IRELAND
Éire
CAPITAL : Dublin (Baile Átha Cliath)
FLAG : The national flag is a tricolor of green, white, and orange vertical stripes.
ANTHEM : Amhrán na bhFiann (The Soldier's Song).
MONETARY UNIT : The euro replaced the Irish punt as the official currency in 2002. The euro is divided into 100 cents. There are coins in denominations of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, and 50 cents and 1 euro and 2 euros. There are notes of 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, and 500 euros. As of May 2003, €1 = $1.0977 (or $1 = €0.911).
WEIGHTS AND MEASURES : Since 1988, Ireland has largely converted from the British system of weights and measures to the metric system.
HOLIDAYS : New Year's Day, 1 January; St. Patrick's Day, 17 March; Bank Holidays, 1st Monday in June, 1st Monday in August, and last Monday in October; Christmas Day, 25 December; St. Stephen's Day, 26 December. Movable religious holidays include Good Friday and Easter Monday.
TIME : GMT.
ETHNIC GROUPS
Within historic times, Ireland has been inhabited by Celts, Norsemen, French Normans, and English. Through the centuries, the racial strains represented by these groups have been so intermingled that no purely ethnic divisions remain.
DEPENDENCIES
Ireland has no territories or colonies.
