Ireland (Irish: Éire [ˈeːɾʲə] ( listen)) is a European country on the island of Ireland. It shares a border with Northern Ireland (which is controlled by the United Kingdom). The country is sometimes called the Republic of Ireland to distinguish it from the island.
It is a member of the European Union. The republic's capital is Dublin. Cork is the second largest city in the country and the third largest on the island of Ireland. The population of Ireland is 4.9 million. English is the main language spoken. The Irish language is widely taught in all schools, and it is still spoken as a first language in some areas of the country, known as the Gaeltacht. Irish is the first official language, followed by English.
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