• WELCOME TO IRELAND

IREI IRELAND

• Ireland is an island to the north-west of continental Europe. It is the third largest island in Europe. To its east is the larger island of Great Britain, from which it is separated by the Irish Sea.

Climate• The Atlantic Ocean and the warming influence of

the Gulf Stream affect weather patterns in Ireland. Temperatures differ regionally, with central and eastern areas tending to be more extreme. However, due to a temperate oceanic climate, temperatures are seldom lower than −5 °C (23 °F) in winter or higher than 26 °C (79 °F) in summer.

Land area•26,598 sq mi (68,889 sq km); total

area: 27,135 sq mi (70,280 sq km)

Population (2011 est.):•Population : 4,722,028 (growth rate:

1.112%); birth rate: 15.81/1000; infant mortality rate: 3.81/1000; life expectancy: 80.32

•Ethnicity: Irish 87.4%, other white 7.5%, Asian 1.3%, black 1.1%, mixed 1.1%, unspecified 1.6%

Languages•English, Irish (Gaelic) (both official)

Religions•Roman Catholic 88%, Church of Ireland

3%, other Christian 2%, none 4%

Cuisine• Irish cuisine was traditionally based on meat and

dairy, supplemented with vegetables and seafood. The potato eventually formed the basis of many traditional Irish dishes after its introduction in the 16th century. Examples of popular Irish cuisine include boxty, colcannon, coddle, stew and bacon and cabbage. Ireland is famous for the full Irish breakfast, which involves a fried or grilled meal generally consisting of bacon, egg, sausage, pudding, and fried tomato.

Flag of Ireland•The national flag of Ireland – frequently

referred to as the Irish tricolour – is a vertical tricolour of green, white and orange.

Coat of arms of Ireland •The coat of arms of Ireland is a gold

harp with silver strings on a blue background. 

Anthem•"The Soldiers' Song“•National Holiday: Saint Patrick's Day,

March 17

President: Michael D. Higgins (2011)

Famous Irish People Jonathan Swift

James Joyce

George Bernard Shaw

Oscar Wilde 

. Bram Stoker is best known as the author of the 1897 novel Dracula.

“James Bond” – Pierce Brosnan

Liam Neeson

Mel Gibson

Bono and U-2

Audrey Hepburn

Princess of Monaco Grace Kelly

President of the USA Ronald Reagan

President of the USA John Kennedy