The Ireland Report (One page, basic version)
Overview |History | Geography | Economy | People | Current Event
Star Player | World Cup Information | Links | Sources

Overview
 

History
        Around 795, the Vikings began a series of robbing and destroying the monasteries. First people to live in Irland probably came from the Eurppean mainland. In 1541, Henry VIII attempted to gain control of Ireland. He forced the Irish Pariament to declare him king of Ireland and tried to force Protestantism on the Irish. In 1801, the Act of Union made Ireland part of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. A rebellion in 1798 was put down, and in 1800, Ireland and Britain were united by the Act of Union. Daniel O'Connell and Charles Stewart Parnrell became leaders of te Home Rule Movement in 19 century. In December 1921, Ireland got their independence from UK for 26 southern countries but 6 northern countries remained a part of Great Britain. Irish governments sought the peaceful unification of Ireland. Ireland also cooperated with Britain against terrorist groups. Ireland's holiday is Saint Patrick's Day.

Geography

• Capital: Dublin

• Other Cities: Lifford, Sligo, Castlebar, Drogheda, Galway, Tullamore, Wicklow, Arklow, Shannon, Limerick, Foynes, Waterford, New Ross, Killary, Cork
• Landforms:
• Neighbors:
• Climate:  temperate maritime; modified by North Atlantic Current; mild winters, cool summers; consistently humid; overcast about half the time

 

• Currency: Irish pound(IEP);(EUR)
• GDP (per capita): purchasing power parity  - $21,600(2000 est.)
• Labor force breakdown: 1.82 million(2000 est.)
• Inflation rate: 5.6%(2000)
• Major exports: machinery and equiptment, comuters, chemicals, pharmaceuticals; live animals, animal products

 
• Other industries: food products, brewing, textiles, ciothing;chemicals, pharmaceuticals, machinery, transportion equiptment, lass and cystal; software
• Trading partners: EU 54%( UK 29%, Germany 6%, France 5%) US 18%, Japan 5%, Singapore 4%(2000)
• Debt: $11 billion(1998)

Current Event
  Star Player:2 FINNAN Steve Birth Date:  20 April 1976 Height:  175 cm Weight:  68 kg Position:  DF Current Club:  Fulham (ENG) Int'l Goals:  1 (as of 27 May 2002) Int'l Caps:  13 (as of 27 May 2002) First Int'l Cap:  Greece (26 April 2000) Steve Finnan signed for Fulham in November 1998. The former Birmingham City and Notts County player, who played for  the Irish Under-21 side, soon established himself as a versatile defender. With Fulham he won the English First Division title in 2001. Finnan made his senior debut in a friendly against Greece (0-1) on 26 April 2000.
 

World Cup Information

Links

• Daily Graphic Online :

• CIA World Factbook Ireland :  flag, geography, economy, and people section
• FIFA World Cup 2002 Homepage