The People

Although the Irish are a relatively homogeneous people, they are descended from a variety of settlers and invaders. Among the earliest were the Gaels (Celts), Norsemen, and Normans. In the 16th and 17th centuries, large numbers of English and Scottish settlers arrived. Culturally, Celtic influences have probably been the strongest.

According to the 2002 census, the republic had a population of 3,917,203. The population density was 144 persons per square mile (56 per km 2). Slightly more than half the people live in urban areas. For more than a century, Ireland's population, unlike that of other countries, declined in size. This trend was reversed in the 1960's, but today's population is still little more than half that of 1841. The decline was caused by emigration and by a low birth rate brought on, in part, by a tendency toward late marriages. Early emigrations were to many countries, especially the United States; today's emigrants go mainly to Britain.

Ireland has two official languages, English and Gaelic. English is the language of common use. Gaelic fell into disuse during the long centuries of British rule and is now spoken mainly in rural areas in the west. About 94 per cent of the people are Roman Catholics. Most of the rest are Anglicans, Presbyterians, Methodists, or Jews.

Education is compulsory for children from age 6 to age 15. Most attend national schools, operated by religious denominations but supervised and largely financed by the government. Secondary education is offered by several kinds of schools. Academic programs are offered by privately run schools funded by the government. Vocational training and combination (vocational-academic) programs are offered by publicly run schools. Universities include the University of Dublin (Trinity College) and the National University of Ireland, with colleges in Dublin, Galway, and Cork. There are also a number of technical colleges.

Ireland is noted for its singers, poets, and dramatists. This tradition is reflected in public events such as the Cork International Choral Festival, the Wexford Festival of Music and the Arts, and the Dublin Theatre Festival. The country's major holiday is Saint Patrick's Day.

Team sports unique to the Irish are hurling, played with a small ball and a stick, and Gaelic football. Both are unusually rough games. As an individual sport, golf is almost as common in Ireland as in Scotland. Horses have remained much in use in Ireland, and horse shows, steeplechase meets, and races are popular events. The Irish Derby is the race for which Irish Sweepstakes tickets are sold.