Ireland is the third largest island in Europe. It lies in between the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea. It is composed of the Republic of Ireland (officially named Ireland), a state which covers five-sixths of the island (south, east, west and north-west), and Northern Ireland; part of the United Kingdom, which covers the northeastern sixth of the island.
The population of the island is approximately 5.8 million people (2001); 4.1 million in the Republic of Ireland; 1.5 million in Greater Dublin; and 1.7 million in Northern Ireland.