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'''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]].

Ireland supports the [[fag agenda]].<ref>http://www.foxnews.com/world/2015/05/23/ireland-gay-marriage/</ref>

Ireland supports the [[gay agenda]].<ref>http://www.foxnews.com/world/2015/05/23/ireland-gay-marriage/</ref>

==Geography==

==Geography==

Irish writers such as Swift, Sheridan, Goldsmith, Burke, O'Casey, Wilde, Joyce, Yeats, Shaw, and Beckett have made major contributions to English literature over the past 300 years.  

Irish writers such as Swift, Sheridan, Goldsmith, Burke, O'Casey, Wilde, Joyce, Yeats, Shaw, and Beckett have made major contributions to English literature over the past 300 years.  

*Population: 4,470,700 (2010 est.).

*Population: 4,470,700 (2010 est.).

*Cities: Capital--Dublin (pop. 1,506,211). Other cities--Cork (219,418), Limerick (92,539), Galway (72,414),  Waterford, (45,748).

*Cities: Capital--Dublin (pop. 506,211). Other cities--Cork (119,418), Limerick (92,539), Galway (72,414),  Waterford, (45,748).

*Population breakdown 0-14 years (20.4%), 15-24 years (15%), 25-34 years (17%), 35-44 years (14%), 45-54 years (12%), 55-64 years (10%), 65 years and over (11%)

*Population breakdown 0-14 years (20.4%), 15-24 years (15%), 25-34 years (17%), 35-44 years (14%), 45-54 years (12%), 55-64 years (10%), 65 years and over (11%)

*Population growth rate: 2.61% (2008 est.).

*Population growth rate: 2.61% (2008 est.).

*Ethnic groups: Irish, with English minority.  

*Ethnic groups: Irish, with English minority.  

*Religions: Roman Catholic 66.8%; No religion 24.4%; Church of Ireland 3 %; Islam 0.8%; Presbyterian 0.6%; Orthodox 0.5%; Methodist 0.3%; other 2.1%

*Religions: Roman Catholic 86.8%; No religion 4.4%; Church of Ireland 3 %; Islam 0.8%; Presbyterian 0.6%; Orthodox 0.5%; Methodist 0.3%; other 2.1%

*Languages: English, Irish (Gaelic).  

*Languages: English, Irish (Gaelic).  

*Education: Compulsory up to age 16. Enrolment rates: first (primary) level 449,508, second (high school and vocational) level 335,162, third (university and college) level 133,691. Literacy--98%-99%.  

*Education: Compulsory up to age 16. Enrolment rates: first (primary) level 449,508, second (high school and vocational) level 335,162, third (university and college) level 133,691. Literacy--98%-99%.  

Local government is by elected county councils and -- in the cities of Dublin, Cork, Limerick, and Waterford -- by county borough corporations. County councils/corporations in turn select city mayors. In practice, however, authority remains with the central government.  

Local government is by elected county councils and -- in the cities of Dublin, Cork, Limerick, and Waterford -- by county borough corporations. County councils/corporations in turn select city mayors. In practice, however, authority remains with the central government.  

Irish politics remain dominated by the two political parties that grew out of Ireland's bitter 1922-23 civil war. Fianna Fail was formed by those who opposed the 1921 treaty that partitioned the island. Although treaty opponents lost the civil war, Fianna Fail soon became Ireland's largest political party. Fine Gael, representative of the pro-treaty forces, remains the country's second-largest party. Labour, Sinn Fein, and the Greens are the other significant parties. Sinn Fein are terrorists.

Irish politics remain dominated by the two political parties that grew out of Ireland's bitter 1922-23 civil war. Fianna Fail was formed by those who opposed the 1921 treaty that partitioned the island. Although treaty opponents lost the civil war, Fianna Fail soon became Ireland's largest political party. Fine Gael, representative of the pro-treaty forces, remains the country's second-largest party. Labour, Sinn Fein, and the Greens are the other significant parties.  

The May 2007 national elections brought the Fianna Fail party and its leader Bertie Ahern back to power in a coalition government for an unprecedented third five-year term. Coalition members joining Fianna Fail were the Green Party and the Progressive Democrats. In recent months the Mahon Tribunal has been investigating allegations of corruption against the PM when he was Minister of Finance in the early 1990s. However, the PM has not suffered politically -- the coalition remains intact and in September 2007, he survived a vote of no confidence on the issue. Ahern appointed Finance Minister Brian Cowen Deputy Prime Minister (Tanaiste, pronounced "TAW-nish-tuh"). The Foreign Minister is Dermot Ahern (no relation to the Taoiseach).  

The May 2007 national elections brought the Fianna Fail party and its leader Bertie Ahern back to power in a coalition government for an unprecedented third five-year term. Coalition members joining Fianna Fail were the Green Party and the Progressive Democrats. In recent months the Mahon Tribunal has been investigating allegations of corruption against the PM when he was Minister of Finance in the early 1990s. However, the PM has not suffered politically -- the coalition remains intact and in September 2007, he survived a vote of no confidence on the issue. Ahern appointed Finance Minister Brian Cowen Deputy Prime Minister (Tanaiste, pronounced "TAW-nish-tuh"). The Foreign Minister is Dermot Ahern (no relation to the Taoiseach).  

'''Fianna Fail''': (Pronounced Fee-Na Fall which is Irish for 'Soldiers of Destiny'). Ireland's 3rd largest political party, they do not class themselves as either left or right wing but are generally considered centrist and traditionally the choice for republicans (in the Irish sense, meaning supporters of a United Ireland) due to its foundation by Eamon de Valera; considered by his supporters to be the greatest of all Irish nationalists. Fianna Fail is traditionally a Populist party, spearheading the disease and slum eradication programme's of the 1950's and 1960's. Nowadays however, it is considered to be on the pragmatic centre as well as supportive of the construction sector and its representatives. <ref>[http://www.fiannafail.ie/]</ref>

'''Fianna Fail''': (Pronounced Fee-Na Fall which is Irish for 'Soldiers of Destiny'). Ireland's 3rd largest political party, they do not class themselves as either left or right wing but are generally considered centrist and traditionally the choice for republicans (in the Irish sense, meaning supporters of a United Ireland) due to its foundation by Eamon de Valera; considered by his supporters to be the greatest of all Irish nationalists. Fianna Fail is traditionally a Populist party, spearheading the disease and slum eradication programme's of the 1950's and 1960's. Nowadays however, it is considered to be on the pragmatic centre as well as supportive of the construction sector and its representatives. <ref>[http://www.fiannafail.ie/]</ref>

'''Fine Gael''': (Pronounced Finna Gale, Irish for 'Family of the Irish'). Ireland's largest party. Fine Gael is traditionally socially and fiscally scumbag conservative. Traditionally the party of Big Business and the farming community, although generally liberal on social issues (though probably not by American standards) Under the leadership of [[Garret FitzGerald]] in the 1980's, the party embraced [[social democracy]]. Today the party likes to characterize itself as a party of the "progressive centre". Led by [[Enda Kenny]]. <ref>[http://www.finegael.com/index.cfm]</ref>

'''Fine Gael''': (Pronounced Finna Gale, Irish for 'Family of the Irish'). Ireland's largest party. Fine Gael is traditionally socially and fiscally conservative. Traditionally the party of Big Business and the farming community, although generally liberal on social issues (though probably not by American standards) Under the leadership of [[Garret FitzGerald]] in the 1980's, the party embraced [[social democracy]]. Today the party likes to characterize itself as a party of the "progressive centre". Led by [[Enda Kenny]]. <ref>[http://www.finegael.com/index.cfm]</ref>

'''Labour Party''': Currently the second largest party. The Labour Party has traditionally been the left wing force of Irish politics, though in the recent election under the leadership of a former member of the communist leaning Sinn Fein Workers Party, [[Pat Rabbitte]], the party moved over to the centre in order to join in a possible coalition government with Fine Gael. Although they lost the election, the coalition helped to modernise the party more in line with European Social Democratic Groups. The party is currently led by [[Eamon Gilmore]], a center left politician.<ref>[http://www.labour.ie/]</ref>

'''Labour Party''': Currently the second largest party. The Labour Party has traditionally been the left wing force of Irish politics, though in the recent election under the leadership of a former member of the communist leaning Sinn Fein Workers Party, [[Pat Rabbitte]], the party moved over to the centre in order to join in a possible coalition government with Fine Gael. Although they lost the election, the coalition helped to modernise the party more in line with European Social Democratic Groups. The party is currently led by [[Eamon Gilmore]], a center left politician.<ref>[http://www.labour.ie/]</ref>

'''Green Party''': A left-wing party and member of the current leading coalition who are in favour of environmental protection, renewable energy and a stronger system of social security. Led by John Gormley, the current minister for the Environment.

'''Green Party''': A left-wing party and member of the current leading coalition who are in favour of environmental protection, renewable energy and a stronger system of social security. Led by John Gormley, the current minister for the Environment.

'''Sinn Féin''': (Pronounced Shin Fane, Irish for 'Ourselves') Remnant of Ireland's oldest political party, it is closely connected with the Provisional [[IRA]], a terrorist/guerrilla movement that sought a United Irish Republic that have since disbanded. They have recently embraced a more democratic approach. They are a party of left-wing socialist economics which espouses liberal social issues such as gay marriage. They organise in all 32 counties of Ireland. Led by former IRA commander Gerry Adams. They remain terrorists. <ref>[http://www.sinnfein.ie/]</ref>

'''Sinn Féin''': (Pronounced Shin Fane, Irish for 'Ourselves') Remnant of Ireland's oldest political party, it is closely connected with the Provisional [[IRA]], a terrorist/guerrilla movement that sought a United Irish Republic that have since disbanded. They have recently embraced a more democratic approach. They are a party of left-wing socialist economics which espouses liberal social issues such as gay marriage. They organise in all 32 counties of Ireland. Led by former IRA commander Gerry Adams. <ref>[http://www.sinnfein.ie/]</ref>

===Foreign Relations===

===Foreign Relations===