History UsefulNotes / Ireland

'''Ireland''' ('''Irish:''' Éire), also known by its official descriptor the '''Republic of Ireland''' ('''Irish:''' ''Poblacht na hÉireann''), is a medium-sized, windy, [[RainRainGoAway rain-swept]] island on the northwestern fringe of Europe, which looks a bit like a teddy bear or koala (imagine it in the profile, looking away from Britain). It is also the name of the Northern European country that covers four-fifths of that island, the rest being covered by UsefulNotes/NorthernIreland (part of the UsefulNotes/UnitedKingdom). For Hollywood clichés about Ireland, see {{Scotireland}} and {{Oireland}}. For more about Northern Ireland, see UsefulNotes/NorthernIreland and UsefulNotes/TheTroubles.

The '''Republic of Ireland''' ('''Irish:''' ''Poblacht na hÉireann'') is a medium-sized, windy, [[RainRainGoAway rain-swept]] island on the northwestern fringe of Europe, which looks a bit like a teddy bear or koala (imagine it in the profile, looking away from Britain). It is also the name of the Northern European country that covers four-fifths of that island, the rest being covered by UsefulNotes/NorthernIreland (part of the UsefulNotes/UnitedKingdom). For Hollywood clichés about Ireland, see {{Scotireland}} and {{Oireland}}. For more about Northern Ireland, see UsefulNotes/NorthernIreland and UsefulNotes/TheTroubles.

The '''Republic of Ireland''' ('''Irish:''' ''Poblacht na hÉireann'') is a medium-sized, windy, [[RainRainGoAway rain-swept]] island on the northwestern fringe of Europe, which looks a bit like a teddy bear or koala (imagine it in the profile, looking away from Britain). It is also the name of the Western European country that covers four-fifths of that island, the rest being covered by UsefulNotes/NorthernIreland (part of the UsefulNotes/UnitedKingdom). For Hollywood clichés about Ireland, see {{Scotireland}} and {{Oireland}}. For more about Northern Ireland, see UsefulNotes/NorthernIreland and UsefulNotes/TheTroubles.

The '''Republic of Ireland''' ('''Irish:''' ''Poblacht na hÉireann'') is a medium-sized, windy, [[RainRainGoAway rain-swept]] island on the northwestern fringe of Europe, which looks a bit like a teddy bear or koala (imagine it in the profile, looking away from Britain). It is also the name of the Northern European country that covers four-fifths of that island, the rest being covered by UsefulNotes/NorthernIreland (part of the UsefulNotes/UnitedKingdom). For Hollywood clichés about Ireland, see {{Scotireland}} and {{Oireland}}. For more about Northern Ireland, see UsefulNotes/NorthernIreland and UsefulNotes/TheTroubles.

'''Ireland''' ('''Irish:''' ''Éire'') is a medium-sized, windy, [[RainRainGoAway rain-swept]] island on the northwestern fringe of Europe, which looks a bit like a teddy bear or koala (imagine it in the profile, looking away from Britain). It is also the name of the Northern European country that covers four-fifths of that island, the rest being covered by UsefulNotes/NorthernIreland (part of the UsefulNotes/UnitedKingdom). For Hollywood clichés about Ireland, see {{Scotireland}} and {{Oireland}}. For more about Northern Ireland, see UsefulNotes/NorthernIreland and UsefulNotes/TheTroubles.

'''Ireland''' ('''Irish:''' ''Éire'') is a medium-sized, windy, [[RainRainGoAway rain-swept]] island on the northwestern fringe of Europe, which looks a bit like a teddy bear or koala (imagine it in the profile, looking away from Britain). It is also the name of the Western European country that covers four-fifths of that island, the rest being covered by UsefulNotes/NorthernIreland (part of the UsefulNotes/UnitedKingdom). For Hollywood clichés about Ireland, see {{Scotireland}} and {{Oireland}}. For more about Northern Ireland, see UsefulNotes/NorthernIreland and UsefulNotes/TheTroubles.

->''"In Ireland the inevitable never happens and the unexpected constantly occurs"''.

'''Ireland''' ('''Irish:''' ''Éire'') is a medium-sized, windy, [[RainRainGoAway rain-swept]] island on the northwestern fringe of Europe, which looks a bit like a teddy bear or koala (imagine it in the profile, looking away from Britain). It is also the name of the Northern European country that covers four-fifths of that island, the rest being covered by UsefulNotes/NorthernIreland (part of the UsefulNotes/UnitedKingdom). For Hollywood clichés about Ireland, see {{Scotireland}} and {{Oireland}}. For more about Northern Ireland, see UsefulNotes/NorthernIreland and UsefulNotes/TheTroubles.

'''Ireland''' ('''Irish:''' ''Éire'') is a medium-sized, windy, [[RainRainGoAway rain-swept]] island on the northwestern fringe of Europe, which looks a bit like a teddy bear or koala (imagine it in the profile, looking away from Britain). It is also the name of the Western European country that covers four-fifths of that island, the rest being covered by UsefulNotes/NorthernIreland (part of the UsefulNotes/UnitedKingdom). For Hollywood clichés about Ireland, see {{Scotireland}} and {{Oireland}}. For more about Northern Ireland, see UsefulNotes/NorthernIreland and UsefulNotes/TheTroubles.

* Creator/TV3
* Creator/UTVIreland

The Republic of Ireland is the second most Catholic country in Europe after UsefulNotes/{{Poland}} (not counting [[UsefulNotes/VaticanCity the Vatican]], obviously), though the influence of the Church has waned in recent years, especially in the wake of a [[PedophilePriest sex abuse scandal]] and coverup, it is still enough that Ireland got a special agreement in the Lisbon Treaty that its [[GoodGirlsAvoidAbortion ban on abortion]] would not be touched, though the constitutional amendment that covered this was repealed by a landslide in 2018. When the Taoiseach ("Tea shock" -- Prime Minister [[note]]Kinda. Irish pronunciation is extremely hard for non-native speakers to get right because Irish vowel sounds don't resemble English ones. "Tea shock" is an approximation only.[[/note]]) Enda Kenny very publicly chewed out the Church over the sex abuse scandal, it was seen as rather earth-shattering. He served as Taoiseach from 2011 until 2017.

The current Irish "Taoiseach" (think 'Prime Minister', but don't actually say it) as of 2020 is Micheál Martin, a career politician, member of Fianna Fáil (''fin-uh fall''), and his Tánaiste (''tawn-ish-tuh''; Deputy Prime Minister) is Leo Varadkar, former Taoiseach from 2017 until 2020 and member of formerly bitter rival political party Fine Gael but currently coalition partners.

The Republic of Ireland is the second most Catholic country in Europe after UsefulNotes/{{Poland}} (not counting [[UsefulNotes/VaticanCity the Vatican]], obviously), though the influence of the Church has waned in recent years, especially in the wake of a [[PedophilePriest sex abuse scandal]] and coverup, it is still enough that Ireland got a special agreement in the Lisbon Treaty that its [[GoodGirlsAvoidAbortion ban on abortion]] would not be touched, though the constitutional amendment that covered this was repealed by a landslide in 2018. When the Taoiseach ("Tea shock" -- Prime Minister) Enda Kenny very publicly chewed out the Church over the sex abuse scandal, it was seen as rather earth-shattering. He served as Taoiseach from 2011 until 2017.

The Republic of Ireland is the second most Catholic country in Europe after UsefulNotes/{{Poland}} (not counting [[UsefulNotes/VaticanCity the Vatican]], obviously), though the influence of the Church has waned in recent years, especially in the wake of a [[PedophilePriest sex abuse scandal]] and coverup, it is still enough that Ireland got a special agreement in the Lisbon Treaty that its [[GoodGirlsAvoidAbortion ban on abortion]] would not be touched, though the constitutional amendment that covered this was repealed by a landslide in 2018. When the Taoiseach ("Tea shock" -- Prime Minister) Enda Kenny very publicly chewed out the Church over the sex abuse scandal, it was seen as rather earth-shattering.

The current Irish president is Michael D. Higgins.[[note]]Why is the president not called "Uachtarán", similar to how the Taoiseach is referred to by his Irish title regardless of what language you're using? Nobody knows, it just turned out that way.[[/note]]

The current Irish "Taoiseach" (think 'Prime Minister', but don't actually say it) as of 2020 is Micheál Martin, a career politician, member of Fianna Fáil (''fin-uh fall''), and his Tánaiste (''tawn-ish-tuh''; Deputy Prime Minister) is Leo Varadkar, former Taoiseach and member of formerly bitter rival political party Fine Gael but currently coalition partners.

Prior to him, it was '''Bertie Ahern'''. He stood down on 6 May 2008 for reasons involving alleged corruption (let's just say he was very good at guessing who won at the races, but the [[Series/FatherTed money was just resting in his account]]). His daughter, Cecilia, wrote the original novel for ''[[Literature/PSILoveYou PS I Love You]]'', which has been made into a feature film. She's also the co-creator of ''Series/SamanthaWho''.

The Republic of Ireland is the second most Catholic country in Europe after UsefulNotes/{{Poland}} (not counting [[UsefulNotes/VaticanCity the Vatican]], obviously), though the influence of the Church has waned in recent years, especially in the wake of a [[PedophilePriest sex abuse scandal]] and coverup, it is still enough that Ireland got a special agreement in the Lisbon Treaty that its [[GoodGirlsAvoidAbortion ban on abortion]] would not be touched, though the constitutional amendment that covered this was repealed by a landslide in 2018. When the Taoiseach ("Tea shook" -- Prime Minister) Enda Kenny very publicly chewed out the Church over the sex abuse scandal, it was seen as rather earth-shattering.

[[quoteright:252:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/nude_brian_cowen_underpants.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:252:Brian Cowen. This picture (along with a counterpart of him on the toilet) was hung in Royal Hibernian Academy (RHA) gallery and the National Gallery of Ireland.]]

'''Ireland''' ('''Irish:''' ''Éire'') is a medium-sized, windy, [[RainRainGoAway rain-swept]] island on the northwestern fringe of Europe, which looks a bit like a teddy bear or koala (imagine it in the profile, looking away from Britain). It is also the name of the Northern European country that covers four-fifths of that island, the rest being covered by UsefulNotes/NorthernIreland (part of the UsefulNotes/UnitedKingdom). For Hollywood clichés about Ireland, see {{Scotireland}} and {{Oireland}}. For more about Northern Ireland, see UsefulNotes/NorthernIreland and UsefulNotes/TheTroubles.

'''Ireland''' ('''Irish:''' ''Éire'') is a medium-sized, windy, [[RainRainGoAway rain-swept]] island on the northwestern fringe of Europe, which looks a bit like a teddy bear or koala (imagine it in the profile, looking away from Britain). It is also the name of the Western European country that covers four-fifths of that island, the rest being covered by UsefulNotes/NorthernIreland (part of the UsefulNotes/UnitedKingdom). For Hollywood clichés about Ireland, see {{Scotireland}} and {{Oireland}}. For more about Northern Ireland, see UsefulNotes/NorthernIreland and UsefulNotes/TheTroubles.

'''Ireland''' ('''Irish:''' ''Éire'') is a medium-sized, windy, [[RainRainGoAway rain-swept]] island on the northwestern fringe of Europe, which looks a bit like a teddy bear or koala (imagine it in the profile, looking away from Britain). It is also the name of the Northern European country that covers four-fifths of that island, the rest being covered by UsefulNotes/NorthernIreland (part of the UsefulNotes/UnitedKingdom). For Hollywood clichés about Ireland, see {{Scotireland}} and {{Oireland}}. For more about Northern Ireland, see UsefulNotes/NorthernIreland and UsefulNotes/TheTroubles.

[[caption-width-right:350:''"Céad mí­le fáilte"'']]

* '''Lowest point:''' North Slob (−3 m/−10 ft) (34th)

'''Fiction set in Ireland''' (unless it involves UsefulNotes/TheTroubles) will either take place in Dublin or in a tiny village in some undefined part of the countryside. Virtually nothing takes place in other cities or towns. Creator/BernardManning once identified a category of fiction called "Oirish", which involved several basic elements -- old vs new, modernity vs supersition, [[EvilBrit evil British people]], history, and adulterous affairs, all set in tiny villages in County Mayo. ''Magazine/PrivateEye'' characterized a stock Irish fictional sentence as: "Wee Bridie was walking to Holy Communion in her shiny new shoes the day the Guards came for Mulgarvey." Exceptions are few enough to list:

* Actors Creator/ColmMeaney, Creator/PierceBrosnan, Creator/AidanGillen, Creator/RichardHarris, Gabriel Byrne, Creator/CillianMurphy, [[Series/TheTudors Jonathan Rhys Meyers]], Creator/LiamNeeson, Stuart Townsend, Colin Farrell, Creator/DanielDayLewis, Creator/BrendanGleeson (and his sons Creator/{{Domhnall|Gleeson}} and Brian), Ciarán Hinds, [[Series/Merlin2008 Colin Morgan]], [[Creator/RobertSheehan Robert Sheehan]] and [[Series/FatherTed Ardal O'Hanlon]].

* Bands/singers including Music/{{U2}}, Music/ThinLizzy, Music/MyBloodyValentine, The Boomtown Rats, Music/TheCranberries, Music/VanMorrison, Rory Gallagher, Sinead O'Connor, The Chieftains, Enya, Boyzone, The Script, Music/SnowPatrol, Music/DamienRice, Music/LisaHannigan, Music/TheFrames, Music/GlenHansard, Music/MarketaIrglova, Music/{{Westlife}} [[MyFriendsAndZoidberg and Jedward]].

'''Ireland''' ('''Irish:''' ''Éire'') is a medium-sized, windy, [[RainRainGoAway rain-swept]] island on the northwestern fringe of Europe, which looks a bit like a teddy bear or koala (imagine it in the profile, looking away from Britain). It is also the name of the Western European country that covers four-fifths of that island, the rest being covered by UsefulNotes/NorthernIreland (part of the UsefulNotes/UnitedKingdom). For Hollywood clichés about Ireland, see {{Scotireland}} and {{Oireland}}. For more about Northern Ireland, see UsefulNotes/NorthernIreland and UsefulNotes/TheTroubles.

'''Ireland''' ('''Irish:''' ''Éire'') is a medium-sized, windy, [[RainRainGoAway rain-swept]] island on the northwestern fringe of Europe, which looks a bit like a teddy bear or koala (imagine it in the profile, looking away from Britain). It is also the name of the Northern European country that covers four-fifths of that island, the rest being covered by UsefulNotes/NorthernIreland (part of the UsefulNotes/UnitedKingdom). For Hollywood clichés about Ireland, see {{Scotireland}} and {{Oireland}}. For more about Northern Ireland, see UsefulNotes/NorthernIreland and UsefulNotes/TheTroubles.

It was also up until recently one of the poorest countries in Europe, but this has been completely reversed over the past decade and now the country is one of the richest states in the world. Irish economic success lead to the country being dubbed UsefulNotes/TheCelticTiger (like the Tiger economies of the Baltics, UsefulNotes/{{Slovakia}} and Asia) and is mostly derived from a lot of financial investment through Ireland's EU membership (and its low corporate tax). Ireland's reliance on foreign investment and large debts came back to haunt it during the international economic crisis, with Ireland being the first country in Europe to officially declare itself in recession, as well as being one of the [[FunWithAcronyms PIGS economies]] (along with UsefulNotes/{{Portugal}}, UsefulNotes/{{Greece}} and UsefulNotes/{{Spain}}).

It was also up until recently one of the poorest countries in Europe, but this has been completely reversed over the past decade and now the country is one of the richest states in the world. Irish economic success lead to the country being dubbed UsefulNotes/TheCelticTiger (like the Tiger economies of the Baltics, UsefulNotes/{{Slovakia}}, UsefulNotes/{{Turkey}} and Asia) and is mostly derived from a lot of financial investment through Ireland's EU membership (and its low corporate tax). Ireland's reliance on foreign investment and large debts came back to haunt it during the international economic crisis, with Ireland being the first country in Europe to officially declare itself in recession, as well as being one of the [[FunWithAcronyms PIGS economies]] (along with UsefulNotes/{{Portugal}}, UsefulNotes/{{Greece}} and UsefulNotes/{{Spain}}).

It was also up until recently one of the poorest countries in Europe, but this has been completely reversed over the past decade and now the country is one of the richest states in the world. Irish economic success lead to the country being dubbed UsefulNotes/TheCelticTiger (like the Tiger economies of the [[UsefulNotes/{{Estonia}} Ba]][[UsefulNotes/{{Lithuania}} lt]][[UsefulNotes/{{Latvia}} ics]], UsefulNotes/{{Slovakia}} and Asia) and is mostly derived from a lot of financial investment through Ireland's EU membership (and its low corporate tax). Ireland's reliance on foreign investment and large debts came back to haunt it during the international economic crisis, with Ireland being the first country in Europe to officially declare itself in recession, as well as being one of the [[FunWithAcronyms PIGS economies]] (along with UsefulNotes/{{Portugal}}, UsefulNotes/{{Greece}} and UsefulNotes/{{Spain}}).