'''Ireland''' is a parliamentary democracy in northwestern Europe consisting of 26 counties on the island of [[Ireland (island)|Ireland]]. The Irish state became independent in 1921 as a result of the Anglo-Irish Treaty. The 1937 constitution gives the name of the state as simply "Ireland."<ref>"[http://www.taoiseach.gov.ie/eng/Historical_Information/The_Constitution/ Constitution of Ireland - Bunreacht na hÉireann]"</ref> It is sometimes described as the "Republic of Ireland" to distinguish it from the island as a whole,<ref>[http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/plweb-cgi/fastweb?state_id=1197556861&view=ag-view&numhitsfound=2&query_rule=%28%28$query3%29%29%3Alegtitle&query3=Republic%20of%20Ireland%20Act&docid=19310&docdb=Acts&dbname=Acts&dbname=SIs&sorting=none&operator=and&TemplateName=predoc.tmpl&setCookie=1]</ref> which also includes [[Northern Ireland]]. | '''Ireland''' is a parliamentary democracy in northwestern Europe consisting of 26 counties on the island of [[Ireland (island)|Ireland]]. The Irish state became independent in 1921 as a result of the Anglo-Irish Treaty. The 1937 constitution gives the name of the state as simply "Ireland."<ref>"[http://www.taoiseach.gov.ie/eng/Historical_Information/The_Constitution/ Constitution of Ireland - Bunreacht na hÉireann]"</ref> It is sometimes described as the "Republic of Ireland" to distinguish it from the island as a whole,<ref>[http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/plweb-cgi/fastweb?state_id=1197556861&view=ag-view&numhitsfound=2&query_rule=%28%28$query3%29%29%3Alegtitle&query3=Republic%20of%20Ireland%20Act&docid=19310&docdb=Acts&dbname=Acts&dbname=SIs&sorting=none&operator=and&TemplateName=predoc.tmpl&setCookie=1]</ref> which also includes [[Northern Ireland]]. |