Portal:Ireland

Aer Lingus is the flag carrier airline of Ireland founded in April 1936. Based at Dublin Airport, but originally operating out of Baldonnel Airfield, it operates 47 Airbus aircraft serving Europe, Africa and North America. The name, Aer Lingus is an anglicisation of the Irish form Aer Loingeas.

The airline is 29.4% owned by Ryanair and 25.4% owned by the Government of Ireland. It was floated on the Dublin and London Stock Exchanges on 2 October 2006, following prior government approval (the government previously owned 85% of the airline). Aer Lingus is a former member of the Oneworld airline alliance, which it left on 31 March 2007.

While Aer Lingus is not in an alliance it has codeshares with Oneworld, Star Alliance and SkyTeam members, as well as interline agreements with Aer Arann and JetBlue Airways in the United States. The company employs 4,000 people and in 2008 had revenues of €1.4 billion. Aer Lingus transferred 10 million passengers in 2008. It has a mixed business model, operating a low fare service on its European and North African routes and full service, two-class flights on transatlantic routes. Read more...

Ronan John Ross O'Gara (born 7 March 1977 in San Diego, California, United States) is an Irish former rugby union player, who played fly-half for both Ireland and Munster. He is Ireland's most-capped player, and the third most-capped in rugby union history. O'Gara has captained Munster, Ireland, and the British and Irish Lions and won four Triple Crowns with Ireland and two Heineken Cups with Munster. O'Gara now coaches Top 14 team Racing Métro 92 in Paris, where he lives with his wife and four children.

O'Gara is the all-time highest points scorer for Ireland, and is the fourth highest points scorer in the history of International Rugby Union. He has scored more tries (16) for Ireland than any other fly-half in history. O'Gara is Munster's all-time leading points scorer (2,625), and also holds the Heineken Cup record for points (1,365).

O'Gara scored several match-winning dropped goals for Ireland, including in the 78th minute of the Wales vs Ireland match in the 2009 Six Nations Championship to secure the Grand Slam and in the 78th minute of the Italy vs Ireland match in the 2011 Six Nations Championship, which ensured Ireland avoided a first defeat to Italy in the Six Nations. Read more...

From top, left to right: People's Park, St. Mary's Cathedral, Riverpoint, Daniel O'Connell Monument, Georgian architecture at Pery Square, King John's Castle

Limerick (/ˈlɪmərɪk/ LIM-ər-ik; Irish: Luimneach [ˈl̪ˠɪmʲ(ə)nʲəx]) is a western city in Ireland situated within County Limerick. It is in the province of Munster and is located in the Mid-West which comprises part of the Southern Region. With a population of 94,192 at the 2016 census, Limerick is the third-most populous urban area in the state, and the fourth-most populous city on the island of Ireland at the 2011 census. The city lies on the River Shannon, with the historic core of the city located on King's Island, which is bounded by the Shannon and Abbey Rivers. Limerick is also located at the head of the Shannon Estuary, where the river widens before it flows into the Atlantic Ocean. Limerick City and County Council is the local authority for the city. (Full article...)

• ...that when County Clare was created in 1565 it was moved from Munster to Connacht only to be returned to Munster again in 1602?
• …that the MV Kerlogue, an Irish merchant ship, was attacked by both the Allied and Axis sides during World War II and rescued both sides. They rescued the Wild Rose of Liverpool and they rescued 168 Germans, 164 of who spent the rest of The Emergency interned in the Curragh internment camp?
• ...that the College Historical Society of Trinity College, Dublin is the oldest undergraduate student society in the world?
• ...that to the Romans, Scotia was another name for Hibernia, both meaning Ireland?