Weather
Temperate maritime; modified by North Atlantic Current; mild winters, cool summers; consistently humid; overcast about half the time.
Terrain
Mostly level to rolling interior plain surrounded by rugged hills and low mountains; sea cliffs on west coast.
Currency
Euro (EUR)
Languages
English is the language generally used, Irish (Gaelic or Gaeilge) spoken mainly in areas located along the western seaboard
Religion
Roman Catholic 91.6%, Church of Ireland 2.5%, other 5.9% (1998)
Ethnic groups
Celtic, English
History
Celtic tribes settled on the island from 600-150 B.C. Invasions by Norsemen that began in the late 8th century were finally ended when King Brian BORU defeated the Danes in 1014. English invasions began in the 12th century and set off more than seven centuries of Anglo-Irish struggle marked by fierce rebellions and harsh repressions. A failed 1916 Easter Monday Rebellion touched off several years of guerrilla warfare that in 1921 resulted in independence from the UK for 26 southern counties; six northern (Ulster) counties remained part of the United Kingdom. In 1948 Ireland withdrew from the British Commonwealth; it joined the European Community in 1973. Irish governments have sought the peaceful unification of Ireland and have cooperated with Britain against terrorist groups. A peace settlement for Northern Ireland, known as the Good Friday Agreement and approved in 1998, is being implemented with some difficulties.
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