The Republic of Ireland..
Ireland is the third-largest island in Europe. Situated in the Atlantic Ocean, it covers an area of 84 430 square Kilometres. The island is divided into two separate countries: The Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. The Republic of Ireland has a population of approximately 4 million people. It is divided into four provinces: Connacht, Leinster, Munster and Ulster. These are further divided into 32 counties, 26 making-up the Republic, the remaining 6, Northern Ireland.
Dublin is the capitol city of the Republic and has a population of more that 1.1 million people. Other major cities in Ireland include, Cork in the south and Galway in the west. The main language spoken throughout the country is English, though the native Irish language is still in use in some areas.
Ireland has a long and turbulent history of war, famine and emigration. However, in more recent times, it has become a country of prosperity and growth, buoyed by international investment and its membership in the European Union (EU). Ireland has been a member of the EU since 1973 and is in a vital strategic location on major air and sea routes between North America and the rest of Europe. Modern Ireland boasts an economy that ranks the country highly in international income and competitiveness tables that is admired around the world.
The Republic of Ireland has long established itself as a destination for tourists from all over the world. The Irish countryside is one of its greatest attractions. Ireland has a rich cultural history and has produced many well-know musicians, artists and writers. For a comparatively small country, it has contributed a disproportionate amount to world literature, including four Nobel Prize winners: George Bernard Shaw, William Butler Yeats, Samuel Beckett and Seamus Heaney.
Ireland is an economically prosperous country, renowned for its diverse landscape and rugged coastline. It boasts a long and complicated history and undisputed cultural legacy. The most popular months for visiting Ireland are July and August, but the country has an ever-popular tourist industry that operates all year round.
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