General Information about Ireland
The central part of Ireland is mostly quite flat and is surrounded by a ring of mountains along the coast. It is a watery place, with the interior dotted with lakes, rivers and a number of navigable canals. Measuring about 300 miles long by 200 wide, you are never more than 70 miles from the coast.
The population was for many years very homogenous, but in the recent past there has been an influx of people from mainly eastern Europe and North and Central Africa, attracted by the plentiful work in one of the world's fastest growing and most successful economies.
No longer a poor country, Ireland now has thriving cities, cosmopolitan and with vibrant night life, in addition to its famously scenic countryside.
General Information about Ireland
Capital: Dublin
Official language: English & Irish
Population: About 4 million
Currency: Euro
Calling code: +353
Climate
Ireland's climate is generally temperate. Summers are warm rather than hot with showers of rain quite frequent. Winters are mild but wet. Extreme temperatures, hot or cold, are rare.
Religion
Just over 90% of the population are Roman Catholic, though the country is not now as traditionally Catholic as it once was and many who describe themselves as Catholic are not regular church-goers.
All the major world religions now have a strong presence and marriages within most of those churches are recognised by the civil authorities.