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[[Image:Ireland.gif|right]]

[[Image:Ireland.gif|right]]

Ireland is an [[island]] off the northwestern coast of [[Europe]]. It is divided between the Republic of Ireland, which consists of twenty-six counties and the traditional provinces of Munster, Leinster, Connaught, and three of the nine counties of Ulster, and the six counties of Northern Ireland, which comprise the remainder of the province of Ulster and are part of the [[United Kingdom]]. According to the last census the Republic of Ireland has a population of 4,234,925[http://www.citizensinformation.ie/categories/environment/copy_of_census/ (1)] Northern Ireland has a population of 1,688,600 (1998 est.)[http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0108101.html (2)]

Ireland is an [[island]] off the northwestern coast of [[Europe]]. It is divided between the Republic of Ireland, which consists of twenty-six counties and the traditional provinces of Munster, Leinster, Connaught, and three of the nine counties of Ulster, and the six counties of Northern Ireland, which comprise the remainder of the province of Ulster and are part of the [[United Kingdom]]. According to the last census the Republic of Ireland has a population of 4,234,925[http://www.citizensinformation.ie/categories/environment/copy_of_census/ (1)] Northern Ireland has a population of 1,685,267 (2002 est.)[http://www.nicensus2001.gov.uk/nica/browser/profile.jsp?profile=Demography&mainArea=&mainLevel= (2)]

The primary language is English, however, the official language of the Republic is ''Gaeilge'', or ''Irish''. In the Irish language the official name of Ireland (which appears on all coins, stamps, and government documents) is ''Éire''.  The flag is a tricolour, the green representing the green (Nationialist) tradition of Ireland, the orange representing the Orangemen (Loyalists) of Ulster, and the white, the peace between them.

The primary language is English, however, the official language of the Republic is ''Gaeilge'', or ''Irish''. In the Irish language the official name of Ireland (which appears on all coins, stamps, and government documents) is ''Éire''.  The flag is a tricolour, the green representing the green (Nationialist) tradition of Ireland, the orange representing the Orangemen (Loyalists) of Ulster, and the white, the peace between them.

== Religion ==

== Religion ==

The Republic of Ireland is predominantly Roman Catholic in religion(88%). Membership of the Church of Ireland runs at about 3%, with most of the rest of the population belonging to other Protestant/Christian denominations. There is a small Jewish community in Ireland. The Muslim community has grown recently due to immigration. [[http://www.cso.ie/statistics/popnclassbyreligionandsex2002.htm (12)]]

The Republic of Ireland is predominantly Roman Catholic in religion(88%). Membership of the Church of Ireland runs at about 3%, with most of the rest of the population belonging to other Protestant/Christian denominations. There is a small Jewish community in Ireland. The Muslim community has grown recently due to immigration. [[http://www.cso.ie/statistics/popnclassbyreligionandsex2002.htm (12)]]

[[Category:Countries]]

[[Category:Countries]]