Ireland is an island nation in Northwest Europe that owns a majority of the Island of Ireland. Its border Northern Ireland, a British Colony, to the northeast, the Celtic Sea to the south, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the Irish Sea to the east. The capital city of Ireland is Dublin.
Ireland is a parliamentary republic. The head of state is the president, who is merely ceremonial. The true leader of Ireland is the Taoiseach (Prime Minister), who is the leader of the Irish Parliament (Oireachtas).
Ireland gained independence from the British Empire in 1922, under the name “Irish Free State”. The Free State was a dominion within the empire. After adopting a constitution in 1937, Ireland became a republic, ending its connections to the British Crown. However, Northern Ireland remains under the control of the United Kingdom until today.
Today, Ireland is now a developed first world country. The nation ranks fifth on the human development index. Ever since 1995, Ireland has grown into an economic superpower that specializes in producing pharmaceuticals. Between 1995 and 2007, Ireland’s economy went through a period of rapid economic growth, known as the “Celtic Tiger”. After the Great Recession, Ireland has been growing again ever since.