Ireland is a country with a long and interesting history. Ireland has influenced many other countries and cultures, and today there are many interesting facts to be found about Ireland.
Fact #1: Ireland is called Éire in Irish, but you will most often hear it referred to as the Republic of Ireland officially in English.
Fact #2: There are 4 provinces in Ireland: Connacht, Leinster, Munster, and Ulster.
Fact #3: The world’s oldest yacht club, The Royal Cork Yacht Club, was founded in Cork, Ireland, in 1720.
Fact #4: The official language of Ireland is Irish Gaelic (Gaeilge), even though English is more widely spoken.
Fact #5: The Republic of Ireland accounts for roughly five-sixth of the island of Ireland, with the remaining one-sixth of the island being made up of Northern Ireland (United Kingdom).
Fact #6: Just under a quarter of Ireland’s population lives in the country’s capital city, Dublin.
Fact #7: Arthur Guinness founded Guinness, one of the world’s most famous breweries, in Dublin, Ireland, back in 1759.
Fact #8: The most popular sports in Ireland are hurling and Gaelic football.
Fact #9: The national symbol of Ireland is the shamrock. You will often see the shamrock alongside a harp, which together are a registered trademark of the country.
Figures on Ireland
| Metrics For Ireland | Figures |
|---|---|
| Population | 4,952,473 (July 2016 est.) |
| Gross Domestic Product PPP (GDP) | US$257.4 billion (2015 est.) |
| GDP Per Capita | US$55,500 (2015 est.) |
| Inflation Rate | 0.0% (2015 est.) |
| Currency | Euro |
| Exchange Rate Versus U.S. Dollar | 0.894 euro per U.S. dollar (Nov. 22, 2016) |
| Language | English (official, the language generally used), Irish— Gaelic or Gaeilge (official, spoken mainly in areas along the western coast). |
| Capital | Dublin |
| Population of Capital City | 1.169 million (metropolitan area)(2015 est.) |
| Time Zone | UTC +5 (five hours ahead of Washington during Standard Time) |
| Seasons | Temperate maritime—modified by North Atlantic Current. Mild winters, cool summers. Consistently humid and overcast about half the time. |
| International Dialing Code | 353 |
| Electricity | 230, 50 Hz |
| System of Government | Republic, Parliamentary Democracy |
| Current Leader | President Michael D. Higgins (since Nov. 11, 2011) |
| Restrictions on Foreign Ownership of Property | None |
| Local Chamber of Commerce | http://www.dubchamber.ie/ 7 Clare Street Dublin Tel. 353-1-644-7200 |
| American Chamber of Commerce | http://www.amcham.ie/ 6 Wilton Place, Dublin 2, Ireland Tel. 353-1-661-6201 |
| Primary Exports | Machinery, computers, pharmaceuticals, food products, medical devices, chemicals, data processing equipment, petroleum, textiles, clothing. |
| Residency and Visa Requirements | People from certain countries need a valid Irish entry visa before arriving in the State, whether by air, sea or land. An Irish visa is a certificate placed on your passport or travel document to indicate that you are authorized to land in the State subject to any other conditions of landing being fulfilled. This means that you will still be subject to immigration control at the point of entry to the State even if you have a visa. You may also need to register with the immigration authorities. |
| Special Benefits for Foreign Residents or Retirees | If you want to avoid having to pay tax in Ireland, then you’ll want to keep your stay to 182 days or less. (You will, though, have to pay property tax on any Irish property that you own). If you would like a coveted Irish passport, then you’ll have to take the taxes head on. The road to Irish residency is slow, but worth the wait. To get there, you will need to stick around most of the year. |
| National Airline | www.aerlingus.com/ |