The Wise Directory

Ireland Travel Guide

overview:

Ireland is a country in north-western Europe. The modern sovereign state occupies five-sixths of the island of Ireland, which was partitioned in 1921. It is bordered by Northern Ireland (part of the United Kingdom) to the north, by the Atlantic Ocean to the west and by the Irish Sea to the east. It is a member of the European Union, has a developed economy and a population of slightly more than 4.2 million.

Celtic tribes settled on the island in the 4th century B.C. Invasions by Norsemen that began in the late 8th century were finally ended in 1014. English invasions began in the 12th century and set off more than seven centuries of Anglo-Irish struggle marked by fierce rebellions and harsh repressions. A failed 1916 Easter Monday Rebellion touched off several years of intense guerrilla warfare that in 1922 resulted in independence from the UK for 26 southern counties; six northern (Ulster) counties remained part of the United Kingdom - a status whose disputed nature has lasted to the present day. In 1949 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 extra-state armed groups. A peace settlement for Northern Ireland, known as the Good Friday Agreement and approved in 1998, is currently being implemented.

related websites:

Dublin Hotels
Hotels in Dublin, Ireland with discount rates, city guides and travel infos.
http://www.dublin-hotels-ireland.net

IrishTourism.com
A one-stop shop for planning and booking your holiday in Ireland.
http://www.irishtourism.com

Read Ireland
Internet bookseller specializing in Irish interest books.
http://www.readireland.ie