Eire

Éire, commonly rendered in English as Eire, is the Irish-language name for the island of Ireland. In Irish usage, Éire identifies the country; in English, the island is usually called Ireland, while the sovereign state is the Republic of Ireland. The spelling Éire is standard in Irish orthography, with Eire appearing as an Anglicized variant in some texts. The name is traditionally linked to the ancient goddess Ériu, a symbolic figure of Ireland in mythology.

Geographically, Éire occupies the western part of the island of Ireland and shares a land border with Northern Ireland, part of the United Kingdom. Its capital and largest city is Dublin; major urban centers include Cork, Limerick, Galway, and Waterford. The country has a temperate maritime climate, rugged coastlines, and diverse landscapes ranging from mountains and lakes to plains and valleys.

Historically, the area was organized into Gaelic kingdoms before Norman and later English rule. The Irish Free State was established in 1922, later becoming the Republic of Ireland in 1949. Today Éire is a sovereign nation and a member of the European Union since 1973. It uses the euro as its currency and has a diversified economy with strengths in information technology, pharmaceuticals, finance, and agriculture.

Culturally, Irish (Gaeilge) is a co-official language alongside English, and the government supports the revival and use of Irish in education, public life, and media. Irish cultural traditions include literature, music, and sports such as Gaelic games. The national flag is tricolor (green, white, and orange), and Saint Patrick’s Day is a widely observed cultural celebration.