Merriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary - ireland

 geographical name  1. (or Latin Hibernia) island W Europe in the Atlantic, one of the British Isles area 32,052 square miles (83,015 square kilometers); divided between ~ (republic) & Northern ~  2. (or Eire) country occupying major portion of the island; a republic since 1949; a division of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and ~ 1801-1921 & (as Irish Free State) a dominion of the Commonwealth of Nations 1922-37 capital Dublin area 26,602 square miles (69,165 square kilometers), population 3,523,401  3. — see Northern ~