2 Ireland 10 The Republic of Ireland Ireland is a large island in the north-west of Europe. About 85% of the island is occupied by the Republic of Ireland (officially named Ireland), an independent state part of the EU, and the remainder by Northern Ireland, which is part of the UK. Land : The territory consists of a central plain surrounded by coastal highlands. The central area is covered by lush green vegetation. The western coastline is rocky and heavily indented , and its wild, tall cliffs offer breathtaking views. The steep and vertical Cliffs of Moher and the peninsulas and inlets of County Kerry are really worth seeing. Economy : Cereal growing, salmon fisheries , and sheep and cattle breeding are the main activities in the central lowlands. Thanks to a favourable tax system, Ireland has become one of the largest foreign locations for large US technology and pharmaceutical multinationals, for example Pfizer, Google, and Microsoft. Tourism is another big contributor to the economy, with millions of visitors every year (7 million in 2024). Population and main cities : The total population is over 5 million. Dublin, the capital city, is a lively city famous for its history and traditions but also for its sparkling nightlife. Other important cities include Cork, an industrial hub and seat of the European headquarters of Apple Inc.; Limerick, a technological centre; and Galway, Ireland9s cultural heart. Ireland9s nickname Ireland9s vast green fields and hills inspired the nickname <the Emerald Isle=. The resplendent greenery is due to the Irish climate: despite its geographical position, winters are mild, summers are cooler than in continental Europe, and rain is abundant. Languages : The two official languages are English and Irish. The Irish language, also called Gaelic, is an ancient language which is taught in schools as a compulsory subject. glossary breeding: allevamento cattle: bovini cliff: scogliera fishery: allevamento ittico indented: frastagliato inlet: baia lush: rigoglioso nickname: soprannome 2 READING WRITING Answer the questions. 1 How is Ireland politically divided? 2 What are the main geographical features of the country? 3 What are the main Irish cities? 4 What is the Irish language and how is it supported? IRELAND - The land of green posted by Z dronu 1 20 WRITING Watch the video and write names and adjectives useful to describe the places you have seen. 3 READING WRITING REAL- LIFE SKILLS Find information about Ireland and prepare a fact file also including form of government, currency, ethnic groups, Internet TLD, and dialling code.