2. General info
Officially known as the Republic of Ireland (ROI).
Where on Earth? In north-western Europe,
occupying about 5/6 of the island of Ireland.
It was part of the United Kingdom up until 1916.
Its only land border is with the United Kingdom
(Northern Ireland). It is surrounded by the Atlantic
Ocean.
3. History
Part of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from
1801.
The Great Famine (1845-1849) set the pattern of emigration
that reduced the population from over 8 million in the 19th
c.
to less than 3 million in the 1960s.
The Easter Rising sparked the War of Independence in 1916. It
obtained independence from the UK in 1922.
From 1922 to 1923 a Civil War spread all over the country. This
was the starting point of IRA terrorism.
From 1937 onwards a new Constitution brought political and
social ease to the ROI.
The country joined the CEE (current European Union) in 1973
and adopted the Euro in 1999.
4. Politics
It is a parliamentary, representative democratic
republic.
Political power held by the Taioseach (prime
minister) Enda Kenny, elected in 2011. He’s the
leader of Fine Gael (conservative party).
In 2011 and 2013 Ireland was ranked as the
seventh-most developed country in the world by
the United Nations HDI.
Also good performance in freedom of the press,
economic freedom and civil liberties.
5. Demographics
4.6 million inhabitants (2014 est.)
Capital city is Dublin, whose metropolitan area is
home to around 1/3 of the country’s population.
Irish economic boom during the 1990s propelled
immigration and population grew. After the
economic crisis, however, the country has once
again experienced high levels of emigration.
Official languages are Irish and English, though
English is the dominant language.
In 2011, 84.2% of the population identified
themselves as Roman Catholic.
6. Economy
Ireland’s currency is the Euro (1EUR=1.06USD)
After having been affected by the global financial
crisis and later the Eurozone crisis, Irish economy
growth reached an estimated 3.6% to 4.7% in 2014.
The service sector represents approximately 75% of
the GDP and employs an equal share of the
workforce.
The growing social unrest
could undermine the
country's stability.
7. Debt and IMF
External debt is at 103% of GDP, $263 billion (2014).
The ROI received a loan from the IMF from 2011 to
2013, part of which (3 billion) still has to be repaid in
the following years.
The country has strictly followed the advice of the
IMF, implementing an austerity policy in order to
fight the financial crisis that started in 2008.
The government continues its 2015 fiscal
consolidation policy and structural reforms, but
household debt is high and the number of home
mortgages in arrears has been increasing.
