Location: Ireland is an island in the northern hemisphere, situated between 51 1/2o and 55 1/2 o north latitude and 5 1/2o and 10 1/2o west longitude. It is part of the Continent of Europe, lying to the west of European mainland. The island lies on the Continental Shelf, being separated on the east from Britain by the Irish Sea, which varies between 95 and 200 km across. To the northeast a narrower channel separates Ireland from Scotland, being less than 32 km wide in places. To the west of the country is the Atlantic Ocean.

Climate: Ireland lies in an area of mild southwesterly winds and comes under the influence of the warm drifting waters from the Gulf Stream. This has assured it an equable climate and as the island is comparatively small, temperature is almost uniform over the country.

Language: English is the common language in Ireland although by the Constitution, Irish is the first official language. Irish is a Celtic language, related to Scottish Gaelic, Welsh, Breton and Ancient Gaulish. Irish was spoken countrywide until the middle of the last century and is today spoken in the Gaeltachtai - Irish-speaking areas. Irish is taught in schools and is an official language of the EC.

Total area of Ireland: 84,421 sq. km. Republic - 70,282 sq. km., Northern Ireland - 14,139 sq. km.

Greatest Width: East/west 275 km.

Greatest Length: North/south 486km.

Legal System: Sources of Irish law are the common law, legislation and judicial precedents. Our system follows closely the common law system of England and the United States. All judges in Ireland are appointed by the President of Ireland on the recommendation of the Government, and are independent in the exercise of their functions, subject only to the Constitution and the law. The judicial system consists of a hierarchy of four courts with varying areas of jurisdiction. These are the Supreme Court, the High Court, the Circuit Court and the District Court.

Administrative Sub-Divisions: There are four provinces in Ireland - Ulster, Munster, Leinster and Cnnacht. These provinces are purely historical and have no administrative significance. The counties into which each province is divided form the ordinary unit of local administration. There are 32 counties, grouped together as follows:

Ulster (nine counties): Antrim, Amagh, Cavan, Derry, Donegal, Down, Fermanagh, Monaghan and Tyrone.

Munster (six counties): Clare, Cork, Kerry, Limerick, Tipperary and Waterford

Leinster (twelve counties): Carlow, Dublin, Kildare, Kilkenny, Laois, Longford, Louth, Meath, Offaly, Westmeath, Wexford and Wicklow.

Connacht (five counties): Silgo, Mayo, Galway, Roscommon and Leitrim.

Northern Ireland: Six of the nine countries of the Province of Ulster (Antrim, Armagh, Derry, Down, Fermanagh and Tyrone) from Northern Ireland. This area is part of the United Kingdom and is administered by Britain.