Location: Western Europe, occupying five-sixths of the island of Ireland in the North Atlantic Ocean, west of Great Britain.
Land Area: 70,280 sq km (27,135 sq. miles)
Coastline: 1,448 km (900 miles)
Highest Point: Carrauntoohil 1,041 m (3,414 ft)
Lowest Point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m (0 ft)
Notable Landmarks: Take a peek...

Ireland is a small, modern, trade-dependent economy with growth averaging about 7 percent between 1995 and 2004. Agriculture, once the most important sector, is now dwarfed by industry and services. Industry accounts for 46 percent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), about 80 percent of exports, and 29 percent of the labor force. Although exports remain the primary engine for Ireland's growth, the economy has also benefited from a rise in consumer spending, construction, and business investment. Per capita GDP is 10 percent above that of the four big European economies and the second highest in the EU behind Luxembourg. Over the past decade, the Irish Government has implemented a series of national economic programs designed to curb price and wage inflation, reduce government spending, increase labor force skills, and promote foreign investment. Ireland joined in circulating the euro on 1 January 2002 along with 11 other EU nations.

Gross Domestic Product (GDP): $126.4 billion (2004 est.)
GDP Per Capita: $31,900 (2004 est.)
Number of Workers: 1.92 million (2004 est.)
Unemployment Rate: 4.3% (2004 est.)
Industries: Steel, lead, zinc, silver, aluminum, barite, and gypsum mining processing; food products, brewing, textiles, clothing; chemicals, pharmaceuticals; machinery, rail transportation equipment, passenger and commercial vehicles, ship construction and refurbishment; glass and crystal; software, and tourism.
Currency: Euro (EUR) What does it look like?

Type of Government: Republic
Head of State: President Mary McAleese (since 11 November 1997)
Head of Government: Prime Minister Bertie Ahern (since 26 June 1997)
Capital City: Dublin
Legal Age to Vote: 18, universal.
Flag Design: Three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), white, and orange; similar to the flag of Cote d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast), which is shorter and has the colors reversed - orange (hoist side), white, and green.
Official Language: English (official) is the language generally used, Irish (official)(Gaelic or Gaeilge) spoken mainly in areas located along the western seaboard.
Religions: Roman Catholic, 88.4 %; Church of Ireland, 3%; other Christian 1.6%; other 1.5%; unspecified 2%, none 3.5% (2002 census).

Celtic tribes arrived on the island between 600-150 B.C. Invasions by Norsemen that began in the late 8th century were finally ended when King Brian BORU defeated the Danes in 1014. English invasions began in the 12th century and set off more than seven centuries of Anglo-Irish struggle marked by fierce rebellions and harsh repressions. A failed 1916 Easter Monday Rebellion touched off several years of guerrilla warfare that in 1921 resulted in independence from the UK for 26 southern counties; six northern (Ulster) counties remained part of the United Kingdom. In 1948, Ireland withdrew from the British Commonwealth. It joined the European Community in 1973. Irish governments have sought the peaceful unification of Ireland and have cooperated with Britain against terrorist groups. A peace settlement for Northern Ireland, known as the Good Friday Agreement and approved in 1998, is being implemented with some difficulties.