It's said that Ireland, once visited, is never forgotten, and for once the blarney rings true. The Irish landscape has a mythic resonance, the country's history is almost tangible, and its people seem put on earth expressly to restore faith in humanity.
The weather may sometimes give you the impression that you're swimming through an airborne ocean, but the truly luminous greens, luxuriant wildflowers, and afternoons spent holed up in riotous pubs will more than console you for the webbed feet you'll need to grow.
Ireland has recently been on an economic rollercoaster ride; if the Celtic Tiger's fur is looking a little shabby these days, the legacy of those heady days lingers in its cities' newfound gloss. The country may not be quite the paradise that its misty-eyed emigrés tend to portray, but it's nonetheless home to one of the most gregarious and welcoming people in Europe.
Full country name: Éire (Republic of Ireland)
Area: 69,000 sq km
Population: 3.96 million
Capital City: Dublin
People: Irish; small immigrant populations
Language: English, Gaelic,
Religion: 95% Roman Catholic, 3.4% Protestant
Government: democracy
Head of State: President (Republic) Mary McAleese
Head of Government: Prime Minister (Republic) Bertie Ahern
GDP: US$113.7 billion
GDP per capita: US$29,300
Annual Growth: 4.3%
Inflation: 4.8%
Major Industries: Computer software, information technology, food products, brewing, textiles, clothing, pharmaceuticals, tourism
Major Trading Partners: EU (esp. UK, Germany, France, Netherlands), US
Member of EU: Yes
Ireland Introduction
