The Republic of Ireland (Irish: Poblacht
na hÉireann) is the official description of the sovereign
state which covers approximately five-sixths of the island of Ireland,
off the coast of north-west Europe.
The state's official name is Ireland (Irish: Éire),
and this is how international organisations and citizens of Ireland usually
refer to the country. The island of Ireland extends over 32,595 square
miles (84,421 km²)
of which 83% (or five-sixths) belong to the Republic (at 27,133 sq. mi;
70,280 km²), with the remainder constituting Northern Ireland. It is
bound to the west by the Atlantic
Ocean, to the northeast by the North
Channel. To the east is found the Irish
Sea which reconnects to the ocean via the southwest with St
George's Channel and the Celtic
Sea.
The Irish peoples are mainly of indigenous origin, with the country's only
significant minorities having descended from the Vikings and Anglo-Normans.
An indigenous minority group is the Irish
Traveller, while some of the population are also of English, Scottish,
and Welsh descent.
The official languages are Irish, Gaelic and English.
