The island of Ireland sits to the west of Great Britain, separated from it by the Irish Sea. It is one of the most important geographical distinctions to understand for the Life in the UK test — because the island of Ireland is divided into two separate countries with very different political statuses.
The island of Ireland
The island of Ireland is the second-largest island in the British Isles, after Great Britain. It lies to the west of Great Britain, separated by the Irish Sea and the North Channel.
Geographically, the island of Ireland is divided into four historic provinces:
- Ulster (nine counties in the north)
- Leinster (in the east, including Dublin)
- Munster (in the south)
- Connacht (in the west)
However, the island is today divided politically into two separate jurisdictions:
- Northern Ireland — part of the United Kingdom
- The Republic of Ireland — an independent sovereign state
NOTE
When the Life in the UK test refers to "Ireland," it generally means the island of Ireland as a whole. When it refers specifically to the part inside the UK, it says Northern Ireland. When referring to the independent state, it says the Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland (part of the UK)
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. It occupies the north-eastern part of the island of Ireland and comprises six counties:
- Antrim
- Armagh
- Down
- Fermanagh
- Londonderry (also known as Derry)
- Tyrone
Northern Ireland's capital and largest city is Belfast. It has its own devolved legislature — the Northern Ireland Assembly — which sits at Stormont in Belfast. The Assembly was established under the Good Friday Agreement of 1998.
Northern Ireland shares a land border with the Republic of Ireland — the only land border between the United Kingdom and another sovereign state.
TIP
Northern Ireland is part of the UK and therefore part of Great Britain's political union — but it is not on the island of Great Britain. It is on the separate island of Ireland. This distinction is a common exam trap.
NOTE
The six counties of Northern Ireland were created when Ireland was partitioned in 1921. Northern Ireland chose to remain part of the United Kingdom at that time.
The Republic of Ireland (not part of the UK)
The Republic of Ireland (in Irish: Poblacht na hÉireann) is a fully independent, sovereign state. It is not part of the United Kingdom and has not been since it gained independence in 1922.
Key facts about the Republic of Ireland:
- Capital city: Dublin
- Official languages: Irish (Gaeilge) and English
- Government: A parliamentary republic — the head of state is the President (Uachtarán na hÉireann)
- Currency: The euro (€)
- Member of: The European Union, the United Nations, and the Council of Europe
The Republic of Ireland occupies approximately five-sixths of the island of Ireland. Despite being a separate country, it shares close ties with the UK — there is a Common Travel Area (CTA) between the UK and the Republic of Ireland, which allows citizens of both countries to travel freely between them without a passport, though identification is recommended.
IMPORTANT
The Republic of Ireland is not part of the United Kingdom, not part of Great Britain, and not a member of the Commonwealth. It is a fully independent sovereign republic and a member of the European Union.
TIP
A common exam question asks which part of the island of Ireland is in the UK. The answer is Northern Ireland. The Republic of Ireland is a separate, independent country.
The key distinction about Ireland you must know for the exam:
- The island of Ireland — a geographical term for the whole island, divided between two political entities
- Northern Ireland — the north-eastern part of the island; one of the four countries of the UK; capital Belfast; devolved Assembly at Stormont (est. 1998)
- The Republic of Ireland — an independent sovereign state covering five-sixths of the island; not part of the UK; capital Dublin; member of the EU
Northern Ireland is in the UK. The Republic of Ireland is not. This distinction appears in multiple exam questions.
Up next: Crown Dependencies — learn about the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands, which have a special relationship with the UK but are not part of it.