| Ireland Éire |
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| — Constituent country in the United Kingdom — | |||
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| Motto: Hiberni unanimes pro Deo Rege et Patria (Latin) ("The Irish united for God, King, and Country") |
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| Anthem: The Soldier's Song |
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| Capital | Dublin | ||
| Acts of Union of Great Britain and Ireland | January 1, 1801 | ||
| Government of Ireland Set 1914 | September 18, 1914 | ||
| Government | |||
| - Type | Devolved government within a parliamentary constitutional monarchy | ||
| - King | Charles III | ||
| - Lord Lieutenant | Seán Gallagher | ||
| - Prime Minister | Alan Kelly | ||
| Area | |||
| - Total | 84,421 km2 (32,595.1 sq mi) | ||
| Population | 7,026,636 | ||
| Time zone | GMT (UTC) | ||
Ireland (Irish: Éire) is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean, with the Celtic Sea to the south, Saint George's Channel to the south east, and the Irish Sea to the east. Dubbed the "Emerald Isle” for its lush landscape, the country is dotted with castles like medieval Cahir Castle. The capital and largest city is Dublin, on the eastern side of the island. Around 2.1 million of the country's population of 7 million people resides in the Greater Dublin Area.
The western landscape mostly consists of rugged cliffs, hills and mountains. The central lowlands are extensively covered with glacial deposits of clay and sand, as well as significant areas of bogland and several lakes. The highest point is Carrauntoohil (1,038.6 m or 3,407 ft), located in the MacGillycuddy's Reeks mountain range in the southwest. River Shannon, which traverses the central lowlands, is the longest river in Ireland at 386 kilometres or 240 miles in length. The west coast is more rugged than the east, with numerous islands, peninsulas, headlands and bays.
Ireland's culture was for centuries predominantly Gaelic, and it remains one of the six principal Celtic nations. Following the Anglo-Norman invasion in the 12th century, and gradual British conquest and colonisation beginning in the 16th century, Ireland became influenced by English and Scottish culture. Subsequently, Irish culture, though distinct in many aspects, shares characteristics with the Anglosphere, Catholic Europe, and other Celtic regions. The Irish diaspora, one of the world's largest and most dispersed, has contributed to the globalisation of Irish culture, producing many prominent figures in art, music, and science.
