Ireland

Geography and Location

Ireland is a sovereign state located in Western Europe, occupying about five-sixths of the island of Ireland. The country's capital and largest city is Dublin, located in the east of the island, whose metropolitan area is home to about a quarter of the country's 4.6 million inhabitants.

Borders and Coastline

Ireland has a single land border with Northern Ireland, part of the United Kingdom. The rest of the country is surrounded by water: the Atlantic Ocean to the west, the Celtic Sea to the south, the Saint George Channel (also known as the Irish Sea) to the east, and the Irish Sea to the north.

Government

Ireland is a parliamentary republic with an elected president who acts as head of state. The head of government, the Taoiseach, is appointed by the Lower House of Parliament, Dáil Éireann.

History

The modern Irish State achieved its effective independence from the United Kingdom in 1922, following a war of independence that ended with the signing of the Anglo-Irish Treaty. Northern Ireland chose to remain part of the United Kingdom at this time. After gaining independence, Ireland was initially known as the Irish Free State.

See Also

* List of countries in the European Union
* List of sovereign states by date of formation