32 Astonishing Facts About Ireland

Ireland, often called the Emerald Isle for its lush, green landscapes, is a country rich in history and culture. Located in the North Atlantic, it is known for its breathtaking scenery, from rugged coastlines and rolling hills to serene lakes and vibrant forests. The island is divided into the Republic of Ireland, an independent nation, and Northern Ireland, which is part of the United Kingdom. Ireland’s cultural heritage is deeply rooted in ancient traditions, folklore, and music, with its lively pubs and traditional Irish dances reflecting a warm and welcoming spirit. The country’s storied past includes a legacy of both struggle and triumph, with its unique blend of Celtic and Christian influences shaping its identity. Today, Ireland is celebrated not only for its historical significance but also for its contributions to literature, art, and modern innovation, making it a fascinating and dynamic place to explore.

1. All the polar bears are Irish as they’re the descendants of the brown bear who use to live in Ireland about 10000 years ago.
2. Over 40 percent of Irish people are living abroad. In the Boston city of the united states, about 20.4 % of the city population is native to Ireland.
3. Ireland is one of the few countries to have no snakes.
4. Some very important inventions took place in Ireland. Some of them are the color photograph (1894), the guided torpedo(1877), the hypodermic syringe(1844), the binaural stethoscope(1851), the induction coil(1836), the ejector seat of a fighter jet(1946), and submarine(1878).
5. From the year 1922 to 1937, its legal name was ‘the Irish Free State, and now its official name is the Republic of Ireland. However, these days, Ireland is also called as Emerald Isle due to its richness in greenery and rich vegetation.

   

6. Ireland is the 20th biggest island in the world and has the Atlantic Ocean to its west, and the Irish Sea separating it from England to the east, the Celtic Sea to the south, and in the middle of the Irish Sea lies the Isle of Man.
7. The traditional Halloween festival originated from the ancient Celtic(Irish) festival of Samhain.
8. Ireland has the 2nd largest tea per capita consumption in the world, just after the united kingdom.
9. Ireland’s wide Atlantic way road is the longest coastal drive route in the world, stretching over 2500 km.
10. Ireland has the 6th spot on the planet to have the most per capita consumption of beer. An average person drank 95.8 liters of beer in a year, and the total consumption of beer in the country in the year 2018 was 460 million liters.

    

11. Between 1 January 2014 and 31 December 2018, abortion of a child was illegal unless it occurred as the result of a medical intervention performed to save the life of the mother.
12. The country is one of the oldest human-inhabited countries in the world. Evidence shows that the first stone age people arrived here about 9000 years ago(7000 BC).
13. English was first introduced in Ireland in the 12th century during the Norman invasion.
14. The religious breakdown of the country is: Roman Catholic 78.3%, Church of Ireland 2.7%, other Christian 1.6%, Orthodox 1.3%, Muslims 1.3%, Other 2.4%, none 9.8%, Unspecified 2.6%.
15. Newgrange is the oldest building in the country and is located 8km west of Drogheda. It is an exceptionally grand passage tomb built around 3200 BC(Neolithic period), making it older than the Egyptian pyramids and Stonehenge.

    

16. In 2023, there were about 806,300 individuals 65 years of age or older; in contrast, there were 1.34 million individuals 45 to 64 years old, over 1.46 million individuals 25 to 44 years old, and 667,200 individuals 15 to 24 years old.
17. Carrauntoohil is the highest mountain on the island of Ireland at 1,038.6 meters (3407 feet).
18. Gaelic football is the national sport of the country.
19. The Titanic ship was built at Harland and Wolff shipyards in Belfast of Ireland, between 1909 and 1912.
20. The national tree of the Republic of Ireland is the sessile oak (Quercus petraea). Whereas the three-leaf clover is the unofficial national flower of the country for centuries.

    

21. Hooklight house is the oldest still operational lighthouse in the world. The lighthouse was built in the 12th century (1210-1230).
22. There are more than 70,000 km of waterways in the country and over 3,192 river water bodies, including rivers, tributaries, and streams.
23. 10.5% or 731,650 hectare of the total land of Ireland is forest area.
24. There are 74 places, including lakes, towns, and islands, that have a long name of more than 20 characters. Out of which, Bullaunancheathrairaluinn is the biggest name of a town in Ireland with 24 characters.
25. It’s estimated that there are about 30000 castles in Ireland.

    

26. Irish Hare is the national animal of the country, while northern lapwing is the national bird. The country is the 17th most complex economy in the world.
27. Ireland’s top exports include blood, antisera, toxins, and cultures ($47.3B), packaged medications ($34.8B), nitrogen heterocyclic compounds ($24.4B), integrated circuits ($15.4B), sented mixes ($10.4B), and vaccines. The United States ($70.7B), Germany ($28.6B), the United Kingdom ($19B), Belgium ($17B), and China ($16.7B) are the top destinations for Irish exports.
28. Top imports into Ireland include aircraft, helicopters, and/or spacecraft ($8.23B), nitrogen heterocyclic compounds ($8.17B), refined petroleum ($5.6B), petroleum gas ($5.04B), and vaccines, blood, antisera, toxins, and cultures ($5.04B). The United Kingdom ($32.6B), the United States ($20.5B), Germany ($11.1B), China ($8.11B), and the Netherlands ($7.03B) are the top importers into Ireland.
29. Ireland had two women presidents who ruled Ireland for over 20 years which is the highest than any other country. The first president was Mary Robinson, who served as president from 3 December 1990 to 12 September 1997. The second was Marry McAleese and served from 11 November 1997 to 10 November 2011.
30. The oldest pub on the planet earth is in Ireland and is believed to be 816 years old and dates back from 1198 AD. The name of the pub is the Brazen Head and is located in Dublin.

    

31. Ireland is the 11th nation to have the most Nobel laureates per capita in the world.
32. Ireland has the 8th spot in terms of ice cream consumption per capita. An average person consumes 8.4 liters of ice cream per year.