1. WELCOME TO IRELAND

2. IREI IRELAND Ireland is an island to the north-west of continental Europe. It is the third largest island in Europe. To its east is the larger island of Great Britain, from which it is separated by the Irish Sea.

3. Climate The Atlantic Ocean and the warming influence of the Gulf Stream affect weather patterns in Ireland. Temperatures differ regionally, with central and eastern areas tending to be more extreme. However, due to a temperate oceanic climate, temperatures are seldom lower than −5 °C (23 °F) in winter or higher than 26 °C (79 °F) in summer.

4. Land area 26,598 sq mi (68,889 sq km); total area: 27,135 sq mi (70,280 sq km)

5. Population (2011 est.): Population : 4,722,028 (growth rate: 1.112%); birth rate: 15.81/1000; infant mortality rate: 3.81/1000; life expectancy: 80.32 Ethnicity: Irish 87.4%, other white 7.5%, Asian 1.3%, black 1.1%, mixed 1.1%, unspecified 1.6%

6. Languages English, Irish (Gaelic) (both official)

7. Religions Roman Catholic 88%, Church of Ireland 3%, other Christian 2%, none 4%

8. Cuisine Irish cuisine was traditionally based on meat and dairy, supplemented with vegetables and seafood. The potato eventually formed the basis of many traditional Irish dishes after its introduction in the 16th century. Examples of popular Irish cuisine include boxty, colcannon, coddle, stew and bacon and cabbage. Ireland is famous for the full Irish breakfast, which involves a fried or grilled meal generally consisting of bacon, egg, sausage, pudding, and fried tomato.

9. Flag of Ireland The national flag of Ireland – frequently referred to as the Irish tricolour – is a vertical tricolour of green, white and orange.

10. Coat of arms of Ireland The coat of arms of Ireland is a gold harp with silver strings on a blue background.

11. Anthem "The Soldiers' Song“ National Holiday: Saint Patrick's Day, March 17

12. President: Michael D. Higgins (2011)

13. Famous Irish People Jonathan Swift

14. James Joyce

15. George Bernard Shaw

16. Oscar Wilde

17. . Bram Stoker is best known as the author of the 1897 novel Dracula.

18. “James Bond” – Pierce Brosnan

19. Liam Neeson

20. Mel Gibson

21. Bono and U-2

22. Audrey Hepburn

23. Princess of Monaco Grace Kelly

24. President of the USA Ronald Reagan

25. President of the USA John Kennedy