|  The Irish are commonly referred to as sociable and friendly, laid-back and witty, modest and self-depricating. Ireland has a young vibrant population, with 40% of the population under the age of 25, many of which have migrated towards the cities. Today, 10 percent of the population is non-Irish, and the second most commonly spoken language in Ireland is Mandarin Chinese.
The Irish people are most famous for their writers. Notable Irish writers in the English language include Jonathan Swift, James Joyce, Oscar Wilde, William Butler Yeats, and Seamus Heaney.
People of Irish ethnicity outside of Ireland are common in many western countries, particularly in English-speaking countries. Historically, emigration has been caused by politics, religious oppression and economic issues. Over 80 million people make up the Irish diaspora today, which includes Great Britain, Australia, Canada, Argentina, New Zealand, Mexico, France and Germany. The largest number of people of Irish descent live in the United States—about ten times more than in Ireland itself.
The population of Ireland in 2008 was approximately 6.1 million comprising 4.35 million in the Republic of Ireland with another 1.75 million in Northern Ireland. Although this is a significant growth over recent years, it is lower than historical figures. Ask a question |