Ireland

Ireland is 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 Protestants there, while the Republic of Ireland is predominantly Roman Catholic.