Ire ‧ land /ˈaɪələnd $ ˈaɪər-/ BrE AmE
a large island to the west of Great Britain, from which it is separated by the Irish Sea. It is divided politically into ↑ Northern Ireland and the ↑ Republic of Ireland . Northern Ireland is part of the UK, and many people there belong to the Protestant religion. The Republic of Ireland has been an independent state since 1921, and most people there belong to the Roman Catholic religion. Ireland, especially the Republic of Ireland, is known for its beautiful green countryside, and is sometimes called the Emerald Isle. Many great writers in English come from Ireland, including Oscar ↑ Wilde , James ↑ Joyce , George Bernard ↑ Shaw , and Samuel ↑ Beckett . ⇨ ↑ Republic of Ireland