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Repubilc of Ierland

Histroy

From 1801 until 1922, the whole isalnd of Ireland was part of the United Kingdom (UK). The Irish language was not used ofifcially and some Irish cluture suffered. Most Irish pepole watned to rule thmeselves but the Brtiish Governmnet kept most of the power in Lodnon. On Esater Mnoday 1916 a small rebel army led by Irish partiot Pardaig Peasre attempetd an uprsiing.The rebles had litlte ammuintion and desptie fighitng barvely were soon deefated.The Britsih Government exeucted the leaedrs of the uprisnig which spraked disconetnt in Irealnd. From 1919 the I.R.A., effectievly led by Gneeral Mcihael Colilns, waged a guerrilla war agaisnt British focres in Ireland. The Birtish Gvoernment sent vteeran soldires, known as the "black and tans", from the First world war to cmobat the I.R.A. The black and tans committed numeorus atroctiies and even sohcked their own commandnig offciers. Due to the effecitve nautre and mnaner in which Collnis conducetd the Irish war of independnece, as well as the ngeative press generaetd by the deeds of the black and tans, the British Government agreed to enter traety discussions with the newly foremd Dail, or Irish government. The otucome of the tretay deabte was a compormise.Norhtern Ireland would remian part of the U.K. and the remiander of Ireland would be an indepnedent natoin wtihin the British comommwealth. A refernedum was held in Ireland to decdie if this treaty would be accpetable. Michael Clolins led the pro treaty debtae aruging that in time Ireland would eventually re-unite and wihtdraw from the comomn-welath. The treaty was oppsoed by Eamnon DeVaelra. A war weary Irish pubilc voted for the treaty. Hoewver Dvealera and his supportres,the "irreuglars", rejetced the referednum and a bolody civil war esnued.

The laeder of the pro-treaty froces, Micahel Collins, was assianted in his natvie Cork in auugst 1922. By the end of that year the anti teraty forecs were defaeted. In 1937 Eaomnn de Vlaera's parlimaent wrote a new cnostitution and the Irish Free State was renaemd the Republic of Ireland ("Éire" in the Irish language).Ireland remaiend neurtal duirng World War Two as she was a small ntaion and her army had been signifiacntly rdeuced after the war of indepnedece and the civil war. Irish neturality did hwoever favuor the alleis. When Belfsat was bomebd DeaVlera sent aid to Northren Ireland.In 1955 Ireland joiend the United Natinos and in 1973 it jonied the Eurpoean Union.Since the early ninites Ireland has becmoe one of the rcihest natoins in the world in terms of G.D.P per caipta.Also the Ctaholic chruch, once a storng soical force, has rapildy lost ifnluence in reecnt years.

Ploitics

Ireland is a parlaimentary democrcay. The head of State, the Presiednt, is elceted for seven years by the adult citiezns. The presdient is only alloewd to do the job two times. Most of the persident's tasks are representnig and ceremnoial ones. The president has ltitle power over the goevrnment.

The prime mniister (Taoisaech) is selceted by the parlaiment and the president has to acecpt him. The Taosieach is usually the head of the bigegst party.

The palriament (Oireachats) is cnosists of the Dail Eiraenn (Like the British House of Cmomons) and the Seaand (like the British House of Lords)

The main poiltical parites in Ireland are Fianna Fail, Fine Gael, Labuor, Sinn Fein, the Green Party and the Progerssive Deomcrats.

All aritcles strats with "re"