Updated: March 2009
Ireland
Overview | World Vision's history in Ireland | World Vision in Ireland today
OverviewLocated in the North Atlantic Ocean, to the west of England, Ireland includes the southern five-sixths of the island of Ireland. The remaining section, known as Northern Ireland, belongs to the United Kingdom and separates the northeastern corner of the island from the North Channel and the country of Scotland. The Atlantic Ocean lies to the west of Ireland, and the Celtic Sea borders the south. The capitol city of Dublin, which is home to just under half of the population, is located on the eastern coastline, where the Irish Sea separates the island from England. Experiencing cool, mild weather and frequent clouds, this country consists of mostly pastures and plains with sea cliffs and hills along the coast. Natural resources include peat, natural gas, copper, lead, zinc, silver, gypsum, and limestone.Ethnic Irish, most of whom are descendants of Celtic tribes, account for more than 80 percent of Ireland’s population. An English minority also resides in the country, along with small groups of Asians and blacks. English and Irish—a form of Gaelic—are both official languages. English is the most widely spoken, though many school curricula continue to include Irish. |  |
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| Transitioning from a Stone Age to Bronze Age culture in about 2000 B.C., present-day Ireland was eventually invaded by the Celts or Gaels, who divided the land into five kingdoms and ushered in the Iron Age. In A.D. 432, with the arrival of St. Patrick and Christianity, the culture of Ireland changed as monasteries flourished, increasing the study of Latin and theology. In the 12th century, following years of Viking invasion and settlement, the Normans conquered the island and settled into Irish society. Five centuries later, Scottish and English Protestants arrived, settling in the north. In 1801, Ireland officially became part of the United Kingdom. This union triggered conflict between Catholics and Protestants, spurred rebellions, and eventually ended with the Anglo-Irish war (1919-1921). At the end of the war, 26 of Ireland’s southern counties were granted independence, while six northern (prominently Protestant) counties remained part of the United Kingdom as Northern Ireland. Today, tensions remain between north and south as some groups—Nationalists and Republicans—seek unification, and others—Unionists and Loyalists—do not wish to see change. Conflict characterized Ireland for decades as groups such as the Irish Republican Army (IRA) clashed with Loyalists. In 1994 the IRA agreed to a ceasefire, paving the way for peace and the Good Friday Agreement, which was signed in 1998. This agreement laid the framework for normalization and established the Northern Ireland Assembly, a power-sharing legislative assembly that governs Northern Ireland. However, peace was still fragile, and in 2002, the Assembly was disbanded for the fourth time due to disintegrating trust. Progress came in 2005 when the IRA announced a transition to a more democratic means of accomplishing its purposes. Recent years have witnessed continual moves toward peace, including the reestablishment of the Northern Ireland Assembly in 2007. The economy of Ireland suffered in the mid-1800s, with the failure of the potato crop and the emigration of millions to the United States. The political strife and civil war of the following years left this country with large public debt, high unemployment, slow growth, and high inflation. However, over the past few decades, Ireland’s economy has strengthened, achieving the second highest gross domestic product in the European Union. Once highly dependent on agriculture, Ireland is now known as the “Celtic Tiger” for its technologically advanced industries and rapid growth. The country’s reliance on trade is assisted by its strategic location on both air and sea routes between North America and Europe. In Ireland, education is required up to age 16. More than 50 percent of the population enrolls in higher education, and the average resident receives 17.6 years of schooling. Back to top World Vision's history in IrelandA World Vision office was established in Ireland in 1983. It was the vision of this office to partner with the poor in other countries by facilitating community development, raising support resources, providing emergency relief, seeking justice, and helping others understand and respond to global issues.Back to top World Vision in Ireland todayToday, the people of Ireland sponsor more than 8,000 children, primarily in Africa. Their support also helps fund World Vision’s community development programs, which provide health care, housing, and agricultural assistance to children and families in need. Helping communities achieve the long-term goals of economic stability, environmental improvement, and education are among the primary goals of Irish donors.For more information on World Vision’s work in Ireland, please contact the United States office. Back to top | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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