Ireland report
The population of the island is just under 6 million (2006); just over 4.2 million in the Republic of
Ireland[2] (1.6 million in Greater Dublin[3]) and just over 1.7 million in Northern Ireland[4] (0.6 million in
Greater Belfast[5])).
Politics
Politically, Ireland is divided into:
· The Republic of Ireland, with its capital Dublin.
· Northern Ireland, which is part of the United Kingdom,
Geography
A ring of coastal mountains surrounds low central plains. The highest peak is Carrauntuohill , which is
1,041 m. The island is bisected by the River Shannon, at 386 km (240 miles) the longest river in Ireland.
The island's lush vegetation, a product of its mild climate and frequent but soft rainfall, earns it the
sobriquet "Emerald Isle". The island's area is 84,412 km².
Ireland is divided into four provinces: Connacht, Leinster, Munster and Ulster.
Ireland's least arable land lies in the south-western and western counties. These areas are largely
annaabi.ee 
