Ireland

Guide Note

Ireland is the third largest European island, comprised of two separate countries. For religious and political reasons, the island has been divided into the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland—which is a part of the UK—since 1922. The division has remained a major point of contention and cause of bloodshed.

Fast Facts

1. Capital: Dublin
2. Population: 4,239,848 (2006)
3. Currency: Euro (€)
4. Official Languages: Irish and English
5. President, Republic of Ireland: Mary McAleese
6. Anthem, Republic of Ireland: The Soldier's Song

Geography

Ireland lies west of Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) and is the third largest European island at 32,598 square miles. Northern Ireland occupies the northwestern corner, and its capital is Belfast. The rest of the Ireland, including the lush central plain, is the Republic of Ireland, its capital being Dublin. A 240 mile long river, the Shannon, cuts through the center, from north to south.

Culture

Though Ireland is well known for its folk music and beer, these traditions are rivaled by its long and distinguished literary tradition, dating back to the medieval Benedictine monks, and including Jonathan Swift, George Bernard Shaw, James Joyce, Samuel Beckett and Flann O'Brien.

Trivia

1. The Shannon River is the subject of the song "The Broad Majestic Shannon" by The Pogues.

The Mahalo Top 7

1. Official Site: Government of Ireland
2. Wikipedia: Republic of Ireland
3. Daily Newspaper: The Irish Times
4. Official Tourism Site: Discover Ireland
5. Citizens Information: Ireland Public Service Information
6. Sports: Football Association of Ireland (FAI)
7. Library: National Library of Ireland

Ireland Recent News

• Google News: Ireland
• Topix: Ireland News
• RTÉ: Irish and International News
• Daily Newspaper: The Irish Times
• Newspaper: Independent.ie
• Newspaper: Irish Examiner
• Political Weekly: An Phoblacht
• Guardian Unlimited: Ireland forced to open immigrant school (September 25, 2007)

Ireland Politics

• Wikipedia: Politics of Ireland
• Wikipedia: List of political parties in the Republic of Ireland
• Parties and Elections in Europe: Ireland

Ireland Government Sites

• Official Site: Government Departments
• Official Site: President of Ireland  
• Official Site: Houses of the Oireachtas (Parliament)  
• Official Site: Department of the Taoiseach (Prime Minister)  
• Official Site: Courts Service of Ireland

Ireland International Relations

• Official Site: Department of Foreign Affairs - Services to the Public
• Wikipedia: Foreign relations of the Republic of Ireland
• European Union: Ireland

Ireland and North Ireland

• Wikipedia: Northern Ireland
• Wikipedia: The Troubles | Chronology of the Northern Ireland Troubles
• BBC History: Northern Ireland: The Troubles
• Guardian Unlimited: The Troubles - an interactive history

Ireland Economy

• CIA World Factbook: Ireland Economy
• Wikipedia: Economy of the Republic of Ireland
• Official Site: The Central Bank of Ireland
• Economist: Ireland Economic Data
• OECD: Ireland Overview
• World Trade Organization: Ireland

Ireland Military

• Official Site: Ireland Defence Forces | Army | Navy | Air Force
• Wikipedia: Irish Defence Forces | Army | Navy | Air Force

Ireland Facts and History

• Wikipedia: History of Ireland
• Wikipedia: History of the Republic of Ireland
• OECD Statistics: Ireland Statistical Profile 2007
• The History Channel: The History of St. Patrick's Day
• HistoryWorld: History of Ireland
• CIA World Factbook: Ireland
• The Ireland Story: History of Ireland
• Ireland Fun Facts!: Insider's Tour of Ireland 
• Official Site: Central Statistics Office Ireland

Ireland Maps and Geography

Creative Commons image by "CIA World Factbook"

• Wikipedia: Geography of Ireland
• Wikipedia: Geography of the Republic of Ireland
• WorldAtlas.com: Map of Ireland
• Goireland.com: Ireland Maps by County
• CIA World Factbook: Geography of Ireland
• The Ireland Story: Physical and Human Geography of Ireland

Ireland Photos and Videos

• YouTube & Google Video: Ireland Search
• Flickr: Ireland Photos
• Google Image Search: Ireland
• Yahoo! Image Search: Scenic Ireland
• Live Search Images: Ireland Castles
• NASA Earth Observatory: Ireland

Ireland Culture

• Wikipedia: Culture of Ireland
• Popular Newspaper: Irish Independent
• Irelandseye.com: Irish Culture - The Talk & Sounds of Ireland

Irish Music

• Wikipedia: Music of Ireland
• Irish Traditional Music Festival: Fleadh Cheoil na hEireann 2007   
• Irish Fiddle: Irish Fiddlers
• Irish Piping Organization: Na Píobairí Uilleann  
• Irish Musicians: U2, Thin Lizzy and Sinéad O'Connor

Irish Dance

• Wikipedia: Set Dancing and Irish Stepdance
• Irelandseye.com: The History of Irish Dance
• The Irish Dancing Commission: An Coimisiun le Rinci Gaelacha (CLGR)  
• Official Site: Riverdance

Irish Religion

• Wikipedia: Religion of Ireland and Roman Catholicism in Ireland
• Anglican Church of Ireland
• The Presbyterian Church in Ireland
• The Methodist Church in Ireland

Ireland Sports

• Wikipedia: Sport in Ireland
• Official Site: Irish Sports Council
• Gaelic Sports Council: Cumann Lúthchleas Gael (GAA)
• Rugby: Irish Rugby Football Union
• Football (Soccer): Football Association of Ireland (FAI)
• Baseball: Irish National Baseball Team
• Basketball: Basketball Ireland
• Cycling: Cycling Ireland
• Hockey: Irish Hockey Association
• Softball: Irish Softball Association
• Motorsports: Irish Motorsport Federation

Ireland Humor and Satire

• YouTube: Hal Roche
• YouTube: Dance-Off: Halifax Irish TV Ad
• YouTube: Exclusive PJ Gallagher Video - Designated Driver  

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