Irish people originate from the island of Ireland, which is divided into two countries: the independent Republic of Ireland (most of the island) and Northern Ireland, which is part of the United Kingdom. They share a common ancestry, history, and culture, though many Irish people also live in other countries like the U.S., Canada, and Australia, often due to historical emigration.
The Gaelic people of Ireland originated in the ancient region of Scythia—roughly corresponding with southern Russia—and perhaps imagined by medieval scholars to have some connection with Scoti, a Latin term for the Irish. They dwelt for a time in Egypt, then wandered for many years, and at last conquered Spain.
Ireland is a sovereign, independent country and has rules and laws about who is entitled to Irish citizenship. Most Irish citizens were automatically Irish when they were born. Before 1 January 2005, everyone born on the island of Ireland was an Irish citizen by birth.
The island of Ireland is off the northwest of continental Europe, and west of Great Britain. The island is divided into two parts: Ireland (sometimes referred to as “the Republic of Ireland”) and Northern Ireland, which is part of the United Kingdom.
Irish nationality refers to people who are members of the Irish nation. There are, however, two distinct Irish nations: The Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland, which is part of Great Britain. Of those who are of Irish nationality, 85% refer to themselves as Irish or as having Irish ethnicity.
White. A person having origins in any of the original peoples of Europe, the Middle East, or North Africa. It includes people who indicate their race as "White" or report entries such as Irish, German, Italian, Lebanese, Near Easterner, Arab, or Polish. Black or African American.
In the United States, the term "Black Irish" was initially used in the 19th century to derogatorily describe Irish refugees of the Great Famine. It later shifted into a term used to describe people of Irish descent who have black or dark-colored hair, blue or dark eyes, or otherwise dark coloring.
Viking, Norman, Gaelic, and later English influences have combined to create a rich genetic and cultural heritage. This genetic diversity reflects Ireland's history of invasions, settlements, and integrations, contributing to the distinct Irish identity seen today.
Ireland is an open economy (3rd on the Index of Economic Freedom), and ranks first for high-value foreign direct investment (FDI) flows. In the global GDP per capita tables, Ireland ranks 2nd of 192 in the IMF table and 4th of 187 in the World Bank ranking. (2023 est. )
Éire (English: /ˈɛərə/ AIR-ə, Irish: [ˈeːɾʲə]) is the Irish language name for "Ireland". Like its English counterpart, the term Éire is used for both the island of Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, the sovereign state that governs 85% of the island's landmass.
At the 2011 Census, 2,087,800 Australians (10.4% of the total population) declared they had Irish ancestry either alone or in combination with another ancestry; only Australian and English ancestries were more frequently nominated.
If you or your parents were born in Ireland, or if you were adopted in Ireland, you may be an Irish citizen by birth. If you are not entitled to Irish citizenship by birth, you may be able to become an Irish citizen by registering your birth on the Foreign Births Register, or by applying for naturalisation.
They were also found to have most similarity to two main ancestral sources: a 'Northwestern France' component which reached highest levels in the Irish and other Celtic populations (Welsh, Highland Scots and Cornish); and a 'West Norway' component related to the Viking era.
Physical Appearance. Another common sign of Irish ancestry is the red hair, pale blue eyes, and pale complexion these genes are known to depict. So, if you have the farmer's tan, freckles, or some thick, curly red hair covering your feet, it's time to check your DNA ethnic calculator.
For most people, a household salary of €100,000 would put a family in the category of “rich”. And if you earned that last year, you were among the top 6.6pc of employees, Revenue figures show. The average gross pay for a PAYE worker nationwide was €42,100 in 2024, while the Dublin average was €49,500.
Housing was seen as the most important issue facing the Republic of Ireland as of 2025, with 64 percent of respondents placing it as one of the top two issues facing the country.
People of Irish heritage are more likely than any other ethnic group to carry the gene that leads to Haemochromatosis. One in five Irish people are carriers of the mutated gene and one in ten people are at risk of developing iron overload.
All full Irish breakfasts include some or all of the following: Bacon, sausages, baked beans, eggs, mushrooms, grilled tomatoes, and perhaps some cooked leftover potatoes made into a hash or a bubble and squeak. There will also be toast, butter, marmalade, and lots of tea to drink.
Black people in Ireland, also known as Black Irish, Black and Irish or in Irish: Daoine Gorma/Daoine Dubha, are a multi-ethnic group of Irish people of African descent. Black people, Africans and people of African descent have lived in Ireland in small numbers since the 18th century.
We heard that in Irish Traveller communities, it is important to have a tan because it makes you look healthier and therefore happier. We heard that respondents often saw members of their social networks checking in to tanning salons on Facebook. This was considered a sign of health, happiness and wealth.
The conclusion is that earliest Irish settlers would have had darker skin than we have today. The findings suggest that the DNA is linked to individuals from Spain and Luxembourg, who populated western European after the last Ice Age but before the farming era.