Ireland Fact Summary
 
 
 
 
 

Official Name: Eire (Irish); Ireland (English).
Capital: Dublin.

NATURAL FEATURES

Prominent Features: Coastal mountains, large bogs, and lakes
Highest Peak: Carrantuohill, 3,414 feet (1,041 meters).
Major River: Shannon.

PEOPLE

Population (1996 estimate): 3,599,000; 132.6 persons per square mile (51.2 persons per square kilometer); 57 percent urban, 43 percent rural (1991 estimate).
Major Cities (1991 estimate): Dublin (477,675), Cork (127,024), Limerick (52,040), Galway (50,842), Waterford (40,345).
Major Religions: Roman Catholicism, Church of Ireland (Anglican).
Major Languages: Irish (Gaelic), first official language; English, second official language.
Literacy: Virtually 100 percent.
Leading Universities and Collages: National University of Ireland at Dublin, Cork, and Galway; University of Dublin.

GOVERNMENT

Form of Government: Republic.
Chief of State: President.
Head of Government: Prime Minister.
Legislature: House of Representatives, 166 members elected under a system of proportional representation at least every 5 years; Senate, 60 members nominated by the prime minister or elected by various special interest groups.
Voting Qualification: Age 18.
Political Divisions: 27 counties located in 4 geographical provinces: Connaught (Connacht)--Galway, Leitrim, Mayo, Roscommon, Sligo; Leinster--Carlow, Dublin, Kildare, Kilkenny, Laoighis, Longford, Louth, Meath, Offaly, Westmeath, Wexford, Wicklow; Munster--Clare, Cork, Kerry, Limerick, Tipperary North Riding, Tipperary South Riding, Waterford; Ulster (part)--Cavan, Donegal, Monaghan. 5 county boroughs--Dublin, Cork, Galway, Limerick, Waterford.

ECONOMY

Chief Agricultural Products: Livestock--sheep, cattle, pigs. Crops-- sugar beets, barley, potatoes, wheat, oats.
Chief Mined Products: Gypsum, zinc, lead, coal, natural gas.
Chief Manufactured Products: Metals and engineering goods, food products, chemical products, paper and paper products, nonmetallic mineral products.
Chief Exports: Fresh, chilled, or frozen meat; chemicals and related products; dairy products; office machines and data processing equipment; electrical machinery; textiles and fabrics; nonmetallic minerals; live animals.
Chief Imports: Petroleum and petroleum products, chemicals, food and live animals, vehicles and parts, textile yarn and fabrics, industrial machinery, office machines and data processing equipment, clothing.
Monetary unit: 1 Irish pound (I#)  100 new pence.