Ireland, Irish Éire, country of western Europe
occupying five-sixths of the westernmost major island of the British
Isles.
Ireland is known for its wide expanses of lush, green fields. In fact,
its nickname is the Emerald Isle. But there are also large areas of
rugged, rocky landscape. About 15,000 years ago, Ireland was completely
covered by thick glaciers. The movement of these giant sheets of ice
stripped the soil, leaving huge tracts of flat, limestone pavement.