Ireland is an island in north-western Europe and the name of the sovereign state that occupies most of that island. The state is also commonly called the Republic of Ireland when it needs to be distinguished from Northern Ireland, which remains part of the United Kingdom.
The island is surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean, the Irish Sea, St George's Channel and the Celtic Sea. Its political, cultural and historical life is closely tied to Britain, Europe, the Irish language, migration, religion, literature and the history of partition.
Geography
Ireland is the second-largest island of the British Isles. Its landscapes include low central plains, uplands, mountains, bogs, rivers, lakes and long Atlantic coastlines.
Dublin is the capital and largest city of the state. Other major urban centres include Cork, Limerick, Galway and Waterford. Belfast is the largest city in Northern Ireland.
History
Ireland's early history includes Gaelic kingdoms, Christian monastic culture, Viking settlements and Norman intervention. English and later British rule expanded over several centuries, often through conflict, land settlement, religious division and political control.
The nineteenth and early twentieth centuries brought the Great Famine, mass emigration, land reform, cultural revival and independence movements. The Anglo-Irish Treaty led to the Irish Free State in 1922, while Northern Ireland remained within the United Kingdom.
Government
The modern state of Ireland is a parliamentary democracy. The Oireachtas is the national parliament and consists of the President, Dail Eireann and Seanad Eireann.
The Taoiseach is head of government, while the President is head of state. The constitution, Bunreacht na hEireann, sets out the structure of the state.
Culture
Irish culture includes the Irish language, English-language and Irish-language literature, traditional music, dance, sport, mythology, theatre and film.
Writers associated with Ireland include W. B. Yeats, James Joyce, Samuel Beckett, Seamus Heaney and many others. Gaelic games, rugby, football and horse racing are important parts of sporting life.
Partition and Northern Ireland
Partition created separate political paths for the Irish state and Northern Ireland. Northern Ireland's later history includes the Troubles and the 1998 Belfast Agreement, also called the Good Friday Agreement.
The border, citizenship, trade, identity and constitutional status of Northern Ireland remain important political subjects on the island.
See Also
References
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