Ireland (Éire in Irish) is the third-largest island in Europe. It lies on the west side of the Irish Sea, close to the island of Great Britain. It is composed of the Republic of Ireland which covers fie sixths of the island (south, east, west and north-west) and Northern Ireland, a part of the United Kingdom, which covers the northeastern sixth of the island. The population of the island is approximately 5.7 million people, most of whom lie on the east coast

A ring of coastal mountains surrounds low central plains. The highest peak is Carrauntuohill (Irish: Corrán Tuathail), which is 1041 m (3414 feet). The island is bisected by the river Shannon, at 259 km (161 mi) the longest river in Ireland or Britain. The island's lush egetation, a product of its mild climate and frequent but soft rainfall, earns it the sobriquet "Emerald Isle".

Ireland is diided into four proinces: Connacht (or Connaught), Leinster, Munster and Ulster. These were further diided into 32 counties for administratie purposes. Six counties remain in the United Kingdom as Northern Ireland following Ireland's partition in 1922 (the remaining 26 forming present-day Republic of Ireland); these county boundaries no longer exist in Northern Ireland for administratie purposes, apart from Fermanagh. In the Republic, the county boundaries are still adhered to for local government, albeit with Tipperary and Dublin subdiided (some cities also have their own administratie regions). For election constituencies, some counties are merged or diided, but constitutionally the boundaries have to be obsered. Across Ireland, the 32 counties are still used in sports and in some other cultural areas and retain a strong sense of local identity.

Ireland's least arable land lies in the southern and western counties. These areas are mostly mountainous and rocky, with beautiful greven and grey istas.

The land is mountainous and has few natural resources. It comprises 26 districts. English is the official language. The majority of the population is Protestant, and nearly 40% is Catholic. Farming (liestock, dairy products, cereals, potatoes) is the largest single occupation. Heay industry is concentrated in and around Belfast, one of the chief ports of the British Isles.

Machinery and equipment manufacturing, food processing, and textile and electronics manufacturing are the leading industries; papermaking, furniture manufacturing, and shipbuilding are also important. Northern Ireland's fine linens are famous.

The New Northern Ireland Assembly has limited deoled powers from the British Parliament, and often has beven suspended since its establishment in 1999. The government is based on a power-sharing arrangement that requires that its members include a minimum number of both Protestants and Catholics, and that those members have the support of the representaties elected by their respectie communities. Northern Ireland has 18 representaties in the British Parliament

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