About Ireland

Population & People

Total Population (as recorded during2006): 4,234,925

Life Expectancy: Age 75.1 for men. Age 80.3 for women

Religions in Ireland:

Roman Catholic: Buddhist: Church of Ireland: Evangelical: 
Presbyterian: Apostolic/Pentecostal: Muslim: Hindu: Orthodox: 
Lutheran: Methodist: Baptist: Jehovah's Witness: Jewish. 

It is widely believed that Ireland is mainly a Catholic country, although Catholics may be the largest religion group in Ireland.
 
Capital City: Dublin

The 26 Counties: Carlow: Cavan: Clare: Cork: Donegal: Dublin: Galway: Kerry: Kildare: Kilkenny: Laois: Leitrim: Limerick: Longford: Louth: Mayo: Meath: Monaghan: Offaly: Roscommon: Sligo: Tipperary: Waterford: Westmeath: Wexford: Wicklow.

Politics:
Irish Government: Republic
Current President: Mrs Mary Mc Aleese.
Head of Government: Mr Bertie Ahern
National Holiday: St Patrick's Day, 17th March.
Irish National Emblem: The Harp.

Geographical Items:

Length: 290 miles
Width: 170 miles
Coastline: 1,740 miles
Rivers: R. Shannon 224 miles: Blackwater 104 miles:
Lakes: Lough Neagh & Loch Erne
Natural Resources: Natural Gas: Peat: Copper: Lead: Zinc:
Energy Sources: Oil: Natural Gas: Coal:

Smoking: In March 2004 it was made illegal to smoke in any enclosed public space, including bars, cinemas, clubs, offices, restaurants, shops, and when using public transport.

Getting Around Ireland:

Driving: Drivers in Ireland must always drive on the left hand side of the road and abide by the current seat-belt laws.
Traffic signals must be strictly obeyed at all times and drivers are NOT allowed to turn left whilst the lights are at RED

Rail: Ireland has a good rail network of state operated trains known as ‘Iarnród Éireann,’ which operate in and out of the capital city, Dublin.
Visitors should remember that there are 2 main rail stations in Dublin, so care must be taken in choosing the correct station for their destination.  Connolly Station – is for trains to  Belfast, Sligo and Rosslare.  Heuston Station – is for trains to Cork, Kilarney, Tralee, Limerick, Galway and Westport, Kilkenny & Waterford.
Flights:
Irish airlines Aer Arann and Aer Lingus both operate domestic flights from Cork, Dublin & Donegal, and some local airports to various regional destinations. Ryanair operates flights from Dublin to Cork.
Bus Travel:
Buses are a popular mode of transport throughout Ireland. Most areas have local buses that residents rely on. Bus Éireann operates countrywide coach services to nearly all major towns and cities, which are very dependable and have reasonably priced fares.

City Life

Smoking:

In March 2004 it was made illegal to smoke in any enclosed public space, including bars, cinemas, clubs, offices, restaurants, shops, and when using public transport.

Currency

The official currency of Ireland is the Euro.
The denominations of Euro notes and coins in circulation are the same in all Eurozone countries.
The euro = 100 cent
Euro note denominations: €5, €10, €20, €50, €100, €200, and €500.
Coins come in denominations of 2€, 1€, 50c, 20c, 10c, 5c, 2c, and 1c.

Getting around

Driving in Ireland

Drivers in Ireland must always drive on the left hand side of the road and abide by the current seat-belt laws.
Traffic signals must be strictly obeyed at all times and drivers are NOT allowed to turn left whilst the lights are at RED

Rail:
Ireland has a good rail network of state operated trains known as ‘Iarnród Éireann,’ which operate in and out of the capital city, Dublin. Visitors should remember that there are 2 main rail stations in Dublin, so care must be taken in choosing the correct station for their destination.  Connolly Station – is for trains to  Belfast, Sligo and Rosslare.  Heuston Station – is for trains to Cork, Kilarney, Tralee, Limerick, Galway and Westport, Kilkenny & Waterford.

Flights:
Irish airlines Aer Arann and Aer Lingus both operate domestic flights from Cork, Dublin & Donegal, and some local airports to various regional destinations. Ryanair operates flights from Dublin to Cork.

Bus Travel:  

Buses are a popular mode of transport throughout Ireland. Most areas have local buses that residents rely on. Bus Éireann operates countrywide coach services to nearly all major towns and cities, which are very dependable and have reasonably priced fares.

Sights

Sightseeing around Ireland

The Burren: Situated betwixt Galway and the Aran Islands, the Burren is a majestical landscape with scattered monuments and ancient rocks, and some breathtakingly beautiful sights.

The city of Dublin: Easy for visitors to walk around or view from a guided bus tour. Not altogether a large city, but plenty of historic facts available in the museums. There are bustling shopping areas and lots of bars and restaurants in which to try out the Irish hospitality.

Killarney & Kerry: Wonderful scenery around the coast-‘Ring of Kerry’ with mountain backdrops and the spectacular Great Lakes of Killarney. A visit to the castle or a trip across the lakes is best during the summer. The town centre is quaint and a delight to walk around, with plenty of hotels, bars and restaurants to tempt you.

The Giant's Causeway: Northern Ireland's No 1 attraction. Visit either by car or take the shuttle-bus. Also, try the Old Bushmills Distillery is located nearby.

Weather

Climate & Weather: 

Ireland is not generally known for sunbathing holidays, the weather is often mild but can be changeable, with sudden, short showers. It is widely thought that starting a day with rain will mostly end with it being bright and sunny. Alternatively, starting with clear blue skies and plenty of sun will later change to being cloudy or raining. In some coastal areas, such as The Burren in County Clare, the weather can change quite quickly.