Ireland (The Republic of Ireland) is located on the Emerald Isle, attached to Northern Ireland, which is part of the United Kingdom.  With its rolling, green countryside, old castles, and traditional pubs, Ireland attracts millions of tourist each year.  Although almost everyone in Ireland speaks English, the official language of the country is “Irish, “ or “Gaeilge,” which has no relation to English, but is similar to Scots Gaelic.  

Ireland traces its history back 10,000 years, to the times of the Middle Stone Age. The Celts and the Gaels arrived later, then the Vikings and Normans.  Ireland later became part of the United Kingdom, but since Catholics were not allowed to hold seats in Parliament, they entered into a war of independence, then the Irish Civil War.  This resulted in an independent Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland, which remained part of the United Kingdom. 

The Republic of Ireland’s capital, Dublin, remains one of the most frequented cities by travelers, with countless pubs serving stout and beautiful architecture.  Belfast, the largest city in Northern Ireland, is also becoming a popular destination.  Smaller towns like Galway contain that traditional Irish charm, with old historic pubs on cobblestone streets and locals enjoying the craic, or lively and sometimes mischievous merry-making.

Map courtesy of: http://www.appliedlanguage.com/country_guides/Ireland.shtml