IRELAND (in Irish, Erin; in Latin, Hibernia), is separated from Great Brit ain on the E. by the Irish Sea, and sur rounded on all sides by the North At lantic Ocean. Measured diagonally, the greatest length, from Mizen Head in the S W., to Fair Head in the N. E., is 300 miles; and the greatest breadth, front Carnsore Point in the S. E., to Benwee Head in the N. W., is 212 miles; the cen tral breadth, nearly between the bays of Dublin and Galway, is 110 miles; area, 32,531 square miles. Pop. about 4,390, 000. Ireland is divided into four prov inces of Leinster, Ulster, Munster, aryl Connaught, and into 32 counties; capital, Dublin; chief towns, Belfast, Cork, Lim erick, and Londonderry.
Geology and Illinerals.—The moun tains are formed of vast masses of Pri mary and metamorphic rocks, while the Secondary formations spread over the interior. Basaltic rocks are alinost en tirely confined to the N. E., where they often form colonnades, of which the Giant's Causeway is a celebrated speci men. Granite has its largest develop ment in the S. E., where it forms the great mass of the mountains of Wick low. It is more sparingly developed in the W. and N. W. (Donegal), as well as in the N. E.
Glimate.—The climate is on the whole moister, milder, and more equable than that of the greater part of Great Britain. It is highly favorable to vegetation, and allows plants to winter in the open air that can do so in very few places in Great Britain; some species of plants also being peculiar in Ireland alone of the British isles, as for instance the strawberry tree or arbutus, found in the S. W.
Agriculture.—As regards agriculture Ireland has great advantages, for though there is a great extent of moorland, there is also a vast area of arable surface, covered with a deep, friable loam of re markable richness. Potatoes had become the main food of the people by the end of the 17th century, and a potato famine occurred as early as 1739. Another staple crop, especially in the N., is flax. Much benefit accrued to Irish agricul ture from the operations of the Irish Land Act of 1881. This act was sup plemented in 1887 and 1899 by acts to encourage peasant ownership.
Industries and Trade.—Of industrial employments the linen manufacture is the chief and is in a very flourishing con dition. The woolen manufacture at the
outset outstripped that of linen; but it was hampered by unjust restrictions im posed by Parliament at the instance of the woolen manufacturers of England. The brewing of porter and distillation of whisky form important industries. The fisheries employ a considerable number of persons.
Religion.—The prevailing religon is the Roman Catholic. The Reformation never made much progress, and though the Protestant Episcopal Church was es v– tablished by law, it was only the Church of a minority. In 1869 an act was passed for its disestablishment. At the head of the Roman Catholic Church are four archbishops, who take the title of Armagh, Dublin, Cashel, and Tuarn, and 24 bishops. The whole of the Irish Ro man Catholic clergy are supported solely by voluntary contributions. The Pres byterian Church is chiefly confined to Ulster, where it may be said, especially in the counties of Down and Antrim, to be the leading religious denomination. Its ministers are supported by voluntary contributions, seat-rents, and church funds. They were formerly aided by the annual grant from government, called the Regiutn D MUM. This grant was abolished by the Irish Church Act of 1869, and was commuted to a single sum of $3,506,860 paid to the Church.
Education.—The principal educational institutions are Dublin University and the three colleges of Belfast, Cork, and Galway. The Royal College of Science, established in 1867, supplies a complete course of instruction in science applicable to the industrial arts. The Catholic University of Ireland, established in 1854, consists of University College, Dublin; St. Patrick's College, Maynooth, and several other colleges. The semi naries for the education of the Catholic priesthood are numerous, the most prom inent being the College of Maynooth, founded in 1795. The General Assem bly's Theological College, Belfast, and the Magee College, Londonderry, are Presbyterian colleges. The chief ele mentary schools are those under the superintendence of the Commissioners of National Education. In 1878 an act was passed setting apart $5,000,000 from the Irish Church surplus fu,nd for the pro motion of intermediate secular educa tion by means of special examinations, exhibitions, prizes, etc.