Ireland is situated in the Atlantic Ocean and separated from Great Britain by the Irish Sea. It occupies the entire island except for the six counties that make up Northern Ireland. The capital and largest city is Dublin.
Ireland is known for its wide expanses of lush, green fields. In fact, its nickname is the Emerald Isle.
The island was an integral part of the United Kingdom from 1800 to 1922, when, by virtue of the Anglo-Irish Treaty of December 6th, 1921, the Irish Free State was established as a self-governing dominion of the British Empire. In 1937, the present day Irish state, Ireland was established. Ireland remained a member of the British Commonwealth until 1948.
Ireland was transformed from a largely agricultural society into a modern, high-technology economy. The government of Ireland consists of an elected parliament, which makes the laws, and a president, who is head of state.
Ireland is a member of the European Union and is a founding member of the Council of Europe. The official currency is the Euro.
Picture credit: google