1. Land and People
Ireland has a population of 3,917,203 (2002), with Dublin, its capital city, having a population of 1,122,821.
The country enjoys a relatively mild climate with average monthly temperatures ranging from 7 degrees celsius in January to 19 degrees in July.
Ireland has an average monthly rainfall of between 2 and 3 inches with average daily hours of sunshine ranging from 2 hours in December to 6 hours in June.
The country's total area is 84,412km squared with a total coastline distance of 3,172km.
Ireland's highest mountain is Carrantouhill, Co. Kerry at 1,041m, longest river, the Shannon at 340km and largest lake, Lough Neagh at 396km squared.
Irelands National Parks are home to some of the most unique and spectacular scenery in the county while wild boglands occur in mountain and lowland areas and are one of the most distinctive natural habitats in the country.
The bio-diversity of wildlife is naturally low due to Ireland's isolation from mainland Europe so many species present on the continent are absent. Many other common animals and plants have, in fact, been introduced by human settlers.
The free profession of religion is guaranteed to all citizens by the Irish Constitution. The stated religion of the majority of people in Ireland is the Roman Catholic faith.
The Irish language evolved from Celtic immigrants around 600 BC. The language survived the introduction of the linguistic diversity of both the invading Vikings and Normans down through the centuries.
The first to bring the English language to Ireland were the Normans. Though English was slow to become established in Ireland it eventually became the language used for all administrative and legal business. Irish became associated with the poorer classes, and gradually English was adopted in general as the vernacular from the latter years of the eighteenth century on.
History
7000 BC The earliest known settlers travelled from Britain to Ireland. By 3000 BC, Neolithic or New Stone-Age people arrived and their stone monuments can still be seen dotted around the Irish landscape today. By 2000 BC the first Bronze-Age metalworkers arrived.
432 AD St. Patrick arrived to help convert the pagan Gaelic Kings to Christianity. He and his followers spread the new religion throughout the country. The following century saw Irish missionaries begin to spread Christianity throughout Europe.
800 AD The first Viking raids on Ireland. Usually small in numbers, they plunder Irish monasteries and towns. By 914 AD the Vikings begin to overwinter and establish towns mostly near the South Coast. They trade, intermarry and fight with the Gaelic Irish.
1014 AD In the Battle of Clontarf Brian Boru, the High King of Ireland defeats an army of Vikings and Leinster Men but is killed himself.
1541 AD Henry VIII declares himself King of Ireland, the first English monarch to do so. The first plantation of English people to settle in Ireland follow shortly after.
1595 AD The beginning of the Nine Years War with Hugh O'Neill, the Earl of Tyrone rebelling. O'Neill and his allies were comprehensively beaten at the Battle of Kinsale in 1601.
1782 AD The Irish Parliament is granted independence from England and some of the Penal Laws against Catholics are abolished.
1823 AD The Catholic Association is founded by Daniel O'Connell and by 1829 Catholic Emancipation is passed removing virtually all restrictions placed on Catholics.
2. The Irish State
In 1923 the first government of the Irish Free State was led by William T. Cosgrave of Cumann Na nGael. Their chief aim was to establish infrastructure and administration of the new state.
The name of the state according to article 4 of the constitution is, Ireland in the English language and Eire in the Irish language. Although the origins of the name Eire are uncertain, the name Eiru which is the name of a mythological divine heroine, occurs in the earliest literature in Old Irish. The modern word Ireland derives from a combination of the Gaelic "Eire" with the Germanic word "land". The National Flag is a tricolour of green, white and orange. The green represents the older Gaelic and Anglo-Norman element in the population, the orange the Protestant supporters of William of Orange, while the white represents a lasting peace between the two traditions. First flown as an emblem of the Young Ireland movement of 1848, the flag did not come into popular use until after the 1916 Rising. The National Anthem of Ireland is "AmhrAn Na bhFiann" (The Soldier's Song) written in 1907 by Peadar Kearney and Patrick Heeney. It was formally adopted as the national anthem in 1926. The National Day of Ireland is St. Patrick's Day, celebrated by Irish communities all over the world on 17th March. The Constitution of Ireland is Bunreacht na hEireann, the basic law of the State. Adopted by referendum in 1937 it defines Ireland as a sovereign, independent and democratic state. It sets out the administrative structure of the Government and states that all powers of the Government derive under God from the people. It defines the structure and principles of legal and social policy to guide the Oireachtas (Parliament). The rights of every citizen are also enshrined in the constitution. The President of Ireland is elected by direct vote from the people for a term of seven years. While the president doesn't have any executive powers, the role is more than a ceremonial one. The President has certain powers which make him or her essentially the guardian of the Constitution and may choose to exercise these powers on the advice of the Government or Council of State. The current President is Mary McAleese. The Irish Government consists of not less than seven and not more than fifteen members. The Head of the Government is the Taoiseach, who is appointed by the President on the nomination of the Dail. The Taoiseach nominates one member of Government to be Tanaiste, who acts in the place of the Taoiseach if the Taoiseach is absent. Departments of State are assigned to members of the Government, with a Minister occasionally being responsible for more than one department. Ministers are assisted in the administration of these departments by Ministers of State who are not members of the Government. Ireland is a parliamentary democracy. The national parliament is called the Oireachtas and consists of the President and two houses. These are the Dail (The House of Representatives) and the Seanad (the Senate). The power of these two bodies derive from the Constitution of Ireland and law. The Dail is the primary of the two houses. While government administration and policy may be criticised in both houses, the government is responsible to the Dail only. The main political parties are Fianna Fail, which has been in Government more times than any other party, Fine Gael, The Labour Party, The Progressive Democrats, The Green Party, Socialist Party and Sinn Fein. Civil Servants assist in the running of each of the fifteen Departments of State and are appointed through public competition. Irish law is based on Common Law and is enshrined in the Constitution of 1937. Statutes passed by the British Parliament before 1921 also have the force of law unless they have subsequently been repealed or have been found to be unconstitutional. Justice is administered in the public courts. Judges are appointed by the president and are usually senior figures in the legal profession. The police service, an Garda Siochana (Guardians of the Peace) was established in 1922. Today the force has approx. 11,450 members. The Gardai are headed by a government appointed Commissioner and are answerable to the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform.
3. Northern Ireland 1921 The political division of Ireland takes place as, after centuries of British rule, including 120 years when the country was governed as part of the United Kingdom, 26 of the 32 counties of Ireland gain independence. The remaining six continue in political union with Britain as Northern Ireland. 1921 - 1972 A devolved government in Northern Ireland operates with virtual autonomy from London on local matters. Power remains exclusively in the hands of the Unionist Party. The Nationalist community has no role in government and suffers systematic discrimination in many areas including voting rights, housing and employment. 1969 Non violent campaigners, drawing inspiration from the United States, campaign for civil rights and are met with a hostile and repressive response from the Northern Ireland authorities, ushering in a period of sustained political crisis. 1970's Against the background of political crisis the early 1970's see a revival of paramilitary activity by the IRA and a corresponding growth in paramilitary violence by extreme Loyalist groups. In a deteriorating security situation the British Government brings Northern Ireland under the direct control of the Westminster Parliament. 1980's From the early 1980's the Irish and British Governments begin to co-operate closely in efforts to achieve a widely acceptable and durable political resolution to the Northern Ireland conflict. An Anglo-Irish Intergovernmental Council is formed to provide a framework in which relations between the two Governments can be conducted. 1990's In 1991/92 the Governments convene round table talks involving the Ulster Unionist Part, the Social Democrat and Labour Party, the Democratic Unionist Party and the Alliance Party. In 1997 following a renewal of the IRA ceasefire Sinn Fein enter Multi-Party Talks and substantive discussions get under way. On Friday 10th April 1999, Good Friday, a comprehensive agreement is reached between the parties containing provisions for constitutional change and new political structure in Northern Ireland, between Ireland North and South and between Britain and Ireland. On May 22nd 1998 in referendums North and South, the people of Ireland give their overwhelming endorsement of the Agreement, the first occasion since 1918 in which all of the people of Ireland voted together to decide their political future. The Present Since the achievement of the Good Friday Agreement, its full implementation has been the highest priority for the Irish Government. Working in close co-operation with the British Government and with the parties, substantial progress has been made. On December 12th 1999, the same day on which power was devolved to the Northern Ireland Executive, The British and Irish Governments exchanged notifications bringing the British and Irish agreement into force.
4. Ireland in the World Foreign Policy Irish foreign policy is based on the Constitutional principles of respect for all nations and adherence to the rule of law in international relations. Ireland believes that it is in the best interests of this country and of others to foster ties with international partners and establish a peaceful working relationship based on respect, tolerance and the United Nations principles of democracy and human rights. Ireland also recognises a special solidarity with nations who achieved independence during the past 100 years. Irish people have for two centuries emigrated in large numbers to many countries all over the world. Special relationships and close ties exist with those countries where a large number of the population has Irish ancestry. United Nations Ireland has played an active role in the United Nations since its membership in 1955, chiefly in its contribution to peace-keeping missions around the world and its support for UN agencies concerned with development and human rights. The European Union Ireland joined the European Economic Community in 1973 bringing about regional development funding from Europe and structured trade policies within the community. In 1993 the Single European Market enters force providing Irish exports with unhindered access to a market of 370 million people. In 1997 the Treaty of Amsterdam is signed in Paris by EU foreign ministers, introducing changes in Common, Foreign and Security Policy, justice, home affairs and in some domestic decision-making procedures. In 1998 Ireland passed the Amsterdam Treaty in a nation-wide referendum. Under the new round of structural funds 2000-2006 Ireland will receive funding of £3.4 billion. Development Co-operation Ireland acknowledges that all nations are inter-dependant and acknowledges its duty to contribute to the progress of developing countries for the benefit of the world as a whole. Private non-government support for Third World countries is very high, and Irish agencies have played a major role in supporting and aiding communities devastated by humanitarian disasters. Emigration From ordinary Irish people being faced with emigration or poverty to Irish missionaries and artists travelling the world teaching and learning, emigration has played a major part in Irish society. Various historical events have of course contributed to emigration levels. The overthrow of the Gaelic order, the devastation of the Famine years and the economic stagnation of recent decades all contributed to Ireland having the highest emigration rate of any European country. It is estimated that over 40 million people in the US are of Irish descent. Irish emigration to Canada also reached large numbers during and after the Famine years. Up to 30% of the Australian population is estimated to be of Irish descent. Many Irish soldiers served in the armies of the South American Republics during the early years of the 19th century. Today things are different, as the economic miracle has finally stemmed the flow of some of our best and brightest from leaving these shores and is tempting many more to return.
5. The Economy The Irish economy is an open, mostly export based economy that has experienced an unprecedented level of growth during the latter half of the 1990's. It is expected that this growth will continue at least for the first decade of this century, as long as a skilled labour force continues to be available. The Irish economy is heavily dependant on trade, with export of goods and services amounting to over 96.8% of GDP (1999 figure) Membership of the European Union and access to the Single Market has allowed Ireland to diversify its trade patterns. Although Britain has always been Ireland's largest single trading partner, almost half of all Irish exports now go to the other EU member states. Roots of Prosperity
Ireland has enjoyed economic prosperity during the closing years of the twentieth century. However the roots of this prosperity may lie some years before. Contributing factors include: high standards of education producing a young skilled workforce
a commitment to open markets - many years of consistent policies with regard to Foreign Direct Investment
good co-operation between Government, Industry and Trade Unions with regard to economic policy
the return of skilled emigrants to Ireland
the work of industrial promotional agencies and the various incentives offered to overseas investors.
Promotional Agencies
There are a number of State agencies in Ireland devoted to promotion of different areas of Irish industry these include: Enterprise Ireland is the body responsible for the development of indigenous industry.
IDA Ireland (Industrial Development Authority) is responsible for attracting industry from overseas.
Shannon Development and Udaros na Gaeltachta are bodies charged with the development of particular regions.
Forfas is the co-ordinating and advisory board for these and other agencies.
Structural and Cohesion Funds
Ireland will receive about £3.4 billion in structural and cohesion funds during the period 2000-2006. For this period Ireland has for the time been divided into two regions for receipt of structural funds, separating the Border, Midland and Western region from the East and South of the country. The reduction in funding (compared to previous periods) and the division of Ireland into regions reflects the economic growth of recent years , a growth rate four times the European average since 1994. National Development Plan
The National Development Plan is an investment plan for public and private investment covering the period 2000-2006, the plan aims to: promote further economic growth and development
invest heavily in infrastructure
develop human resources through support for education and training
- reduce social and economic exclusion.
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