Inhabited for almost 7,000 years, Ireland is an historic island nation, located on the eastern edge of the North Atlantic Ocean, directly west of the United Kingdom.

Over many centuries this land has experienced a number of incursions and invasions, resulting in a rich mixture of ancestry, culture and tradition.

It's known worldwide for fine linen, lace, china, glassware, along with many ales and spirits.

In this land of green (the home of Saint Patrick and the Shamrock), all visitors are welcome.

Dublin

Population

3.6 million people.

Official Languages

English, Irish

Climate

Moderated by the Gulf Stream, the Irish climate is mild, agreeable and wet, maintaining an annual mean temperature of 12°C (54°F)

Area

68,900 sq. km (26,600 sq. miles)

Location

Latitude / Longitude
53° N / 8° W

Currency

Euros

Religions

Predominantly Catholic

Brief History

First settled 10,000 years ago.
3-200 years BC. The Celts arrived.
400 AD. St. Patrick and Christianity.
900 AD. Viking raids and colonisation.
1167. Ireland was first colonised by the English, ironically by invitation of the King of Leinster, Dermot MacMurrough. A hundred years before, England had been invaded by the Normans, who had until then kept out of Ireland. MacMurrough was in conflict with the King of Connaught, Tiernan O'Rourke, and he sought the help of Henry II. Henry was too tied up with his own affairs, so MacMurrough went to Wales and succeeded in engaging support from 'Strongbow', the Earl of Pembroke (a relative of the King). By marriage to MacMurrough's daughter, Strongbow succeeded as King of Leinster.
Over the next two hundred years the integration of Anglo-Normans and native Irish flourished.
1541. Henry VIII declared King of Ireland by Irish Parliament.
1845 - 1855. The Famine sees over a million people starve and another one and a half million emigrate.
1919-1921. Anglo Irish war.
1921. Irish Free State set up.
1949. Ireland becomes a republic.
1994. Irish - UK talks on Northern Ireland.

Cliffs of Moher

Connemara

Wicklow Gap

Bantry