Ireland is located on an island, at the western edge of Europe. The northeastern corner of the island is occupied by Northern Ireland, which belongs to Britain and is separated from the independent republic to its south. Ireland’s proximity to the Atlantic Ocean makes its climate mild and its weather humid and often rainy.
Population: 5.068 million
Ethnic Groups: Irish (82.2%), Irish travelers (0.7%), Other White (9.5%), Asian (2.1%), Black (1.4%), Other (1.5%), Unspecified (2.6%)
Languages: English (Official), Irish (Gaelic or Gaeilge) (Official, spoken mainly in areas along the western coast)
Religions: Roman Catholic (78.3%), Church of Ireland (2.7%), other Christian (1.6%), Orthodox (1.3%), Muslim (1.3%), Other (2.4%), Unspecified (2.6%), None (9.8%), Unspecified (2.6%)
CIA: The World Factbook — Last Updated December 28, 2019
Irish in Canada
Irish Population in Canada
The south became independent in 1922 (Northern Ireland is a part of the United Kingdom). Ireland has made great progress in the last generation, but was hit hard by the recent global financial crisis. Much of Ireland’s Christian history is due to the missionary work of St. Patrick during the fifth century. The Catholic Church was once very influential in Ireland. For example, divorce was illegal in Ireland until 1997, and Catholic holidays (Good Friday, Easter, and Christmas) are widely celebrated. Marriages usually take place in a church. Although Ireland is still considered very Catholic, the influence of the Catholic Church is declining rapidly.
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