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A nation in north-west Europe. Largely [[catholic]]. At one point part of the [[United Kingdom]] of Great Britain and Ireland; a war for independence divided the nation into Northern Ireland, which continues to be part of the UK, and the Republic of Ireland, which is an independent political entity.

An [[island]] off the northwestern coast of [[Europe]].  

 

Historically, Ireland's culture has been distinct from other regional cultures, as it was the only [[Celtic]] territory never conquered by the [[Roman Empire]]. For several centuries after Roman rule, it was independent of outside governance, until it was conquered in the 17th century by [[England]]. The British retained control of the whole island until a war of independence broke out in 1919. The war with the British ended in 1921 with the British retaining control of six counties in the region of [[Ulster]]. The territory independent of the British became the [[Republic of Ireland]], while the territory controlled by the British became [[Northern Ireland]]. Because of the greater British influence in Northern Ireland, there are many [[Protestant]]s there, while the Republic of Ireland is predominantly [[Roman Catholic]].  

[[Image:Ireland.gif]]

[[Image:Ireland.gif]]