People
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The Irish people ( Irish : Muintir na hÉireann , na hÉireannaigh , na Gaeil ) are a Western European ethnic group who originate in Ireland , in north western Europe. People of Irish ethnicity outside of Ireland are common in many western countries, particularly in English -speaking countries. The largest number of people of Irish descent live in the United States -- about ten times more than in Ireland itself.
The population of the island is slightly over six million (2007), with 4.34 million in the Republic (1.7 million in Greater Dublin) and an estimated 1.75 million in Northern Ireland (0.6 million in Greater Belfast). This is a significant increase from a modern historical low in the 1960s, but still much lower than the peak population of over 8 million in the early 19th century, prior to the Irish potato famine .
Nationality:
noun: Irishman(men), Irishwoman(women), Irish (collective plural)
adjective: Irish.
Religions: Roman Catholic 88.4%, Church of Ireland 3%, other Christian 1.6%, other 1.5%, unspecified 2%, none 3.5%.
Languages: English (official) is the language generally used, Irish (Gaelic or Gaeilge) (official) spoken mainly in areas located along the western seaboard.