Europe / Caspian / CIS
Country profile: Ireland
| Location: | Western Europe, occupying five-sixths of the island of Ireland in the North Atlantic Ocean, west of Great Britain |
| Climate: | temperate maritime; modified by North Atlantic Current; mild winters, cool summers; consistently humid; overcast about half the time |
| Terrain: | mostly level to rolling interior plain surrounded by rugged hills and low mountains; sea cliffs on west coast |
| Size: | 70280 sq. km total (Land area: 68890 sq. km Water area: 1390 sq.km) |
| Population: | 4,156,119 (July 2008 est.) |
| Languages: | English (official) is the language generally used, Irish (Gaelic or Gaeilge) (official) spoken mainly in areas located along the western seaboard |
| Government: | republic, parliamentary democracy |
| Capital city: | Dublin |
| Legal system: | based on English common law, substantially modified by indigenous concepts; judicial review of legislative acts in Supreme Court; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction |
| Currency: | euro (EUR) |
| Licensing: |
Country profile
Celtic tribes arrived on the island between 600-150 B.C. Invasions by Norsemen that began in the late 8th century were finally ended when King Brian BORU defeated the Danes in 1014. English invasions began in the 12th century and set off more than seven centuries of Anglo-Irish struggle marked by fierce rebellions and harsh repressions. A failed 1916 Easter Monday Rebellion touched off several years of guerrilla warfare that in 1921 resulted in independence from the UK for 26 southern counties; six northern (Ulster) counties remained part of the UK.
In 1949, Ireland withdrew from the British Commonwealth; it joined the European Community in 1973. Irish governments have sought the peaceful unification of Ireland and have cooperated with Britain against terrorist groups. A peace settlement for Northern Ireland is being implemented with some difficulties. In 2006, the Irish and British governments developed and began to implement the St. Andrews Agreement, building on the Good Friday Agreement approved in 1998.
Energy production and consumption
| Oil | Gas | |
| Production: | 546 million cu m (2005 est.) | |
| Consumption: | 192,000 bbl/day (2005 est.) | 3 billion cu m (2005 est.) |
| Exports: | 23,360 bbl/day (2005 est.) | |
| Imports: | 204,400 bbl/day (2005 est.) | 3 million cu m (2005 est.) |
| Reserves: | 9 billion cu m (1 January 2006 est.) | |
| Major fields: |
Ireland - recent news
| 15 Jun 26 |
Ireland: Wind farms deliver €75 million rates boost to County Councils Wind farms across Ireland will contribute almost €75 million in commercial rates to local authorities in 2026, according to new analysis compiled by Halpin's on behalf of Wind Energy Ireland (WEI). |
| 08 Jun 26 |
Ireland: Net Zero Energy announces plans for a 600MW long-duration energy storage project in County Carlow using green hydrogen Plans to develop a 600MW Long Duration Energy Storage (LDES) facility which will use excess renewable energy to generate green hydrogen to provide electricity have today been unveiled. Known as Rathrush Green Energy Park, the proposed site is located outside Rathoe in Co Carlow and is being developed by Irish firm, Net Zero Energy (NZE). |
| 19 May 26 |
Ireland: Irish wind farms protect consumers from rising gas prices in April A record April for Irish wind farms helped to limit the average wholesale electricity price rise to just two per cent last month, despite significant pressure from rising gas prices. |
| 19 May 26 |
Ireland: Wind is biggest contributor to Ireland’s fuel mix in April with almost 50% of electricity generated by renewables Just under 40% (38%) of all electricity was generated by wind last month, making it the biggest contributor to Ireland’s fuel mix in April, according to new provisional data from EirGrid. |
| 11 May 26 |
Ireland: Lansdowne Oil & Gas provides update on Energy Charter Treaty ('ECT') Arbitration Claim Lansdowne Oil & Gas plc has successfully registered its Request for Arbitration with the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes concerning its dispute with Ireland over the Barryroe oil and gas field, pursuing a claim of at least US$100 million plus interest. |
Ireland - more news
Other countries in this region
- Afghanistan,
- Albania,
- Armenia,
- Austria,
- Azerbaijan,
- Belarus,
- Belgium,
- Bosnia and Herzegovina,
- Bulgaria,
- Croatia,
- Cyprus,
- Czech Republic,
- Denmark,
- Estonia,
- Faroe Islands,
- Finland,
- France,
- Georgia,
- Germany,
- Greece,
- Greenland,
- Hungary,
- Iceland,
- Italy,
- Kazakhstan,
- Kyrgyzstan,
- Latvia,
- Lithuania,
- Luxembourg,
- Malta,
- Moldova,
- Montenegro,
- Netherlands,
- Norway,
- Poland,
- Portugal,
- Romania,
- Russia,
- Serbia,
- Slovakia,
- Slovenia,
- Spain,
- Sweden,
- Switzerland,
- Tajikistan,
- Tatarstan,
- Turkey,
- Turkmenistan,
- Ukraine,
- United Kingdom,
- Uzbekistan
