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Republic of IRELAND - Geography | Population | Communication | Transportation | Map & Counties.
All this statistical information is from the CIA fact book. The facetious remarks are editorial liberties by Russ Haggerty. Who asks forgiveness in advance.

Location:
Western Europe, occupying five-sixths of the island of Ireland in the North Atlantic Ocean, west of Great Britain

Geographic coordinates:
53 00 N, 8 00 W

Area:
total: 70,273 sq km
country comparison to the world: 119
land: 68,883 sq km
water: 1,390 sq km

comparative:
slightly larger than West Virginia
and slightly smaller than Ohio - r

Land boundaries:
total: 360 km
border countries: UK 360 km

Coastline:
1,448 km

Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
(if this was followed strictly, they would be fishing in Wales - r)

Climate:
temperate maritime; modified by North Atlantic Current; mild winters, cool summers; consistently humid; overcast about half the time
(seems more often than that - r)

Terrain:
mostly level to rolling interior plain surrounded by rugged hills and low mountains; sea cliffs on west coast
(and what cliffs they are - r)

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
(yup - sea level - r)
highest point: Carrauntoohil 1,041 m/3415.35ft

Natural resources:
natural gas, peat, copper, lead, zinc, silver, barite, gypsum, limestone, dolomite
(the way its going they'll be out of peat pretty soon - r)

Land use:
arable land: 16.82%
permanent crops: 0.03%
other: 83.15% (2005)

Total renewable water resources:
46.8 cu km (2003)
(that includes much rain - r)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 1.18 cu km/yr (23%/77%/0%)
per capita: 284 cu m/yr - 74024.86gals
(probably in the form of Guinness -r) (1994)/

Natural hazards:
NA
(not counting young Dublin drivers - r)

Environment - current issues:
water pollution, especially of lakes, from agricultural runoff

Environment - international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Marine Life Conservation

Note:
strategic location on major air and sea routes between North America and northern Europe; over 40% of the population resides within 100 km of Dublin



Republic of IRELAND - Geography | Population | Communication | Transportation | Map & Counties.

4,670,976 (July 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 119

Age structure:
0-14 years: 21.1% (male 503,921/female 483,454)
15-64 years: 67.3% (male 1,581,959/female 1,560,238)
(might be difficult for a man to get a date - r)
65 years and over: 11.6% (male 246,212/female 295,192) (2011 est.)

Median age:
total: 34.8 years
male: 34.5 years
female: 35.1 years (2011 est.)

Population growth rate:
1.061% (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 114

Birth rate:
16.1 births/1,000 population (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 129

Death rate:
6.34 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 155

Net migration rate:
0.86 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 56

Urbanization:
urban population: 62% of total population (2010)
rate of urbanization: 1.8% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

Major cities - population:
DUBLIN (capital) 1.084 million (2009)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.057 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.07 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.81 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

Infant mortality rate:
total: 3.85 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 204
male: 4.24 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 3.44 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 80.19 years
country comparison to the world: 26
male: 77.96 years
female: 82.55 years (2011 est.)

Total fertility rate:
2.02 children born/woman (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 129

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.2% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 102

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
6,900 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 113

HIV/AIDS - deaths:
fewer than 100 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 140

Nationality:
noun: Irishman(men), Irishwoman(women), Irish (collective plural)
adjective: Irish

Ethnic groups:
Irish 87.4%, other white 7.5%, Asian 1.3%, black 1.1%, mixed 1.1%, unspecified 1.6% (2006 census)

Religions:
Roman Catholic 87.4%, Church of Ireland 2.9%, other Christian 1.9%, other 2.1%, unspecified 1.5%, none 4.2% (2006 census)

Languages:
English (official) is the language generally used, Irish (Gaelic or Gaeilge) (official) spoken mainly in areas along the western coast

Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99%
male: 99%
female: 99% (2003 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 18 years
male: 18 years
female: 18 years (2008)

Education expenditures:
4.9% of GDP (2007)
country comparison to the world: 73



Republic of IRELAND - Geography | Population | Communication | Transportation | Map & Counties.
Telephones - main lines in use:
2.08 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 54

Telephones - mobile cellular:
4.871 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 98

Telephone system:
general assessment: modern digital system using cable and microwave radio relay
domestic: system privatized but dominated by former state monopoly operator; increasing levels of broadband access particularly in urban areas
international: country code - 353; landing point for the Hibernia-Atlantic submarine cable with links to the US, Canada, and UK; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Broadcast media:
publicly-owned broadcaster Radio Telefis Eireann (RTE) operates 2 TV stations; commercial television stations are available; about 75% of households utilize multi-channel satellite and TV services that provide access to a wide range of stations; RTE operates 4 national radio stations and has launched digital audio broadcasts on several stations; a number of commercial broadcast stations operate at the national, regional, and local levels (2007)

Internet:
country code:
.ie
Internet hosts:
1.339 million (2010)
country comparison to the world: 36
Internet users:
3.042 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 67



Republic of IRELAND - Geography | Population | Communication | Transportation | Map & Counties.

Airports:
39 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 105
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 16
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 5
under 914 m: 5 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 23
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 21 (2010)

Pipelines:
gas 1,550 km (2009)

Railways:
total: 3,237 km
country comparison to the world: 53
broad gauge: 1,872 km 1.600-m gauge (37 km electrified)
narrow gauge: 1,365 km 0.914-m gauge (operated by the Irish Peat Board to transport peat to power stations and briquetting plants) (2008)

Roadways:
total: 96,036 km
country comparison to the world: 47
paved: 96,036 km (includes 896 km of expressways) (2010)
(they must not be counting the 'sky road' on the edge of Connemara - r)

Waterways:
956 km (pleasure craft only) (2010) (not the Guinness barges, sigh - r)
country comparison to the world: 68

Merchant marine:
total: 28
country comparison to the world: 87
by type: cargo 25, chemical tanker 2, container 1
foreign-owned: 5 (Norway 3, US 2)
registered in other countries: 21 (Bahamas 3, Bermuda 2, Cyprus 3, Isle of Man 1, Kazakhstan 1, Malta 1, Netherlands 7, Panama 1, Slovakia 1, Sweden 1) (2010)

Ports and terminals:
Cork, Dublin, Shannon Foynes, Waterford



Republic of IRELAND - Geography | Population | Communication | Transportation | Map & Counties.


Click on the County on the Map to read our article.
Or Click on the name in the alphabetical list below.
Sorry we only have five counties this far. Patience, Bridget is writing as quickly as time permits.
The Management(?)

Antrim
Armagh
Carlow
Cavan
Clare



 

Thu, Apr 4, 2024
Ilnacullen, Co. Cork - an Island Garden

Located in the sheltered harbour of Glengarriff in Bantry Bay. Ilnacullin, which means island of holly, is a small island known to horticulturists and lovers of trees and shrubs all around the world as an island garden of rare beauty.
The vivid colours of Rhododendrons and Azaleas reach their peak during May and June, whilst the hundreds of cultivars of climbing plants, herbaceous perennials and choice shrubs dominate the midsummer period from June to August.
Because of its sheltered situation and the warming oceanic influence of the Gulf Stream, the climate is favourable to the growth of ornamental plants from many parts of the world.
Even for those who aren’t particularly interested in gardens, there are many other scenic views, especially in the surrounding waters where seals frequent the rocks on the southern shore.
The cover photo on Bridget's book The Traditional Irish Wedding shows a wrought iron garden gate on Ilnaculen. I took that photo. To see it, go to the home page. It's part of the opening paragraph Failte.

—Russ
Resource: Copy and Image - Cork Guide


Click for More Culture Corner.




Celtic Odyssey

We never tire of listening to this Narada compilation. It's been out a while, but we can still remember the thrill of listening to it for the first time. From Carolan's Ramble to Cashel by Northern Lights to Strathgarry by Simon Wynberg, every cut has become a favorite. Some might say it's "New Age Celtic" - but, no matter. Amazon gives you the opportunity to judge for yourself; click Celtic Odyssey.

 

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March 4, 2011
   
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This Web Site Bashed, Kicked & Glued together by Russ Haggerty.