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Geography of Ireland

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The country of Ireland is situated in the North Atlantic Ocean and is divided from the country of Britain on the east by the Irish Sea. Ireland is an island and covers nearly 32,000 square miles. The Emerald Isle is divided into Northern and Southern Ireland, with 32 counties. The six counties in the northern region of Ireland are referred to as Northern Ireland and belong to the United Kingdom. The remaining 26 counties are called the Republic of Ireland.

The Emerald Isle’s landscape is famous around the world. Ireland is home to some of the most diverse and well-preserved scenery in Europe. From the gently rolling hills to the dramatic, windswept cliffs of Mayo, Clare, Donegal, and Galway, the landscape of this country is bursting with disparity. It is comprised of a central plain enveloped by a rim of mountains and hills, and also holds beautiful mountain lakes. The country boasts semi-tropical bays warmed by the Gulf Stream, serene, sandy beaches, and rocky cliffs that comprise 3500 miles of coastline.

Near Dublin, the landscape boasts the Wicklow mountains and Killiney and Dalkey Bays. To the south is the renown Rock of Cashel. Keep going south and you will stumble upon the picturesque views of West Cork and the charming village of Castletownshend. To the north and west you will find diverse disparity with the scenic Galway and the barren Aran Islands. Lovers of literature will appreciate the picturesque countryside of County Sligo, a region that once was home to William Butler Yeats.

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