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IrelandIreland is a small, independent country in northwestern Europe. It is often called the Republic of Ireland. Dublin is the capital and largest city. The country occupies about five-sixths of the island of Ireland in the British Isles. The remaining one-sixth of the island is occupied by Northern Ireland, which is part of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. It's said that Ireland, once visited, is never forgotten, and for once the blarney rings true. The Irish landscape has a mythic resonance, the country's history is almost tangible, and its people seem put on earth expressly to restore faith in humanity...More Information on Ireland. Full country name:Eire ( Republic of Ireland) History of IrelandThe Irish people are mainly of Celtic origin, with the country's only significant sized minority having descended from the Anglo-Normans. English is the common language, but Irish (Gaelic) is also an official language and is taught in schools...More on Ireland History. Also Read: Ireland - A Short Background Overview of Ireland's EconomyGDP: US$113.7 billion Also Read: A special feature on Economy of Ireland Political System of Ireland- Government And Political Condition Climate, Vegetation and FaunaIreland's fauna does not differ markedly from that of England or France. The great Irish deer and the great auk, or garefowl, were exterminated in past history times. Since the island became developed, species such as the bear, wolf, wildcat, beaver, and native cattle have disappeared. Small rodents living in the woods and fields remain, as do small shore birds and field birds. No serpents are found in Ireland, and the only reptile is the lizard. Sedges, rushes, ferns, and grass are the principal flora. Population and People:The population of the Irish Republic in 2001 was around at 3,840,838, giving the nation an overall population density...Ireland's Population. Culture: Music is the backbone of Irish culture: in every country pub you'll find someone striking up a tune of an evening..More about Culture of Ireland. Education: rish determine on Western education began 14 centuries ago. From the 6th to the 8th century...more on Education in Ireland Languages: Roman Catholics are 93 % of the people of Ireland, and 4 % of the people are Protestants. Protestant groups...more on languages spoken in Ireland Life and Lifestyle: The capital and largest city is Dublin, with a population (1996) of 953,000. Cork is the second largest city and a major port, with a population of 180,000. Other cities and towns include Limerick (79,000), Galway (57,000), and Waterford (44,000). Envoirnment: Small-beaked and wing-clipped, Ireland is an island in the Atlantic Ocean which...more on Envoirnment in Ireland Facts for the TravelerVisas: For citizens of the EU and most Western countries no visa is required. UK nationals born in Great Britain or Northern Ireland do not require a passport to visit the Republic.
Time Zone: GMT/UTC 0 Dialling Code: 353 Electricity: 230V ,50Hz Weights & measures: Metric Also Read:Money and Cost Required When to Go in IrelandIf you go to Ireland in July or August, you can expect reasonably warm weather, longer days and a lively menu of festivals. However, this is peak season, which presents some challenges if you're wanting a bit of solitude. Spring and autumn can also be delightful seasons, with smaller crowds of tourists. Winter weather can be downright inhospitable, but Ireland (the west coast in particular) does look beautiful in the rain, and there's nearly always a pub nearby to duck into. However, in many Irish towns restaurants and B&Bs close down around October and don't reopen until Easter. With a few advance phone calls you can avoid getting stranded somewhere with no place to sleep or eat. Also Read: Getting Around Ireland | Ireland: Getting There and Away What to See in IrelandMajor Tourist Attractions in Ireland Other Tourist Attractions in Ireland more...Events in IrelandThe cycle of music festivals is unceasing. In January, New Year concerts consist of lavish balls in Vienna. February brings Fasching (Shrovetide carnival) which celebrates the return of spring with masked processions and dances. Corpus Christi (the second Thursday after Whitsun) is heralded with more carnivals, some held on lakes in the Salzkammergut. The Vienna International Festival (from mid-May to mid-June) has a wide-ranging programme of arts and is considered the highlight of the year. Midsummer Night's celebrations on 21 June light up the sky with magnificent bonfires. The Salzburg International Festival takes place in late July and August and includes plenty of music by the city's favourite son, Mozart. National Day on 26 October involves lots of patriotic flag-waving. St Nicholas Day, on 5 to 6 December, marks the beginning of the Christmas season. What to do in IrelandWalking is one of Ireland's biggest attractions, and the country has miles of tailor-made walks. They include the Kerry Way, Beara Way, Ulster Way and Wicklow Way. It's a great way to open up the country and reach its most beautiful and fascinating corners. Cycling is another good way of getting away from the hordes; although some areas are prohibitively hilly, bikes are easy to hire and it's a grand way to slow down your sight-seeing. There are a number of excellent mountain-climbing opportunities, particularly Mt Gabriel (407m/1335ft) on the Mizen Head Peninsula, Hungry Hill (686m/2195ft) on the Beara Peninsula and Croagh Patrick (763m/2500ft) just outside Westport. Ireland is renowned for its fishing, and many visitors come to the country just to cast a line. Permits are required (IR£5 a day), and a state national licence is required for salmon and sea trout. With a coastline measuring 5630km (3490mi), let alone its rivers and lakes, Ireland offers many opportunities for water sports. Good surfing spots include Easkey in the west of County Sligo, the Castlegregory Peninsula and Barley Cove on the Mizen Head Peninsula. The west coast offers some of Europe's best scuba diving, especially at Bantry Bay and Dunmanus Bay in County Cork, the Inveragh Peninsula in Kerry and around Hook Head in County Wexford. Sailing has a long heritage in Ireland, and the country has over 120 yacht and sailing clubs. The most popular areas for sailing are the west coast, especially between Cork Harbour and the Dingle Peninsula, the coastline north and south of Dublin, and larger lakes such as Lough Derg, Lough Erne and Lough Gill.
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