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Ireland
England
Northern Ireland
Scotland
Wales
London England
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Background:
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Celtic tribes settled on the island from 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.
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Location:
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Western Europe, occupying five-sixths of the island of Ireland
in the North Atlantic Ocean, west of Great Britain |
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Nationality:
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noun: Irishman(men), Irishwoman(women), Irish (collective
plural)
adjective: Irish |
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Ethnic groups:
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Celtic, English |
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Religions:
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Roman Catholic 91.6%, Church of Ireland 2.5%, other 5.9% (1998)
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Languages:
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English is the language generally used, Irish (Gaelic) spoken
mainly in areas located along the
western seaboard |
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Flag description:
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three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), white, and
orange; similar to the flag of Cote d'Ivoire, which is shorter
and has the colors reversed - orange (hoist side), white, and
green; also similar to the flag of Italy, which is shorter and
has colors of green (hoist side), white, and red |
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Climate:
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temperate maritime; modified by North Atlantic Current; mild
winters, cool summers; consistently humid; overcast about half
the time |
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Terrain:
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mostly level to rolling interior plain surrounded
by rugged hills and low mountains; sea cliffs on west coast
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Carrauntoohil 1,041 m |
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Currency:
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euro (EUR)
note: on 1 January 1999, the European Monetary Union
introduced the euro as a common currency to be used by financial
institutions of member countries; on 1 January 2002, the euro
became the sole currency for everyday transactions within the
member countries |
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Currency code:
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EUR |
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Exchange rates:
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euros per US dollar - 0.89 (2003), 1.06 (2002), 1.12 (2001),
1.09 (2000), 0.94 (1999) |
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![[Irish coat of arms]](../Travel/Hotel_listings/World/Ireland/ie).gif){kind=small}
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