Ireland, Republic of

B

Political Divisions

For administrative purposes, the Republic of Ireland is divided into 26 counties, which are described in separate articles, and 5 city councils, which are coextensive with the cities of Cork, Dublin, Galway, Limerick, and Waterford. The counties are: Carlow, Dublin, Kildare, Kilkenny, Laois (Laoighis), Longford, Louth, Meath, Offaly, Westmeath, Wexford, and Wicklow, in Leinster province; Clare, Cork, Kerry, Limerick, Tipperary, and Waterford, in Munster province; Galway, Leitrim, Mayo, Roscommon, and Sligo, in Connaught (Connacht) province; and Cavan, Donegal, and Monaghan, in Ulster province.

C

Principal Cities

The port of Dublin is Ireland’s largest city as well as its capital, with a population of 495,781 (2002). Cork is the second-largest city, with a population of 123,062 (2002). Other major cities and towns have populations of less than 100,000, and they are important primarily as trading centres. They include, with their population figures, Limerick, 54,023 (2002), the commercial centre for western Ireland, Galway, 65,832 (2002), Waterford, 44,594 (2002), Sligo, 18,473 (2002), Tralee, 20,375 (2002), Clonmel, 15,739 (2002), and Wexford, 9,449 (2002).

D

Religion

About 92 per cent of the people of Ireland are Roman Catholics and about 3 per cent are Protestants. Protestant groups include the Church of Ireland (Anglican) and the Presbyterian and Methodist denominations. There are small Jewish communities in Dublin and Cork. Freedom of worship is guaranteed by the constitution.

Roman Catholicism has played a central role in the development of Irish culture and society. During the period of British rule it became associated with the struggle for independence, partly because of laws that prevented Roman Catholics standing for public office until the early 19th century. Socially it is reflected in the fact that divorce was prohibited in Ireland until 1996 and until the 1980s contraception was relatively difficult to obtain. Abortion continues to be illegal. However, legislation was introduced in March 1995 allowing the dissemination of information on abortion facilities overseas; an estimated 4,000 women a year travel overseas, mainly to Britain, for abortions. In November of the same year a referendum narrowly approved the introduction of a limited access to divorce, which became effective in 1996.

E

Language

Since 1937 Irish Gaelic and English have been the two official languages of Ireland. English is the most widespread, spoken by the entire population. Around 13 per cent of the population are native Irish speakers, mostly in rural areas in the west. Areas where Irish is the first language are known as Gaeltacht. There has been a concerted effort, supported by the government, since independence to re-establish Irish and schools teach Irish as well as English. Around 6,000 speak Shelta as a first language, a “cryptolect” (or secret language) of travellers that is based on Irish. Scots is spoken among family and friends by a minority in Donegal county. See also Celtic Languages: Irish.

F

Education

Irish influence on Western education began 14 centuries ago. From the 6th to the 8th century ad, when western Europe was largely illiterate, nearly 1,000 Irish missionaries travelled to England and continental Europe to teach Christianity. During the early Middle Ages, Irish missionaries founded monasteries that achieved extensive cultural influence; the monastery at St Gallen (Sankt Gallen), Switzerland, is especially famous for its contributions to education and literature.

Classical studies flowered in ancient Ireland. Distinctive also at the time were the bardic schools of writers and other learned men who travelled from town to town, teaching their arts to students. The bardic schools, an important part of Irish education, were suppressed in the 16th century by Henry VIII of England during his conquest of the country.

University education in Ireland began with the founding of the University of Dublin, or Trinity College, in 1592. The National University of Ireland, established in 1908, has four constituent university colleges, in Cork, Dublin, Galway, and Maynooth; in addition there are recognized colleges: the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, the National College of Art and Design, Institute of Public Administration, Shannon College of Hotel Management, and Milltown Institute of Theology and Philosophy. Additionally there is Dublin City University and the University of Limerick.

The Irish language has been taught in all government-subsidized schools since 1922, but fewer than 10,000 pupils speak it as their first language.

Ireland has a free state-school system, and the education system is of a high standard, with an adult literacy rate of 98 per cent. Attendance is compulsory for all children between 6 and 15 years of age. Most schools are controlled by denominational groups, mainly the Roman Catholic Church and the Church of Ireland, but are financed largely by the state. In 1998–1999 some 456,564 pupils were enrolled in 3,391 primary schools. Secondary education is divided between secondary schools, offering general courses, and vocational schools offering technical and general training. A number of community schools combining both elements have been established. In 2006 there were 743 secondary (predominantly denominational), vocational, and community schools. About 176,296 students were enrolled in 2001–2002 at universities, colleges, state-subsidized training colleges, technical colleges, and other tertiary-level institutions. A network of winter classes provides agricultural education for rural inhabitants. In 2002–2003, 5.3 per cent of gross national product (GNP) was spent on education.