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Location
Europe, off the west coast of Great Britain.
Time
GMT (GMT + 1 from last Sunday in March to last Sunday in October).
Area
70,182 sq km (27,097 sq miles).
Population
4.1 million (UN estimate 2007).
Population Density
59 per sq km.
Capital
Dublin. Population: 1.2 million (census 2006).
Geography
The Republic of Ireland lies in the north Atlantic Ocean and is separated from Britain by the Irish Sea to the east. The northeastern part of the island (Northern Ireland) is part of the United Kingdom. The country has a central plain surrounded by a rim of mountains and hills offering some of the most varied and unspoilt scenery in Europe – quiet sandy beaches, semi-tropical bays warmed by the Gulf Stream, and rugged cliffs make up the 5,600km (3,500 miles) of coastline.
Government
Republic.
Head of State
President Mary McAleese since 1997.
Head of Government
Prime Minister Bertie Ahern since 1997 (outgoing).
Recent History
Prime Minister Bertie Ahern announced his resignation in April 2008, a day after he began a court challenge to limit the work of a public inquiry probing planning corruption in the 1990s.
The general election of May 2007 saw the re-election of Bertie Ahern's Fianna Fail party for a record third time, although they didn't manage to win an overall majority. Their partners in government are the right-of-centre Progressive Democrats, who lost two-thirds of their seats in the Dail but still managed to hold onto the ministerial portfolio in Health; and, for the first time ever, the Green Party, a sure sign that environmental concerns are becoming more important in the minds of the electorate - even if the Greens had to sacrifice a number of important policy positions when negotiating with Fianna Fail. The economy remains buoyant, despite growing interest rates and a slow-down in the construction market, which may result in a fall in house prices and the dreaded threat of negative equity for home-owners already stretched to the limit of their mortgage repayments.
The general election of May 2007 saw the re-election of Bertie Ahern's Fianna Fail party for a record third time, although they didn't manage to win an overall majority. Their partners in government are the right-of-centre Progressive Democrats, who lost two-thirds of their seats in the Dail but still managed to hold onto the ministerial portfolio in Health; and, for the first time ever, the Green Party, a sure sign that environmental concerns are becoming more important in the minds of the electorate - even if the Greens had to sacrifice a number of important policy positions when negotiating with Fianna Fail. The economy remains buoyant, despite growing interest rates and a slow-down in the construction market, which may result in a fall in house prices and the dreaded threat of negative equity for home-owners already stretched to the limit of their mortgage repayments.
Language
Although Irish (Gaelic) is the official language, spoken as a first language by about 55,000 people (mostly in the west), English is the language of the overwhelming majority of the population. Official documents are printed in both languages.
Religion
Roman Catholic 92%, the remainder being Protestant, with Jewish and Islamic minorities.
Electricity
220 volts AC, 50Hz. Three-pin plugs are in use.
Social Conventions
The Irish are renowned as an affable, easy-going people, always eager to engage friends and strangers alike in chat that is liberally dosed with humour, irreverence and - if you listen carefully - a beal bocht, an Irish expression that translates as ‘the poor mouth'. It refers to a kind of modesty where the speaker is careful to talk themselves down and never reveal how well he or she is actually doing. In short, the Irish don't really like a showoff. The best place to observe and engage with the Irish is in the pub, still the centre of all social interaction in Ireland, especially in smaller communities throughout the country.
A meal in an Irish home is usually a substantial affair and guests will eat well. Dinner is the main meal of the day and is now eaten in the evening. Even in cities there is less formal wear than in most European countries and casual dress is widely acceptable as in keeping with a largely agricultural community. Women, however, often dress up for smart restaurants and social functions. Handshaking is usual, and modes of address will often be informal. Smoking is banned in all public enclosed/working spaces, including pubs, bars and restaurants.
A meal in an Irish home is usually a substantial affair and guests will eat well. Dinner is the main meal of the day and is now eaten in the evening. Even in cities there is less formal wear than in most European countries and casual dress is widely acceptable as in keeping with a largely agricultural community. Women, however, often dress up for smart restaurants and social functions. Handshaking is usual, and modes of address will often be informal. Smoking is banned in all public enclosed/working spaces, including pubs, bars and restaurants.