Ireland

The island of Ireland lies to the west of England and Wales and faces them across the Irish Sea. About 80 percent of the total area of the island is occupied by the Republic of Ireland (usually referred to simply as Ireland), which is divided up into 26 counties. Ireland consists of a central lowland area traversed by rivers, such as the Shannon, and with large areas of peat bog, an important source of fuel. The bogs are interspersed by areas of fertile limestone, where mostly dairy farming is carried out. Ireland is famous for its beautiful scenery of mountains, lakes, bays, loughs, and estuaries. Ireland has benefited greatly from membership of the European Union, receiving generous agricultural grants that have aided modernization. It has made great strides with its economy and now specializes in banking, high-tech industries and services, brewing, fishing, and textiles. Despite being hit hard by the global financial crises of 20078, Irelands economy is going from strength to strength. The European Countries Today series provides information on 15 of the most important countries in Europe. Each book in the series describes the history, geography, economy, culture, and relationship each country has with its neighbors. There is also a separate title, European Union Facts & Figures, which provides statistical and factual information about the European Union. Each title in this series includes color photos throughout, and back matter including: an index and further reading lists for books and internet resources. Key Icons appear throughout the books in this series in an effort to encourage library readers to build knowledge, gain awareness, explore possibilities and expand their viewpoints through our content rich non-fiction books. Key Icons in this series are as follows: Words to Understand are shown