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Background: A failed 1916 Easter Monday Rebellion touched off several
years of guerrilla warfare that in 1921 resulted in independence from
the UK for the 26 southern counties; the six northern counties (Ulster)
remained part of Great Britain. In 1948 Ireland withdrew from the British
Commonwealth; it joined the European Community in 1973. Irish governments
have sought the peaceful unification of Ireland and have cooperated with
Britain against terrorist groups. A peace settlement for Northern Ireland,
approved in 1998, has not yet been implemented.
Location: Western Europe, occupying five-sixths of the island of
Ireland in the North Atlantic Ocean, west of Great Britain
Area:
Total: 70,280 sq km
Land: 68,890 sq km
Water: 1,390 sq km
Land Boundaries:
Total: 360 km
Border Countries:
UK 360 km
Coastline: 1,448 km
Elevation Extremes:
Lowest Point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
Highest Point: Carrauntoohil 1,041 m
Population: 3,797,257 (July 2000 est.)
Ethnic Groups: Celtic, English
Languages: English is the language generally used, Irish (Gaelic) spoken mainly in
areas located along the western seaboard
Information courtesy of the
CIA World Factbook.
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