Ireland is the third largest island in Europe. It lies to the northwest of Continental Europe with the island of Britain lying to the east. Politically it is divided into the Republic of Ireland, a sovereign state occupying five-sixths of the island, and Northern Ireland, a part of the United Kingdom, occupying the northeastern sixth of the island. The name Ireland derives from the name Ériu (in modern Irish, Éire) with the addition of the Germanic word 'land'.
Capital: - Dublin
Area: - Total: 70,280 sq km
- Land: 68,890 sq km
- Water: 1,390 sq km
Independence: - 6 December 1921 (from UK by treaty)
Official languages: - English (official) is the language generally used, Irish (official) (Gaelic or Gaeilge) spoken mai