Country
Countries A-Z
Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Éire
Political Status: Independent state since 1921; under republican constitution effective December 29, 1937.
Area: 27,136 sq. mi. (70,283 sq. km).
Population: 4,714,000 (2016E—UN); 4,952,473 (2016E—U.S. Census).
Major Urban Centers (2013C): DUBLIN (527,612), Cork (119,230), Galway (75,529), Limerick (57,106).
Official Languages: Irish (Gaelic), English.
Monetary Unit: Euro (market rate October 1, 2016: 0.89 euro = $1US).
President (Uachtarán na hÉireann): Michael D. HIGGINS (Labour); elected on October 27, 2011, and inaugurated for a seven-year term on November 11, succeeding Mary Patricia McALEESE (Fianna Fáil).
Prime Minister (Taoiseach): Enda KENNY (Fine Gail); nominated by the Dáil on March 9, 2011, and appointed by the president and sworn in the same day in succession to Brian COWEN (Fianna Fáil), who had resigned on March 8; reappointed on May 6, 2016, following legislative elections ...