoiseach) in a coalition government with the Progressive Democrats since 1997, continued in the role following general elections in May 2002 when the coalition became the first government to win re-election in Ireland in more than three decades.
Voters were impressed by the Ahern government's record in building a prosperous economy and by his contribution to the Northern Ireland peace process.
Mr Ahern recognises the tremendous boost Ireland has received from being a member of the EU. One of his main challenges is maintaining the feel-good factor in a country where people have grown used to prosperity.
Though he has been dubbed the "Teflon Taoiseach" for his relatively scandal-free political record, Mr Ahern came under fire in 2006 over controversial loans he received from friends when he was finance minister in the 1990s.
Patrick Bartholomew Ahern was born in Dublin in 1951. He entered parliament in 1977 and served as the city's mayor in 1986-87. He became Fianna Fail leader in 1994.
Public broadcaster Radio Telefis Eireann (RTE) dominates the radio and TV sector. It provides a comprehensive service in both English and Irish. TV3, the main commercial TV broadcaster, opened in 1998.
Competition for RTE comes mainly from British public and private terrestrial TV channels. Satellite stations, including those carried by Britain's BSkyB, are widely available. There is extensive take-up of cable TV.
The Irish print and broadcast media operate freely within the confines of the law. Broadcasting is regulated by a commission appointed by the Department of Communications. The Competition Authority safeguards against unfair competition in the press sector.
Cross-media ownership is permitted within limits - press groups may own up to 25% of local radio and TV stations.
The press
Television
Radio
Ireland is a small, modern, trade-dependent economy with growth averaging a robust 7% in 1995-2004. Agriculture, once the most important sector, is now dwarfed by industry and services. Industry accounts for 46% of GDP, about 80% of exports, and 29% of the labor force. Although exports remain the primary engine for Ireland's growth, the economy has also benefited from a rise in consumer spending, construction, and business investment. Per capita GDP is 10% above that of the four big European economies and the second highest in the EU behind Luxembourg. Over the past decade, the Irish Government has implemented a series of national economic programs designed to curb price and wage inflation, reduce government spending, increase labor force skills, and promote foreign investment. Ireland joined in circulating the euro on 1 January 2002 along with 11 other EU nations.
Irish natural resources include natural gas, peat, copper, lead, zinc, silver, barite, gypsum, limestone, dolomite
strategic location on major air and sea routes between North America and northern Europe; over 40% of the population resides within 100 km of Dublin
Irish religion is Roman Catholic 88.4%, Church of Ireland 3%, other Christian 1.6%, other 1.5%, unspecified 2%, none 3.5% (2002 census).
Natural hazards in Ireland include NA.
Travel Advice on Ireland
SUMMARY
- Ireland shares with the rest of Europe a threat from terrorism. Attacks could be indiscriminate and against civilian targets.
- We recommend you carry an acceptable form of photo-identification for travel between the UK and Ireland.
- The currency in Ireland is the Euro.
- Around 3.5 million British tourists visit Ireland each year. They usually require consular assistance for lost passports; when they are victims of petty theft; or if they are care-in-the-community psychiatric patients, finding themselves in trouble for public order offences, after travelling to Ireland alone and not taking their medication regularly. Most incidents occur in the Dublin area.
- We strongly recommend that you obtain comprehensive travel and medical insurance before travelling. You should check any exclusions, and that your policy covers you for the activities you want to undertake. Please see: Travel Insurance
SAFETY AND SECURITY
LOCAL LAWS AND CUSTOMS
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
HEALTH
GENERAL