General Information » Ireland Overview » Geography

An island located on the western fringe of Europe, Ireland is situated 53° north of the equator and 8° west of the Greenwich Meridian. It covers an area of 84,412 square kilometres, with 3,172 kilometres of coastline bordering the Irish Sea, St George’s Channel and the Atlantic Ocean.

Since the declaration of the Irish Free State in 1921, the island has been divided administratively into two parts: what is now called the Republic of Ireland, and Northern Ireland, governed by the United Kingdom. The country as a whole is divided up into four ancient provinces Connacht, Leinster, Munster and Ulster. Each one of these provinces is further split into counties, of which there are 26 in the Republic in total. Ulster is divided between Northern Ireland and the Republic, with six of the nine counties of Ulster being under British rule. In 2006, the Republic of Ireland’s population stood at 4,239,848.

While the country’s natural biodiversity of wildlife is relatively low, reflecting the fact that it is indeed an island, its diverse landscapes cover everything from beaches to bogland, and from hills to lush forests. Peering down upon the rest of the country at 1,041 metres is Ireland’s highest mountain, Carrantuohill in County Kerry, while the river Shannon, the longest river at 340km, bisects it. Lough Neagh in Northern Ireland is the largest of the many lakes, covering an area of 396 square kilometres.

The main concentration of larger settlements and industry is in the east and south of Ireland, with Dublin being the chief commercial, industrial, administrative, educational and cultural centre. The west boasts a more rugged, unspoiled landscape. County Dublin has the highest population density (home to 1,187,176 people in 2006), and is home to Ireland’s beloved capital city.