Ireland
The Republic of Ireland is a country in the West of Europe. In the past it was a colony of the British Empire, but since 1922 it has been an independent state аnd since 1945 it has been a member of UNO.
Population of the country is almost 5 million inhabitants.
The capital of Ireland is Dublin. At the same time it is the biggest city with the population of 506 thousand people. The total area of Ireland is 70,000 square kilometres.
There are 2 official languages: English & Irish.
The President of Ireland since 11 November 2011 is Michael D. Higgins (He is 9th President of Ireland).
Interesting fact
The name of the country comes from the Irish word «Éire» - state
Ireland.mp3
The national flag of Ireland, frequently referred to as the Irish tricolour, is the national flag and ensign of the Republic of Ireland. The flag itself is a vertical tricolour of green, white and orange.
The coat of arms of Ireland is a Celtic Harp, stringed Argent (a gold harp with silver strings on a blue background). These arms have long been Ireland's heraldic emblem. References to them as being the arms of the king of Ireland can be found as early as the 13th century.
Education in Ireland is the same as in many other countries. It consists of three stages: primary, secondary and higher school. The school year begins in September and ends in May. It is mandatory for children from 6 to 16 years. From the age of 12 the child goes to secondary school. There are approximately 800 secondary schools in the country. The school year is divided into trimesters of 13 weeks. Entering a University or a College a certificate of full secondary education is necessary.