Republic of Ireland Environmental Influences Analysis

Introduction

"The state known today as the Republic of Ireland seceded from the United Kingdom in 1922" (Wikipedia, 2006). Until the 1990s the country experienced poverty and emigration. Northern Ireland is a completely separate country from the Republic of Ireland. In 1921, a "decision was made to exclude from the Free State six of Ireland's 32 countries--those in the Northeast which had the most substantial Protestant populations" (Executive Planet, 2004). Irish governments have attempted to unify Northern Ireland with the Republic of Ireland but are still battling a peaceful unification. This analysis will address the Republic of Ireland's marketing environment, which will include the country's demographics, social, cultural, political and technological influences and economic influences and status.

Demographics

The Republic of Ireland (Ireland) is a small country that occupies five-sixths of the island of Ireland consisting of approximately 26,600 square miles of land situated in the North Atlantic Ocean, west of Great Britain.

[Royal Avenue, Belfast. County Antrim, Ireland] (...

Ireland's Highest Peak

The island of Ireland on the European continent

The population of Ireland is 4,062,235 with over 40 percent of the population residing within 100 km of Dublin, the country's capital.

According to the World Fact Book, the median age in Ireland is 34 years as of 2006 est. Age structure is:

* 0-14 years: 20.9% (male 437,903/female 409,774)

* 15-64 years: 67.6% (male 1,373,771/female 1,370,452)

* 65 years and over: 11.6% (male 207,859/female 262,476) (2006 est.)

Birth rate is 14.45 births/1,000 population and the death rate is 7.82/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Social/Cultural

Leprechauns, four-leaf clovers, Guinness Stout, and lush green countryside come to mind when one thinks of the Emerald Isle. The official language of Ireland is both Irish (Gaelic) and English, with English being the predominant language spoken today. All schoolchildren are taught Irish and English in elementary school, and advanced course are carried throughout latter grades. Religion is an important part in the...