Ethnicity: Virtually the whole population identifies as Irish.
Historically, the population is a mix of Celtic, Anglo-Saxon, Norman and Scandinavian.
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Capital: Dublin (officially called Baile Atha Cliath)
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Electoral authority: The
Department
of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government administers national elections
Freedom House rating: Political Rights 1, Civil Liberties 1
Political history
English penetration of Celtic Ireland began in the 12th century, although English
rule over most of Ireland was not established until Tudor times. An Irish Parliament
was established in 1295. After the Protestant Reformation Ireland became in effect an
English colony, with an elite of English and Scottish Protestant landowners ruling
over the Celtic Catholic majority. Despite many rebellions, the Irish were unable to
challenge English rule. In 1801 the Irish Parliament was abolished and Ireland was
formally incorporated into the United Kingdom.
The admission of Catholics to the British Parliament in 1829 and the expansion
of the franchise in 1885 allowed the formation of an Irish Nationalist Party, which
campaigned unsuccessfully for "home rule" for Ireland. This was resisted by the
Protestant majority in the six northern counties. In 1916 a nationalist rebellion
broke out in Dublin, which although suppressed sparked a national rising. After a bitter
civil war, independence as the Irish Free State was achieved in 1922. Britian retained
the six northern counties, a fact which was not formally recognised by Ireland until
1998.
Under the leadership of Eamon de Valera, Ireland became a republic in 1937 and
severed all links with Britain in 1949. In 1972 Ireland joined the European Union.
Since the 1970s Ireland has become increasingly prosperous, secular and liberal.
Relations with Britain, strained during the 1970s and '80s by the Northern Ireland
issue, were improved by the 1998 treaty, when Ireland dropped its claim to the north.
Since the 1920s Irish politics have been dominated by two parties, the
Soldiers of Destiny (usually known as Fianna Fáil),
a conservative Catholic nationalist party, and the
Sons of Ireland,
or Fine Gael, a more moderate Christian democratic party. The
Labour Party has traditionally been an ally of
Fine Gael. The radical nationalist tradition is represented by
Ourselves Alone or Sinn Fein, a party linked to
the illegal Irish Republican Army. Newer forces in politics are represented by the
Progressive Democrats and the
Green Party.
The admission of Catholics to the British Parliament in 1829 and the expansion of the franchise in 1885 allowed the formation of an Irish Nationalist Party, which campaigned unsuccessfully for "home rule" for Ireland. This was resisted by the Protestant majority in the six northern counties. In 1916 a nationalist rebellion broke out in Dublin, which although suppressed sparked a national rising. After a bitter civil war, independence as the Irish Free State was achieved in 1922. Britian retained the six northern counties, a fact which was not formally recognised by Ireland until 1998.
Under the leadership of Eamon de Valera, Ireland became a republic in 1937 and severed all links with Britain in 1949. In 1972 Ireland joined the European Union. Since the 1970s Ireland has become increasingly prosperous, secular and liberal. Relations with Britain, strained during the 1970s and '80s by the Northern Ireland issue, were improved by the 1998 treaty, when Ireland dropped its claim to the north.
Since the 1920s Irish politics have been dominated by two parties, the Soldiers of Destiny (usually known as Fianna Fáil), a conservative Catholic nationalist party, and the Sons of Ireland, or Fine Gael, a more moderate Christian democratic party. The Labour Party has traditionally been an ally of Fine Gael. The radical nationalist tradition is represented by Ourselves Alone or Sinn Fein, a party linked to the illegal Irish Republican Army. Newer forces in politics are represented by the Progressive Democrats and the Green Party.