People and Society of Ireland

Nationality

noun: Irishman(men), Irishwoman(women), Irish (collective plural) adjective: Irish

Ethnic Groups

Irish 76.6%, Irish travelers 0.6%, other White 9.9%, Asian 3.3%, Black 1.5%, other (includes Arab, Roma, and persons of mixed backgrounds) 2%, unspecified 2.6%

Population

4,250,163

Population (Male / Female)

male: 2,590,542 female: 2,642,919

Population Distribution

population distribution is weighted to the eastern side of the island, with the largest concentration being in and around Dublin; populations in the west are small due to mountainous land, poorer soil, lack of good transport routes, and fewer job opportunities

Urban Population

urban population: 64.5% of total population rate of urbanization: 1.15% annual rate of change

Population in Major Urban Areas

1.270 million DUBLIN (capital)

Age Structure

0-14 years: 18.6% (male 498,124/female 477,848) 15-64 years: 65.5% (male 1,701,680/female 1,728,041) 65 years and over: 15.8% (male 390,738/female 437,030)

Median Age

total: 40.2 years male: 39.7 years female: 40.6 years

Sex Ratio at Birth

at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.89 male(s)/female total population: 0.98 male(s)/female

Modern medical facilities and highly skilled medical practitioners are available in Ireland, but due to high demand, access to medical specialists and admissions to hospitals for certain non-life-threatening medical conditions may result in extensive waiting lists. It is not unusual for emergency room (ER) services to be very busy or for post-treatment admissions to include a long wait (sometimes overnight) on a gurney in a hallway rather than in a shared or private room. Over-the-counter medications of most types are available, but many U.S. brands are not. (Ask the pharmacist about substitutes.) Some medications available over the counter in the United States may require a prescription in Ireland. Irish pharmacists may not be able to dispense medication prescribed by U.S. physicians and may direct you to obtain a prescription from an Irish doctor before providing your required medication. If you are traveling to Ireland and may require medical treatment while in the country, consult your personal physician prior to traveling. A list of Irish general practitioners in each area of Ireland may be obtained from the website of the Irish College of General Practitioners. Emergency services usually respond quickly.

Life Expectancy at Birth

total population: 82 years male: 80.3 years female: 83.9 years

Infant Mortality Rate

total: 3.3 deaths/1,000 live births male: 3.2 deaths/1,000 live births female: 3.3 deaths/1,000 live births

Drinking Water Source

improved: urban: 97% of population rural: 98.1% of population total: 97.4% of population unimproved: urban: 3% of population rural: 1.9% of population total: 2.6% of population

Sanitation Facility Access

improved: urban: 97.8% of population rural: 99.1% of population total: 98.3% of population unimproved: urban: 2.2% of population rural: 0.9% of population total: 1.7% of population

Tobacco Use

total: 20.8% male: 22.5% female: 19%

Alcohol Consumption

total: 10.91 liters of pure alcohol beer: 4.92 liters of pure alcohol wine: 2.88 liters of pure alcohol spirits: 2.29 liters of pure alcohol other alcohols: 0.82 liters of pure alcohol

Literacy Definition

age 15 and over can read and write

Total School Life Expectancy

total: 19 years male: 18 years female: 19 years

• Roman Catholic88.0%
• other9.0%
• Church of Ireland3.0%

English (official, the language generally used), Irish (Gaelic or Gaeilge) (official, spoken mainly in areas along the western coast)

English (official, the language generally used), Irish (Gaelic or Gaeilge) (official, spoken by approximately 37.7% of the population as of 2022; mainly spoken in areas along Ireland's western coast known as gaeltachtai, which are officially recognized regions where Irish is the predominant language)

• Irish
• English

• Arthur Wellesley

  the first Duke of Wellington, was born in Dublin in 1769. In 1809 he was sent to assume command in Portugal. Wellington gained military distinction in the Peninsular Campaigns during the French Wars, culminating in the victory at Waterloo. He was raised to the peerage as the Duke of Wellington in recognition of his achievements and he sat in the House of Lords for the rest of his life.

• Theobald Wolfe Tone

  Eighteenth-century Protestant lawyer was one of the few leaders of his time who was well-respected in Dublin and Belfast. In the autumn of 1791, he called for Irish independence and a rapprochement between Protestants and Catholics. Tone was involved in the creation of the Society of United Irishmen, which had chapters in Belfast and Dublin. In 1798, the Irish nationalists rose against British occupation in the belief that a French invasion was imminent. The rebellion was crushed by British forces. Tone was captured and sentenced to be hanged, but he chose suicide over submitting to British justice, and slit his own throat.

• Michael Collins

  was born on 16th Oct 1890 at a place called Sam’s Cross outside Clonakilty, Co Cork. he took part in the 1916 Easter Rising in Dublin. In 1921 Collins was a signatory to a Treaty bring to an end the war between Britain & Ireland. This treaty was not to the liking of all Irishmen and a civil war broke out. Collins had said at the signing "I may have signed my actual death warrant".". He was killed in an ambush at Beal na mBlath in County Cork on the 22nd August 1922. Prior to the treaty Collins was responsible for organizing resistance to British rule in Ireland. His tactics are said to be the basis for all Guerrilla warfare.

• Patrick Pearse

  Born in Dublin in 1879, leader of Irish nationalism, poet, educator. He was the first president of the Provisional Government of the Irish Republic. CIC of the Irish forces on Easter Monday 1916, when the 1916 rising began. After surrendering to British forces he was sent for court-martial and shot in Kilmanaham jail on the 3rd May 1916.

• Edmund Burke

  Born, raised, and educated in Ireland, he was one of the most well-known British statesmen and political philosophers of the eighteenth century. After gaining early recognition for his literary skills, Burke entered Parliament in 1766 and remained there for the next two decades. Burke is often remembered for his vehement opposition to the French Revolution, presented in his Reflections on the Revolution in France. He saw in the French Revolution a fatal danger: A zealous but misguided state can destroy the delicate attachments on which a free society is built.

• Harry George Ferguson

  was born at Growell, near Hillsborough, Co Down, on 4 November l884. In l902, he joined his brother Joe in a car and bicycle repair business in Belfast, and in 1904 began to race motor-cycles. In 1909, at Hillsborough, he made the first powered flight in Ireland, travelling 130 yd (118.5 m) in a monoplane he had built. He later drove racing cars, and helped to establish the famous Ulster Tourist Trophy races in 1928. He later developed a tractor combined with a plough. In 1953 the firm became Massey Ferguson.

• Ernest Shackleton.

  Born Kilkee Co Clare 1874. Explorer. He was a member of Robert F Scott’s 1901-04 Antarctic expedition, he sledged partway across the Ross ice shelf. In 1914-16 His expedition ship Endurance was crushed by drifting pack ice. He and five of his men travelled 800 miles in a whale boat to South Georgia Island to get aid. He led four relief expeditions before rescuing his men.

• Hans Sloane.

  Born Killyleagh Co Down 1660. Physician and Naturalist, whose collection of books, manuscripts, and curiosities form the basis for the British Museum Bloomsbury. Succeeded Isaac Newton as the president of the Royal Society and became first physician to King George II.

• Michael William Balfe

  Born Dublin 1808. Singer and composer, best known for the opera The Bohemian Girl , his other works include The Siege of Rochelle . He sang Papa geno in the first English performance of The Magic Flute .

• Ernest Thomas Sinton Walton

  was born at Dungarvan, County Waterford on the south coast of Ireland on October 6th, 1903. Awarded the |Nobel Prize in Physic in 1951. For His pioneer work on the transmutation of atomic nuclei by artificially accelerated atomic particles. It was awarded to him along with Sir John Douglas Cockcroft.

• Clive Staples (C.S.)Lewis

  Author · 1898

  Birth date - Clive Staples (C.S.) Lewis, British author, was born on Nov. 29, 1898 in Belfast, Northern Ireland.

Crime Information

A Garda Síochána (Garda), translated as "Guardians of the Peace of Ireland,” is the national police force providing all state security, policing and immigration enforcement duties countrywide. Ireland has a relatively low rate of violent crime. Petty crime and residential crime is much more common, especially in urban and tourist areas. Rates for residential break-ins, theft, burglary, and purse-snatching have all risen in recent years, and thieves often target rental cars and tourists, particularly in the vicinity of tourist attractions. In rare cases, these crimes have involved physical assault or violence, more commonly in Dublin. Avoid parks after dark and avoid showing signs of affluence in addition to guarding your valuables, passport and wallet. We recommend you leave your passport in a secure location separate from your purse or luggage. Do not leave your drinks unattended at bars or restaurants, as there have been reported incidents of drinks being spiked with illegal substances, leading to robbery and sexual assaults. Please practice sound personal security practices and maintain an awareness of your surroundings during your stay in Ireland. ATM Fraud: Crimes involving ATMs are a concern. Protect your PIN at all times and look closely at ATMs for evidence of tampering before use. Criminals have used “skimmers” on ATMs, especially in tourist areas. Skimmers are usually small electronic devices attached to the outside of an ATM to steal the ATM or credit card data. Most ATMs in Ireland now have signs or electronic warnings that advise customers to look closely at the ATM for evidence of tampering before using. Be aware that in busy areas, thieves use distraction techniques such as waiting until the PIN has been entered and then pointing to money on the ground or asking for loose change. While the ATM user is distracted, another person will quickly withdraw the cash and leave. If you are distracted in any way, cancel the transaction immediately. If the machine does not return your card, report the incident to the issuing bank right away. Internet scams: Online fraud scams have been reported in recent years, and travelers should verify through local authorities, family, or friends, the authenticity of any solicited or unsolicited requests for assistance. If you receive an email from family or friends requesting assistance, we advise you to try first to contact the loved one at the last known phone number and/or to verify the story/circumstances with a neutral third party you know and trust before sending any funds.You should view with skepticism any unsolicited invitations to travel to Ireland to collect winnings or an inheritance. There are no licenses or fees required when transiting Irish airports, emergency medical treatment is never withheld pending payment of fees, and hotels in Ireland will not detain guests for lack of funds without involving the police. A claim that a hospital or hotel will not let someone depart until the bill is settled is usually a sign of a scam. Visit the U.S. Department of State's website for more information on International Internet Financial Scams and how to protect yourself. Do not buy counterfeit and pirated goods, even if they are widely available. Not only are the bootlegs illegal to bring back into the United States, you may be breaking local law, too.

Criminal Penalties

While you are traveling in Ireland, you are subject to local laws even if you are a U.S. citizen. Foreign laws and legal systems can be vastly different from our own. If you break local laws in Ireland, your U.S. passport won’t help you avoid arrest or prosecution. It is very important to know what’s legal and what’s not where you are going. In some circumstances, driving under the influence could land you immediately in jail. These criminal penalties will vary from country to country. There are also some things that might be legal in the country you visit, but still illegal in the United States. Engaging in sexual conduct with children or using or disseminating child pornography in a foreign country is a crime in Ireland and also prosecutable in the United States. Persons violating Ireland’s laws, including its tough drunk-driving rules, even unknowingly, may be arrested, imprisoned and/or deported. Penalties for possessing, using, or trafficking illegal drugs in Ireland are severe, and convicted offenders can expect long jail sentences and heavy fines. Arrest notifications in host country: Based on the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, bilateral agreements with certain countries, and customary international law, if you are arrested in Ireland you have the option to request that the police, prison officials, or other authorities alert the U.S. Embassy of your arrest.