Politically, Ireland is divided between the Republic of Ireland (officially named Ireland), which covers five-sixths of the island, and Northern Ireland, which is part of the United Kingdom. An I.T. & Pharmaceutical powerhouse for EMEA, the Irish climate is influenced by the Atlantic Ocean and thus very moderate; milder winter than expected for such a northerly area& cooler summers than those in Continental Europe.
The country has developed a very high standard of living and ranks amongst the top ten ranked nations in the H.D.I. Irish culture has had a significant influence on other cultures, especially in the fields of literature. Alongside mainstream Western culture, a strong indigenous culture exists, as expressed through Gaelic games, Irish music and the Irish language.