Official Name. Eire; Ireland.
Capital. Dublin.
NATURAL FEATURES
Prominent Features. Coastal mountains, large bogs, and lakes.
Highest Peak. Carrantuohill, 3,414 feet (1,041 meters). Major River. Shannon.
PEOPLE
Population (1991 estimate). 3,494,000; 129 persons per square mile (50 persons per square kilometer); 57 percent urban, 43 percent rural.
Major Cities (1986 census). Dublin (502,749), Cork (133,271), Limerick (56,279), Galway (47,104), Waterford (39,529).
Major Religions. Roman Catholicism, Church of Ireland (Anglican).
Major Languages. Irish (Gaelic), first official language; English, second official language.
Literacy. Virtually 100 percent.
Leading Universities and Colleges. National University of Ireland at Dublin, Cork, and Galway; University of Dublin.
GOVERNMENT
Form of Government. Parliamentary Democracy.
Chief of State. President.
Head of Government. Prime Minister.
Legislature. House of Representatives, 166 members elected under a system of proportional representation at least every 5 years; Senate, 60 members nominated by the prime minister or elected by various special interest groups.
Voting Qualification. Age 18.
Political Divisions. 27 counties located in 4 geographical provinces: Connaught (Connacht) Galway, Leitrim, Mayo, Roscommon, Sligo; Leinster Carlow, Dublin, Kildare, Kilkenny, Laoighis, Longford, Louth, Meath, Offaly, Westmeath, Wexford, Wicklow; Munster Clare, Cork, Kerry, Limerick, Tipperary North Riding, Tipperary South Riding, Waterford; Ulster (part) Cavan, Donegal, Monaghan. 5 county boroughs Dublin, Cork, Galway, Limerick, Waterford.
ECONOMY
Chief Agricultural Products. Livestock beef, dairy products, cattle, sheep, pigs. Crops barley, sugar beets, potatoes, wheat, oats. Chief Mined Products. Gypsum, zinc, lead. Chief Manufactured Products. Pharmaceuticals and chemicals; electrical machinery; metal products; motor vehicle parts; brewed beverages; cocoa, chocolate, and sugar confectionery; paper and paper products; clothes. Chief Exports. Fresh, chilled, or frozen meat; chemicals and related products; dairy products; office machines and data processing equipment; electrical machinery; textiles and fabrics; nonmetallic minerals; live animals.
Chief Imports. Petroleum and petroleum products, chemicals, food and live animals, vehicles and parts, textile yarn and fabrics, industrial machinery, office machines and data processing equipment, clothing.
Monetary unit. 1 Irish pound (I ) = 100 new pence.
Brought to you by Morgan of the Fairies Productions
