From wikipedia about Ireland
Ireland (; Éire ; Ulster Scots: Airlann or Airlan) is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island in the world. To its east is the larger island of Great Britain, from which it is separated by the Irish Sea. Both islands are surrounded by over six-thousand smaller islands and islets with which they, together with the Channel Islands, are known collectively as the British Isles or simply Britain and
Ireland. The island is divided between the Republic of
Ireland, which covers just under five-sixths of the island, and Northern
Ireland, a part of the
United Kingdom, which covers the remainder and is located in the northeast of the island. The population of
Ireland is approximately 6. 2 million people. Just under 4. 5 million live in the Republic of
Ireland and just under 1. 8 million live in Northern
Ireland. The 2008 population of the Republic of
Ireland was estimated to be 4, 422, 100 and that of Northern
Ireland was estimated to be 1, 775, 000. The 2009 estimate for the Republic of
Ireland is 4, 459, 300 persons. An official 2009 estimate for Northern
Ireland has not yet been prepared. These estimates from the official governmental statistics agencies in the respective jurisdictions:
Relatively low-lying mountains surrounding a central plain epitomise Ireland's geography with several navigable rivers extending inland. The island has lush vegetation, a product of its mild but changeable oceanic climate, which avoids extremes in temperature. Thick woodlands covered the island until the 13th century. A period of intensive deforestation, known as "The Great Clearance", took place immediately after the Norman settlement of
Ireland. Today, it is the most deforested area in Europe. There are twenty-six extant mammal species native to
Ireland.
A Norman invasion in the Middle Ages gave way to a Gaelic resurgence in the 14th century. Over sixty years of intermittent warfare in the 1500s led to English dominance after 1603. In the 1690s, a system of Protestant English rule was designed to materially disadvantage the Catholic majority and Protestant dissenters, and was extended during the 18th century. In 1801,
Ireland became a part of the
United Kingdom. A war of independence in the early 20th century led to the partition of the island, creating the Irish Free State, which became increasingly sovereign over the following decades. Northern
Ireland remained a part of the
United Kingdom and saw much civil unrest from the late 1960s until the 1990s. This subsided following a political agreement in 1998. In 1973, both parts of
Ireland joined the European Economic Community.
Irish culture has had a significant influence on other cultures, particularly in the fields of literature and, to a lesser degree, science and education. A strong indigenous culture exists, as expressed for example through Gaelic games, Irish music and the Irish language, alongside mainstream Western culture, such as contemporary music and drama, and a culture shared in common with Great Britain, as expressed through sports such as soccer, rugby and golf, and the English language.