Some Facts about Ireland:
Ireland has a population of approximately 4.3 million of whom nearly 1.5 million live in the greater Dublin area.
Due to the influence of the Gulf Stream the "Emerald Isle" enjoys a mild climate all year round. In Summer temperatures rarely exceed 25°C and in Winter there is seldom snow.
Ireland is an independent Republic and has been a member of the European Union since 1973. The unit of currency is the Euro.

The irish Economy:
Ireland has experienced unprecedented growth in recent times. The average annual rate of increase in GDP over the five year period 1996-2000 exceeded 9.5%. From 2000-2005 the economy grew by about 4,5% which is more than double the EU rate. This phenomenal success has been to a great extent due to massive investment from abroad, particularly from America. Ireland attracts nearly a quarter of all US manufacturing investment in Europe.

Over 1,200 overseas companies have set up in Ireland since the early nineties.Often referred to as the Silicon Valley of Europe, Ireland is the second largest exporter of software in the world after the United States. Most of the top IT companies in the world e.g IBM, Microsoft, Oracle, SAP, Sun Micropsystems, are located in Ireland.

Living and working in Ireland:
If you are planning to live and work in Ireland it is important to know what documents you need beforehand. If you are an EEA national ( the EEA comprises the EU together with Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein) you do not require a work permit to work in Ireland. If your parents or grandparents are or were Irish you are entitled to an Irish passport and therefore the right to live and work in Ireland. If you do not fit into one of these categories, you will need a work permit. You can not apply for a work permit yourself. Your new employer has to apply for you to the department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment in Dublin. In addition to a work permit people from certain countries wil also need a visa to come to Ireland. To check if you need an entry visa you should contact the Department of Justice in Dublin immigrationinfo@justice.irlgov.ie.

But there is more to Ireland than just the economy and work. The Emerald Isle is also a great place to live and enjoy life. The people have a well-deserved reputation for their friendliness, humour and openess to strangers. They also love to talk and it is probably easier to strike up a conversation in Ireland, whither it be in a pub or at a bus stop, than in most other countries. So for anyone interested in improving their English Ireland is a good place to start. And as George Bernard Shaw said "The best English in the world is spoken in Dublin".
Ireland is a beautiful country and has some of the most unspoilt scenery in Europe. For nature lovers the west coast in particular offers ideal conditions in which to enjoy the spectacular landscape and to get away from the rush and stress of city life. There are also a great variety of outdoor activities like golf, fishing, hill walking, cycling, horse riding, most of which can be enjoyed practically all year round.

For those thinking of bringing pets into Ireland they should remember that all pets must spend 6 months at a quarantine station in Ireland. This does not apply to pets from the UK. Quarantine costs for a dog average €1500 for 6 months.

As a result of this enonomic boom over the past decade the unemployment rate has dropped dramatically from a high of about 18% in the early nineties to practically full employment today. And now instead of Irish people going abroad to look for work, which was usually the case, people of all nationalities have been coming to live and work in Ireland.