Ireland Country & Tourist Information

Location
Europe, off the west coast of Great Britain.

Area
70,182 sq km (27,097 sq miles).

Population
4 million (UN, 2004).

Population Density
56.9 per sq km.

Capital
Dublin.
Population: 1 million.

Government
Republic.

Language
Irish (Gaelic) is the official language, spoken as a first language by about 55,000 people (mostly in the west). The majority speak English. Official documents are printed in both languages.

Religion
Roman Catholic 91.6%, the remainder being Protestant, with Jewish and Islamic minorities.

Time
GMT (GMT + 1 from last Sunday in March to last Sunday in October).

Electricity
220 volts AC, 50Hz. Three-pin plugs are in use.

Head of Government
Prime Minister Bertie Ahern since 1997.

Head of State
President Mary McAleese since 1997.

Telephone
Country code: 353 followed by the area code, omitting the initial zero.

Mobile Telephone
Roaming agreements exist with a wide range of international mobile phone carriers. Coverage is good.

Internet
Internet is readily available; Internet cafes exist in nearly every town.

Media
The national public broadcaster Radio Telefis Eireann (RTE) dominates the radio and TV sector. It provides a comprehensive service in both English and Irish. The Irish print and broadcast media operate freely within the confines of the law. Broadcasting is regulated by a commission appointed by the Department of Communications. The Competition Authority safeguards against unfair competition in the press sector. Cross-media ownership is permitted within certain limits - press groups may own up to 25% of local radio and TV stations.


Post
The Central Post Office is in O’Connell Street, Dublin.

Post office hours: Mon-Fri 0900-1730/1800, Sat 0900-1300. Sub-post offices close at 1300 one day a week.

Press
• There are several daily newspapers published in Dublin including Evening Herald, the Irish Independent (website: www.unison.ie/irish_independent) and The Irish Times (website: www.ireland.com).
• Two in Cork: Evening Echo and Irish Examiner (website: www.irishexaminer.com).
• British dailies and Sunday papers are available.

Radio
• Radio RTE is a public broadcaster and operates four networks, including the flagship station Radio 1, a pop music station.
• Raidio na Gaeltachta operates an Irish-language station.
• Lyric FM is a classical and cultural station.
• Today FM is the national commercial network.

Below are listed Public Holidays for the January 2007-December 2008 period.

2007
1 Jan  New Year’s Day.
17 Mar St Patrick’s Day.
6 Apr Good Friday.
9 Apr Easter Monday.
7 May Bank Holiday. 
4 Jun Bank Holiday.
6 Aug Bank Holiday.
29 Aug Bank Holiday.
25 Dec Christmas Day.
26 Dec St Stephen’s Day.

2008
1 Jan  New Year’s Day.
17 Mar St Patrick’s Day. 
21 Mar Good Friday. 
24 Mar Easter Monday. 
5 May Bank Holiday. 
2 Jun Bank Holiday. 
4 Aug Bank Holiday.
27 Aug Bank Holiday.
25 Dec Christmas Day.
26 Dec St Stephen’s Day.

Contact Information:

Embassy of the Republic of Ireland in the UK
17 Grosvenor Place, London SW1X 7HR, UK
Tel: (020) 7235 2171.
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 0930-1300, 1415-1700.
Passport and visa office: Montpelier House, 106 Brompton Road, London SW3 1JJ, UK
Tel: 0906 661 0197. 
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 1000-1200 (visa section); 0930-1630 (passport section).

Tourism Ireland in the UK
Nations House, 103 Wigmore Street, London W1U 1QS, UK
Tel: (0800) 039 7000 (travel enquiries) or (020) 7518 0800 (trade enquiries).
Website: www.tourismireland.com

Embassy of Ireland in the USA
2234 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20008, USA
Tel: (202) 462 3939.
Website: www.irelandemb.org

Tourism Ireland in the USA
345 Park Avenue, 17th Floor, New York, NY 10154, USA
Tel: (212) 418 0800 (general enquiries) or 1 800 223 6470 (brochure request line) or 669 9967 ( for travel trade in USA and Canada).
Website: www.tourismireland.com


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