SOUTHERN IRELAND,

Ireland, described as the Republic of Ireland, is a state in Western Europe of almost 4.5 million inhabitants. It is a parliamentary democracy and constitutional republic encompassing approximately five-sixths of the island of Ireland, which was partitioned into two jurisdictions in 1921. The country shares its only land border with Northern Ireland, which is part of the United Kingdom, and is otherwise surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean, the Irish Sea to the east, St George's Channel to the southeast, and the Celtic Sea to the south. The significant cities and towns in Southern Ireland are: Dublin, Cork, Gallaway, Limerick, Kilkenny, Sligo and Tullamore.