|RNational holiday:|N Saint Patrick's Day, March 17.
|RNature and climate:|N The republic comprises 26 of the 32 counties of the island Ireland in the north Atlantic Ocean west of Great Britain. Especially the west coast is formed by the raging Atlantic waves and have at many places a steep inaccessible coast.
The interior have a central lowland with many lakes and rivers.
Along the south and east coasts run mountainchains with a highest peak, Carrantuohill, reaching 1041 m.a.s.l.
Formerly most of Ireland was forested but the forests were cut down to give more land for agriculture and to give fuel for a growing industry and 1920 only 1% of the land was forested. In 1921 a program for plantation of forests was introduced and now 5% of the land is forested.
Today the natural vegetation is grassy moors which have given Ireland the nickname the "Green Island".
There are few wild animals but many species of birds.
Average temperature in January +5°C and in July 15°C.
Percipitation between 800 and 1200 mm.
|RPeople:|N Celtic (Gaelic) with a small English minority. But the aboriginal Irish (Gaelic) language is only spoken by 20% of the population and English is the main language.
In 1840 Ireland had a population of about 6.5 million people. Severe drought and famine in the 1840:s made millions emigrate mainly to the USA and England. The emigration continued in the 20th century and 1960 the population was 2.8 million people. Since then Ireland have had the highest increase of population in Europe, mainly thanks to a growing industrialization.
|REconomy:|N
|RHistory:|N In the latest glacial period Ireland - and Britain - was a part of the European continent. The earliest known settlements are from 6500 BC. Ireland have the world's oldest stonegraves, dated back to 4000 BC.
Rich findings of gold and other metals gave Ireland an important role in trade in Western Europe in the bronze age.
In the 4th century BC celts from Gaul, or Galicia, invaded Ireland and assimilated the original population.
By AD Ireland was divided in five kingdoms: Ulster, Connacht, Leinster, Meath and Munster. In 432 St Patrick introduced Christianity and Ireland developed into a centre for Gaelic and Latin learning. The many monasteries became universities and attracted both the pious and the intellectuals. The monasteries sent missionaries to many parts of Europe as well as, as many believe, to North America.
From 795 Norse vikings raged the coasts and finally they established small countries on the island, Dublin, Cork and Limerick among others.
The vikings were finally defeated in 1014 by king Brian Born but he was not able to unite all the small countries on Ireland in one country. Instead the English influence increased and in 1171 the Pope gave Ireland to the English Crown and Henry II of England became "Lord of Ireland".
The administration was local until 1495 when the Irish parliament was prohibited to congregate without consent of the English king. In the 16th century the English church turned protestant while the Irish remained Catholic. After this Catholic people on Ireland were harassed by the English.
In the 18th century the Irish demands for independence increased and in 1782 the legislative powers were transformed to the Irish parliament. But that was not enough. Several uprisings were made, many of them with help from France. All of these were defeated and instead, in 1801, Ireland and England became the United Kingdom och Great Britain and ireland.
By the mid 19th century the economic decline on Ireland was severe and failure of the crops through a couple of years led to starvation. From 1845 to 1911 starvation, illness and emigration reduced the population by 50%.
In this time the agitation for independence continued. Proposals of homerule were downvoted by the British parliament in 1886 and 1893 and the process was delayed by World War I. In April 1916 Irish nationalists attempted to throw off british rule but failed. In 1919 rebels proclaimed a republic and this was followed by guerilla warfare.
After negotiations the Irish Free State was established as a dominion on December 6 1922, but the six northern counties remained a part of the United Kingdom.
Ireland stayed neutral in World War II. After the war at April 18 1949 the Republic of Ireland was proclaimed and also withdrew from the Commonwealth of Nations, and in 1955 Ireland became a member of the United Nations. Ireland joined the EU (EC) in 1973.
The Irish economy has suffered from decline the whole 20th century. Since Ireland entered the EC it has become one of the biggest recipients of economic help from the community.
Ever since the republic was establish in 1949 Ireland have had great political difficulties in dealing with Northern Ireland and the catholic IRA guerilla there.
Since 1985 Ireland have had a consultative role in Northern Irish disputes and in the 1990:ies great steps have been taken to solve the Northern Ireland problems in a peaceful way.
