Ireland is a sovereign, independent, democratic state with a parliamentary system of government. The president, who serves as chief of state in a largely ceremonial role, is elected for a 7-year term and can be re-elected only once. In carrying out certain constitutional powers and functions, the president is aided by the Council of State, an advisory...

Full article: http://www.traveldocs.com/ie/govern.htm
Date submitted: 17.6.2006

  Ireland boasts a vibrant, globalized economy, with GDP per capita second only to Luxembourg #8217;s in the EU. The #8220;Celtic Tiger #8221; period of the mid-late 1990s saw successive years of double-digit GDP growth, driven by a progressive industrial policy that boosted large-scale foreign direct investment and exports. In recent years, Ireland has...

Full article: http://www.traveldocs.com/ie/economy.htm
Date submitted: 17.6.2006

  Irish language declined steadily during the 19th century and was nearly wiped out by the Great Potato Famine of the 1840s, which particularly affected the Irish-speaking population. But despite its decline the Irish language never ceased to exert a strong influence on Irish consciousness. From the mid-19th century, in the years following the famine,...

Full article: http://www.traveldocs.com/ie/culture.htm
Date submitted: 17.6.2006

  The Irish people are mainly of Celtic origin, with the country's only significant sized minority having descended from the Anglo-Normans. English is the common language, but Irish (Gaelic) also is an official language and is taught in the schools. Anglo-Irish writers, including Swift, Sheridan, Goldsmith, Burke, Wilde, Joyce, Yeats, Shaw, and Beckett,...

Full article: http://www.traveldocs.com/ie/history.htm
Date submitted: 17.6.2006

  Location: Western Europe, occupying five-sixths of the island of Ireland in the North Atlantic Ocean, west of Great Britain Map references: Europe Area: total area: 70,280 sq km land area: 68,890 sq km comparative area: slightly larger than West Virginia Land boundaries: total 360 km, UK 360 km Coastline: 1,448 km Maritime claims: continental shelf:...

Full article: http://www.traveldocs.com/ie/geog.htm
Date submitted: 17.6.2006

  The Irish people are mainly of Celtic origin, with the country's only significant sized minority having descended from the Anglo-Normans. English is the common language, but Irish (Gaelic) is also an official language and is taught in schools. Anglo-Irish writers such as Swift, Sheridan, Goldsmith, Burke, Wilde, Joyce, Yeats, Shaw, and Beckett have...

Full article: http://www.traveldocs.com/ie/people.htm
Date submitted: 17.6.2006