Ireland

Ireland is an island off the northwestern coast of Europe. According to the last census the Republic of Ireland has a population of 4,062,235link title

Historically, Ireland's culture has been distinct from other regional cultures, as it was the one of the only Celtic territories 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 Great Britain. 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 Irish Free State, while the territory controlled by the British became Northern Ireland. Later, in 1937, the Free State adopted a new constitution, changing its name to Ireland.

The southern 26 counties officially became a Republic in 1949.

It is generally referred to as the Republic of Ireland, although this is technically merely a description of the country.