Ireland

Turlough Hill is the only energy storage mechanism in Ireland. There is a sudden interest in American culture and European popular culture, which is eroding the more traditional culture, and especially the music. Another issue in the Republic of Ireland is the failure of the ageing network to cope with the varying availability of power from such installations. Salegy is a popular music form. These constructions have in some cases been delayed by opposition from locals, most recently on Achill Island, some of whom consider the wind turbines to be unsightly. Muslims are divided between those of Malagasy ethnicity, Indo-Pakistanis, and Comorians. It is estimated to generate 10% of Ireland's energy needs when it is complete. In the coastal regions of the provinces of Mahajanga and Antsiranana (Diego Suarez), Muslims constitute a significant minority.

Recently what will be the world's largest offshore wind farm is being developed at Arklow Bank off the coast of Wicklow. The best example of this is the Malagasy Council of Churches (FFKM) comprised of the four oldest and most prominent christian denominations (Roman Catholic, Reformed Protestant, Lutheran and Anglican). There have been recent efforts in Ireland to use renewable energy such as wind energy with large wind farms being constructed in coastal counties such as Donegal, Mayo and Antrim. Many of the Christian churches are influential in politics. In the latter case, availability of power plants has averaged 66% recently, one of the worst such figures in Western Europe. The Roman Catholic church is open to its members continuing these practices, while more conservative protestant denominations tend to condemn them to be superstitions or demon worship that should be abandoned. The situation in Northern Ireland is complicated by the issue of private companies not supplying NIE with enough power, while in the Republic, the ESB has failed to modernise its power stations. They also may invite a pastor to attend a famadihana.

Ireland, north and south has faced difficulties in providing continuous power at peak load. Many incorporate the cult of the dead with their religious beliefs and bless their dead at church before proceeding with the traditional burial rites. The Corrib Gas Field in Mayo has yet to come online, and is facing some localised opposition over the controversial decision to refine the gas onshore. About 45% of the Malagasy are Christian, divided almost evenly between Roman Catholics and Protestants. Most of Ireland's gas comes from the Kinsale field. In this ritual, relatives' remains are removed from the family tomb, rewrapped in new silk shrouds, and returned to the tomb following festive ceremonies in their honor. The natural gas network is also now all-island, with a connection from Antrim to Scotland. The Merina and Betsileo reburial practice of famadihana, or "turning over the dead" celebrate this spiritual communion.

The Electricity Supply Board (ESB) in the Republic drove a rural electrification programme in the 1940s until the 1970s. They believe that the dead join their ancestors in the ranks of divinity and that ancestors are intensely concerned with the fate of their living descendants. Both networks were designed and constructed independently, but are now connected with three interlinks and also connected by Northern Ireland Electricity (NIE) through Great Britain to mainland Europe. The Merina in the highlands particularly tend to hold tightly to this practice. For much of their existence electricity networks in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland were entirely separate. Approximately half of the country's population practices traditional religions, which tend to emphasize links between the living and the dead. Dublin Bus specifically serves the greater Dublin area and a company called Metro operates services within the greater Belfast area. Many Peace Corps volunteers are serving to further this effort and train teachers.

Nowadays, the main bus companies are Bus Éireann in the South and Ulsterbus in the North, both of which offer extensive passenger service in all parts of the island. English is becoming more widely spoken and in 2003 the government began a pilot project of introducing the teaching of English into the primary grades of 44 schools, with hopes of taking the project nationwide. The year 1815 marked the inauguration of the first horsecar service from Clonmel to Thurles and Limerick. French is spoken among the educated population of this former French colony. Historically, land owners developed most roads and later Turnpike Trusts collecting tolls so that as early as 1800 Ireland had a 10,000 mile (16,100 km) road network. The Malagasy language is of Malayo-Polynesian origin and is generally spoken throughout the island. Northern Ireland has historically had better main roads, while the Republic of Ireland has an increasing motorway network, focused on Dublin and the east coast. The largest coastal groups are the Betsimisaraka (1.5 million) and the Tsimihety and Sakalava (700,000 each).

The island of Ireland has an extensive road network, despite the low quality of many of these until recently. Asian features are most predominant in the central highlands people, the Merina (3 million) and the Betsileo (2 million); the coastal people (called côtiers) are of more clearly African origin. Unfortunately, tourists driving on the wrong side of the road cause serious accidents every year. Subsequent migrations from both the Pacific and Africa further consolidated this original mixture, and 36 separate tribal groups emerged. As with Britain, motorists must drive on the left in Ireland. The Malagasy language shares some 90% of its basic vocabulary with the Maanyan language from the region of the Barito River in southern Borneo. In Northern Ireland, all rail services are provided by Northern Ireland Railways, part of Translink. Recent DNA research shows that the Malagasy are approximately of half Malay and half East African stock, although some Arab, Indian and European influence is present along the coast.

The scheme is being run by Connex under franchise from the RPA. Recent research suggests that the island was uninhabited until Malay seafarers arrived between about 2,000 to 1,500 years ago. Several more Luas lines are planned as well as an eventual upgrade to Metro. Madagascar's population is predominantly of mixed Asian and African origin, though those who are visibly Asian in appearance and culture are the minority, found in the highland regions. Additionally, a new light rail system named Luas, opened in 2004, transports passengers within city limits. He has consciously sought to strengthen relations with Anglophone countries as a means of balancing traditionally strong French influence. The Dublin Area Rapid Transit (DART, pictured left) links the city centre with surrounding suburbs. President Ravalomanana has stated that he welcomes relations with all countries interested in helping Madagascar to develop.

In Dublin, two local rail networks provide transportation in the city and its immediate vicinity. More recently, President Ravalomanana has cultivated strong links with the United States, and Madagascar was the first country to benefit from the Millenium Challenge Account (MCA). Long distance passenger trains in the Republic are managed by Iarnród Éireann (Irish Railways) and connect most major towns and cities across the country. Active relationships with Europe, especially France, Germany, and Switzerland, as well as with Britain, Russia, Japan, India, and China have been strong since independence. This company has a narrow gauge railway of 1,200 miles (1,930 km). It enjoys closer and generally good relations with its Indian Ocean neighbors -- Mauritius, Réunion, and Comoros. Ireland also has one of the largest freight railways in Europe, operated by Bord na Móna. External relations reflect this trend, although Madagascar's physical isolation and strong traditional insular orientation have limited its activity in regional economic organizations and relations with its East African neighbors.

The broad gauge of 5 foot 3 inches (1,600 mm) was eventually settled upon throughout the island, although there were narrow gauge (3 ft / 91.4 cm) railways also. Starting in 1997, globalization encouraged the government and President Ratsiraka to adhere to market-oriented policies and to engage world markets. The network reached its greatest extent by 1920. Early in his tenure, he established formal ties with South Korea and sent emissaries to Morocco. The rail network in Ireland was developed by various private companies, some of which received British Government funding in the late 19th century. Taking office in 1993, President Albert Zafy expressed his desire for diplomatic relations with all countries. Belfast City and City of Derry Airport mainly provide flights to Great Britain. From 1978 until 1991, then-President Ratsiraka emphasized independence and nonalignment and followed an "all points" policy stressing ties with socialist and radical regimes, including North Korea, Cuba, Libya, and Iran.

Belfast International Airport (Aldergrove) provides routes throughout Ireland, Great Britain, Western Europe, and recently, daily transatlantic service to Newark (in New Jersey, United States). Madagascar, which has historically been perceived as on the margin of mainstream African affairs, eagerly rejoined the African Union in July 2003 after a 14-month hiatus triggered by the 2002 political crisis. In Northern Ireland there are three main aviation facilities. A large mining investment by Rio Tinto in the Fort Dauphin region, to exploit ilmenite (titanium dioxide), is expected by late 2005, and other projects in ilmenite (Ticor/Kumba in Tulear) and nickel (Dynatec/Implats near Tamatave) could also be launched in the coming months. There are several smaller regional airports in the Republic (Galway Airport, Kerry Airport, Knock International Airport, Sligo Airport, Waterford Airport) that mostly limit their services to Ireland and the United Kingdom. Mining investment is beginning to take off following the introduction of a new law opening the country up to foreign mining companies. Shannon is an important stopover on trans-Atlantic route for refuelling operations. Agricultural exports consist of low volume high value products like vanilla, litchies and essential oils.

The Irish national airline Aer Lingus and low-cost operator Ryanair are based at Dublin. Exports from the EPZs, located around Antananarivo and Antsirabe, consist the most part of garment manufacture, targeting the US market under AGOA and the European markets under the Everything But Arms (EBA) agreement. All provide extensive services to the UK, continental Europe and North America. Tourism targets the niche eco-tourism market, capitalizing on Madagascar's unique biodiversity, unspoiled natural habitats, and lemur species. The three most important international airports in the Republic are Dublin Airport, Cork International Airport and Shannon Airport. Madagascar's sources of growth are tourism; textile and light manufacturing exports (notably through the EPZs); agricultural products (the country is the world's leading producer of vanilla, accounting for about half the world's export market); and mining. Nigerians, Chinese and people from other African countries also make up a large proportion of migrants to Ireland. Some recent concerns have arisen about the confict of interest between the policies pursued by President and the activities his firms, most notably with preferential treatment for rice imports initiated by the government in late 2004 responding to a production shortfall in the country.

A high standard of living, high wages and EU citizenship attract many of the migrants from the newest of the European Union countries. President Ravalomanana rose to prominence through his agro-foods TIKO company, and is known for attempting to apply many of the lessons learned in the world of business to running the government. Ireland has also had large numbers of Romanian immigrants since the 1990s. The government of President Ravalomanana is aggressively seeking foreign investment and is tackling many of the obstacles to such investment, including combating corruption, reforming land-ownership laws, encouraging study of American and European business techniques, and active pursuit of foreign investors. Since joining the EU in 2004, Polish people have been the largest source of immigrants from Eastern Europe, followed by other migrants from Lithuania, the Czech Republic and Latvia. The U.S.-Madagascar Business Council was formed in the United States in May 2003, and the two organizations continue to explore ways to work for the benefit of both groups. The island also has a small Jewish community (See History of the Jews in Ireland), although this has declined somewhat in recent years. Business Council was formed in Madagascar in 2002.

The Irish Muslim community is growing, mostly through increased immigration (see Islam in Ireland). The Madagascar-U.S. The largest is the Anglican Church of Ireland. In October 2004, the boards of the IMF and the World Bank determined that Madagascar had reached the completion point under the enhanced HIPC Initiative. Ireland's largest religious denomination is Roman Catholicism (about 70% for the entire island, and over 90% for the Republic ), and most of the rest of the population adhere to one of the various Protestant denominations. The boards of the IMF and World Bank agreed in December 2000 that the country had reached the decision point for debt relief under the HIPC Initiative and defined a set of conditions for Madagascar to reach the completion point. Culturally however, the Irish are undeniably Celtic. In 2000, Madagascar embarked on the preparation of a Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP) under the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) Initiative.

Both positions are difficult to confirm because the information is relatively new. The Malagasy Government identified road infrastructure as its principle priority and underlined its commitment to public-private partnership by establishing a joint public-private sector steering committee. Others theorize that the pre-Celtic population of Ireland may have had roots in common with the Basque people. Donor countries demonstrated their confidence in the new government by pledging $1 billion in assistance over five years. Some theorize that, although Basque is certainly not a Celtic language, there may have been Celto-Basque cultural contact on the Iberian Peninsula. Madagascar developed a recovery plan in collaboration with the private sector and donors and presented it at a "Friends of Madagascar" conference organized by the World Bank in Paris in July 2002. Although for many years the Irish were believed to be of Celtic origin, recent DNA evidence shows that both the Irish and the Welsh (and to a much lesser degree Scotland and England) have many genetic traits in common with the people of the Basque region. Following the 2002 political crisis, the government attempted to set a new course and build confidence, in coordination with international financial institutions and the donor community.

However the greater part (80%) of the Irish population descends from the original inhabitants of the island who came after the end of the Ice Age. In 2005 inflation was brought under control by tight monetary policy (the "Taux Directeur", or central bank rate, was raised to 16% and reserve requirements for banks tightened), and growth will reach around 6.5% in 2005. Over the last 1,000 years, there have been influences by the Vikings, who founded several ports, including Dublin, and Normans, with some admixture to the gene pool. Currency depreciation and rising inflation in 2004 have hampered economic performance, but growth for the year reached 5.3 percent, with inflation reaching around 25% at the end of the year. Early historical and genealogical records note the existance of dozens of different peoples (Cruthin, Attacotti, Conmaicne, Éoganacht, Érainn, Soghain, to name but a few). Following resolution of the crisis, the economy rebounded with GDP growth of over 10% in 2003. Ireland has been inhabited for at least 9,000 years, although little is known about the neolithic inhabitants of the island. Real GDP dropped 12.7% for the year 2002, inflows of foreign investment dropped sharply, and the crisis tarnished Madagascar's budding reputation as an AGOA standout and a promising place to invest.

This achievement evokes mixed feelings in many Irish people. A six-month political crisis triggered by a dispute over the outcome of the presidential elections held in December 2001 virtually halted economic activity in much of the country in the first half of 2002. The Republic has done well in the Eurovision Song Contest, being the most successful country in the competition with seven wins. During the period of solid growth from 1997 through 2001, poverty levels remained stubbornly high, especially in rural areas. Others incorporate multiple cultures in a fusion of style, such as Afro Celt Sound System and Canadian Loreena McKennitt. Although structural reforms advanced, governance remained weak and perceived corruption in Madagascar was extremely high. There are also contemporary music groups that stick closer to a "traditional" sound, including Altan, Gaelic Storm, Lúnasa, and Solas. A period of significant stagnation from 1991-96 was followed by 5 years of solid economic growth and accelerating foreign investment, driven by a second wave of privatizations and EPZ development.

Nevertheless, Irish music has shown an immense inflation of popularity with many attempting to return to their roots. An initial privatization program (1988-1993) and the development of an export processing zone (EPZ) regime in the early 1990s were key milestones in this effort. This trend can be seen more recently in the work of bands and individuals like U2, Clannad, The Cranberries, Van Morrison, Rory Gallagher, Boyzone, Westlife and The Pogues. Structural reforms began in the late 1980s, initially under pressure from international financial institutions, notably the World Bank. During the 1970s and 1980s, the distinction between traditional and rock musicians became blurred, with many individuals regularly crossing over between these styles of playing as a matter of course. The eastern, or windward side of the island is home to tropical rainforests, while the western and southern sides of the island, which lie in the rain shadow of the central highlands, are home to tropical dry forests, thorn forests, and deserts and xeric shrublands. Before too long, groups and musicians including Horslips, Van Morrison and even Thin Lizzy were incorporating elements of traditional music into a rock idiom to form a unique new sound. Madagascar's long isolation from the neighboring continents has resulted in a unique mix of plants and animals, many found nowhere else in the world; some ecologists refer to Madagascar as the "eighth continent".

Irish and Scottish traditional music are similar. Southeastern trade winds dominate, and there are occasional cyclones. This revival was led by such groups as The Dubliners, The Chieftains, the Clancy Brothers and Sweeney's Men and individuals like Sean Ó Riada and Danny O'Flaherty. There are two seasons: it is hot and rainy from November to April, and cooler and dry from May to October. During the 1960s, and inspired by the American folk music movement, there was a revival of interest in the Irish tradition. The west coast has many protected harbors and broad plains, while the southwest is a plateau and desert region. In the middle years of the 20th century, as Irish society was attempting to modernise, traditional music tended to fall out of favour, especially in urban areas. The Tsaratanana Massif in the north has volcanic mountains.

The Irish tradition of folk music and dance is also widely known. The east coast of Madagascar has lowlands leading to steep bluffs and central highlands. During the course of the 19th and 20th centuries, a strong indigenous tradition of painting emerged, including such figures as John Butler Yeats, William Orpen, Jack Yeats and Louis le Brocquy. The 22 regions by province:. The early history of Irish visual art is generally considered to begin with early carvings found at sites such as Newgrange and is traced through Bronze age artifacts, particularly ornamental gold objects, and the religious carvings and illuminated manuscripts of the mediæval period. They are:.
. Madagascar is divided into six autonomous provinces (faritany mizakatena), each named for their capital.

His 1922 novel Ulysses is sometimes cited as the greatest English-language novel of the 20th century and his life is celebrated annually on June 16th in Dublin as the Bloomsday celebrations. It appears that the departments will be based on the Fivondronampokontany, although it is unclear whether they are already in place and what it means that the assets will be taken over by the regions. Although not a Nobel Prize winner, James Joyce is widely considered one of the most significant writers of the 20th century. The departments are not mentioned in the law, instead the designation "components" of the regions is used. In more recent times, Ireland has produced four winners of the Nobel Prize for Literature: George Bernard Shaw, William Butler Yeats, Samuel Beckett and Seamus Heaney. It is also mentioned that the communes are the only entities that are operational, and there will be an unspecified period of transition to the new system. Poetry in Irish represents the oldest vernacular poetry in Europe with the earliest examples dating from the 6th century; Jonathan Swift, still often called the foremost satirist in the English language, was wildly popular in his day (Gulliver's Travels, A Modest Proposal, etc.) and remains so in modern times amongst both children and adults. The regions will also take over the assets of the "ex-Fivondronampokontany".

For an island of relatively small population, Ireland has made a disproportionately large contribution to world literature in all its branches, mainly in English. Although they are subdivisions of the provinces, they are representatives (and representing the people) of the republic, not the province. Prominent Irish sporting stars include:. Meanwhile the 28 regions originally proposed had become 22. Kildare, which is just outside Dublin. 2004-001. The 2006 Ryder Cup will be held in the K Club in Co. In 2004, the regions were finally created by the national assembly in law no.

Golf is an extremely popular sport in Ireland and Golfing Tourism is a major industry. This effectively means that the autonomous provinces have ceased to exist as such, although it remains unclear whether they will remain in place. Boxing is also an all-island sport governed by the Irish Amateur Boxing Association. The new president, Ravalomanana, replaced the provincial governments by special delegations, appointed by the president. The horse racing sector is largely concentrated in the central east of the Republic. During the power struggle after the presidential elections in 2001, five of those provinces, whose governors supported Ratsiraka, declared themselves independent from the republic. The Republic is noted for the breeding and training of race horses and is also a large exporter of racing dogs. The autonomous provinces, having the same names and territories as the already existing provinces, were created in 2000.

Greyhound racing and horse racing are both popular in Ireland: greyhound stadiums are well attended and there are frequent horse race meetings. With Didier Ratsiraka back in power, the constitution was changed in 1998, to include and specifically mention six autonomous provinces, divided into undefined regions and communes. The IFA still retains All-Ireland cups and trophies at its Belfast HQ. The communes were created in 1996. The Republic of Ireland made it to the World Cup in 1990 (where they made it to the quarter-finals), 1994 and 2002. In the law passed by the national assembly in 1994, three such entity levels were defined: region (faritra), department (departemanta) and commune (kaominina). Northern Ireland qualified for the Football World Cup finals in 1958 (where they made it to the quarter-finals), 1982 and 1986. The name, number, and limits of territorial entities should be determined by law.

It was not until 1950 that FIFA directed the Associations to only select players from within their respective territories, and in 1953 FIFA further clarified that the FAI's team was to be known only as "Republic of Ireland", and the IFA's team only as "Northern Ireland". The constitution of 1992 ruled that the country should be organized in decentralized territorial entities. Both also referred to their respective teams as "Ireland". During the second republic, the country was divided into five levels:. However, both the IFA and FAI continued to select their teams from the whole of Ireland, with some players earning international caps for matches with both teams. Madagascar is also part of the Indian Ocean Commission. Despite the new organisation being initially blacklisted by the Home Nations' football associations, the Association was recognised by FIFA in 1923 and organised its first international fixture in 1926 (against Italy in Turin). The Constitutional Court approves the constitutionality of new laws.

Following an incident in which, despite an earlier promise, the IFA moved an Irish Cup final replay from Dublin to Belfast, the clubs based in the Free State set up a new Football Association of the Irish Free State (FAIFS) - now known as the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) - in 1921. For its part, the National Assembly can pass a motion of censure and require the prime minister and council of ministers to step down. However, some clubs based outside Belfast felt that the IFA largely favoured Ulster-based, Protestant clubs in such matters as selection for the national team. The president can dissolve the National Assembly. Football was being played in Ireland since the 1860s, but remained a minority sport outside of Ulster until the 1880s. The prime minister and members of Parliament initiate legislation, and the government executes it. The Irish Football Association (IFA) was originally the governing body for football (soccer) throughout the island. The president appoints the prime minister.

The same is true of cricket. A prime minister and council of ministers carries out day-to-day management of government. Consequently in international rugby, the Ireland team represents the whole island. The Senate consists of 90 senators, two-thirds elected by local legislators and other Grand Electors and one-third appointed by the president, all for 6-year terms. The Irish rugby team includes players from north and south, and the Irish Rugby Football Union governs the sport on both sides of the border. The last election was held in December 2002. All GAA players, even at the highest level, are amateurs and receive no wages. The National Assembly consists of 160 representatives elected by direct vote every 5 years.

All major GAA games are played here, including the semi-finals and finals of the All-Ireland championships. The president is elected by direct universal suffrage for a 5-year term, renewable twice. The headquarters of the GAA (and the main stadium) is located at the 83,000 capacity Croke Park in north Dublin. The principal institutions of the Republic of Madagascar are a presidency, a parliament (National Assembly and Senate), a prime ministry and cabinet, and an independent judiciary. The GAA is organised on an all-Ireland basis with all 32 counties competing; traditionally, counties first compete within their province, in the provincial championships, and the winners then compete in the All-Ireland senior hurling or football championships. In March 1998, Malagasy voters approved a revised Constitution. All Gaelic games are governed by the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA), with the exception of Ladies' Gaelic Football, which is governed by a separate organisation. Financing and specific powers for the regional administrations remain to be clarified.

Along with Camogie, Ladies' Gaelic football, handball and rounders, they make up the national sports of Ireland, collectively known as Gaelic Games. In September 2004, the Government named 22 Regional Chiefs, reporting directly to the President, to implement its decentralization plans. Gaelic football and hurling are the most popular sports in Ireland. Subsequent legislation established a structure of 22 regions to decentralize administration. On July 28, 2005, the Provisional IRA (PIRA) announced the end of its armed campaign and on September 25, 2005 international weapons inspectors supervised the full disarmament of the PIRA. Following the crisis of 2002, the President replaced provincial governors with appointed PDSs (Presidents des Delegations Speciales). In 2001 the armed police force in the north (which operated much like an army with armoured cars etc.), the Royal Ulster Constabulary (or RUC for short), was replaced by the PSNI (Police Service of Northern Ireland). November 2003 municipal elections were conducted freely, returning a majority of supporters of the president, but also significant numbers of independent and regional opposition figures.

Violence has greatly decreased since the signing of the accord. December 2002 legislative elections gave his newly formed TIM (Tiako-I-Madagasikara) (I Love Madagascar) Party a commanding majority in the National Assembly. In 1998, following a Provisional IRA cease-fire, the Good Friday Agreement was concluded and attempts began to be made to restore self-government to Northern Ireland on the basis of power sharing between the two communities. After the end of the 2002 political crisis, President Ravalomanana began many reform projects, forcefully advocating "rapid and durable development" and the launching of a battle against corruption. Owing to the civil unrest the British government suspended home rule in 1972 and imposed direct rule. Ratsiraka is from the coastal Betsimisaraka tribe and Ravalomanana comes from the highland Merina tribe. Other groups, legal and illegal on the unionist side, and illegal on the nationalist side, began to participate in the violence and the period known as the "Troubles" began. In addition to political differences, ethnic differences played a role in the crisis and continue to play a role in politics.

It was during this period of civil unrest that the paramilitary Provisional IRA, who favoured the creation of a united Ireland, began its campaign against Unionist rule. Sporadic violence and considerable economic disruption continued until July 2002 when Ratsiraka and several of his prominent supporters fled to exile in France. Nationalist grievances at unionist discrimination within the state eventually led to large civil rights protests in 1960s, which the government suppressed heavy-handedly, most notably on "Bloody Sunday". A political crisis followed in which Ratsiraka supporters cut major transport routes from the primary port city to the capital city, a stronghold of Ravalomanana support. Consequently, Catholics could not participate in the government, which at times openly encouraged discrimination in housing and employment. Marc Ravalomanana contested the results and claimed victory. However the Protestant and Catholic communities in Northern Ireland each voted almost entirely along sectarian lines, meaning that the government of Northern Ireland (elected by "first past the post") was always controlled by the Ulster Unionist Party. The Ministry of the Interior declared incumbent Ratsiraka of the AREMA party victorious.

From its creation in 1921 until 1972 Northern Ireland enjoyed limited self-government within the United Kingdom, with its own parliament and prime minister. In December 2001, a presidential election was held in which both major candidates claimed victory. By the early 2000s, it had become one of the richest countries (in terms of GDP per capita) in the European Union, moving from being a net recipient to a net contributor and from a population with net emigration to one with net immigration. A National Assembly dominated by members of President Ratsiraka'a political party AREMA subsequently passed the 1998 Constitution, which considerably strengthened the presidency. That decade saw the beginning of unprecedented economic success, in a phenomenon known as the "Celtic Tiger". After President Zafy's impeachment by the National Assembly in 1996 and the short quasi-presidency of Norbert Ratsirahonana, the 1997 elections once again pitted Zafy and Ratsiraka, with Ratsiraka this time emerging victorious. The state was plagued by poverty and emigration until the 1990s. Zafy was sworn in as President on March 27, 1993.

In 1949 the state declared itself to be a republic and that henceforth it should be described as the Republic of Ireland. Runoff elections were held in February 1993, and the leader of the Hery Velona movement, Albert Zafy, defeated Ratsiraka. The state was neutral during World War II but offered some assistance to the Allies. Presidential elections were held on November 25, 1992, after the High Constitutional Court had ruled, over Hery Velona objections, that Ratsiraka could become a candidate. The party introduced a new constitution in 1937 which renamed the state to simply "Éire or in the English language, Ireland" (preface to the Constitution). The text of the new Constitution was put to a nationwide referendum in August 1992 and approved by a wide margin, despite efforts by federalists to disrupt balloting in several coastal areas. However in the 1930s Fianna Fáil, the party of the opponents of the treaty, were elected into government. Troops guarding the proceedings clashed with pro-Ratsiraka "federalists" who tried to disrupt the forum in protest of draft constitutional provisions preventing the incumbent president from running again.

For its first years the new state was governed by the victors of the Civil War. In March 1992, a widely representative National Forum organized by the FFKM (Malagasy Christian Council of Churches) drafted a new Constitution. In 1922, in the middle of this civil war, the Irish Free State came into being. The High Constitutional Court was retained as the ultimate judicial arbiter of the process. The Anglo-Irish Treaty was narrowly ratified by the Dáil in December 1921 but was rejected by a large minority, resulting in the Irish Civil War which lasted until 1923. The resulting "Panorama Convention" of October 31, 1991, stripped Ratsiraka of nearly all of his powers, created interim institutions, and set an 18-month timetable for completing a transition to a new form of constitutional government. Secession for the rest of Ireland led directly to the Civil War, as militant nationalists split into two factions and turned against one another. In an increasingly weakened position, Ratsiraka acceded to negotiations on the formation of a transitional government.

The remaining six, in the north-east, remained within the Union as Northern Ireland. In response to largely peaceful mass demonstrations and crippling general strikes, Ratsiraka replaced his prime minister in August 1991 but suffered an irreparable setback soon thereafter when his troops fired on peaceful demonstrators marching on Iavoloha, the suburban presidential palace, killing more than 30. In 1922, following the Anglo-Irish War, twenty-six counties of Ireland seceded from the United Kingdom as the Irish Free State. A number of already existing political parties and their leaders, among them Albert Zafy and Rakotoniaina Manandafy, anchored this movement which was especially strong in Antananarivo and the surrounding high plateau. The late 19th and early 20th century saw a vigorous but unsuccessful campaign for Irish home rule, followed by the eclipse of moderate nationalism by militant separatism. These, along with political reforms like the elimination of press censorship in 1989 and the formation of more political parties in 1990, were insufficient to placate a growing opposition movement known as Hery Velona ("Active Forces"). The 19th century saw the Great Famine of the 1840s in which at least 1 million Irish people died and over a million were forced to emigrate. In response to a deteriorating economy, Ratsiraka relaxed socialist economic policies and instituted some liberal, private-sector reforms.

The whole island of Ireland would remain within the United Kingdom, ruled directly by the UK Parliament in London. With an easing of restrictions on political expression, beginning in the late 1980s, the Ratsiraka regime came under increasing pressure to make fundamental changes. In 1800 the Irish Parliament passed the Act of Union which, in 1801, merged the Kingdom of Ireland and the Kingdom of Great Britain to create the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. For much of this period, only limited and restrained political opposition was tolerated, with no direct criticism of the president permitted in the press.
. National elections in 1982 and 1989 returned Ratsiraka for a second and third 7-year presidential term. The new English Protestant ruling class was known as the Protestant Ascendancy. During this period a strategy of nationalization of private enterprises, centralization of the economy and "Malgasization" of the education system crippled the economy, leaving traces even today of a highly centralized economic system and a high level of illiteracy.

After the Irish Rebellion of 1641, Irish Catholics were barred from voting or attending the Irish Parliament. During the 16 subsequent years of President Ratsiraka's rule, Madagascar continued under a government committed to revolutionary socialism based on the 1975 Constitution establishing a highly centralized state. English rule was largely limited to the area around Dublin, known as the Pale, and Waterford, but this began to expand in the 16th century with the final collapse of the Gaelic social and political superstructure at the end of the 17th century, as a result of the Tudor re-conquest of Ireland and English and Scottish Protestant colonisation in the Plantations of Ireland, which established English control over the whole island. A provisional military directorate then ruled until a new government was formed in June 1975, under Didier Ratsiraka. In 1172, King Henry II of England gained Irish lands by the granting of the 1155 Bull Laudibiliter to him by then English Pope Adrian IV, and from the 13th century, English law began to be introduced. Richard Ratsimandrava, who was assassinated 6 days later. Eventually they settled in Ireland and established many towns, including the modern day cities of Dublin, Cork, Limerick and Waterford. Col.

This era was interrupted in the 9th century by 200 years of intermittent warfare with waves of Viking raiders who plundered monasteries and towns. Gabriel Ramanantsoa, resigned on February 5, 1975, handing over executive power to Lt. The arts of manuscript illumination, metalworking, and sculpture flourished and produced such treasures as the Book of Kells, ornate jewellery, and the many carved stone crosses that dot the island. The unrest continued, and Tsiranana's successor, Gen. Irish Christian scholars excelled in the study of Latin learning and Christian theology in the monasteries that flourished, preserving Latin learning during the Early Middle Ages. However, he resigned only 2 months later in response to massive antigovernment demonstrations. The druid tradition collapsed in the face of the spread of the new faith. Madagascar's first President, Philibert Tsiranana, was elected when his Social Democratic Party gained power at independence in 1960 and was reelected without opposition in March 1972.

Patrick arrived on the island and, in the years that followed, worked to convert the Irish to Christianity. A period of provisional government ended with the adoption of a constitution in 1959 and full independence on June 26, 1960. Tradition maintains that in AD 432, St. The Malagasy Republic was proclaimed on October 14, 1958, as an autonomous state within the French Community. The exact relationship between Rome and the tribes of Hibernia is unclear; the only references are a few Roman writings. The French subsequently established reformed institutions in 1956 under the Loi Cadre (Overseas Reform Act), and Madagascar moved peacefully toward independence. Native accounts are confined to Irish poetry, myth, and archaeology. In 1947, with French prestige at low ebb, a nationalist uprising was suppressed after several months of bitter fighting.

Ptolemy in AD 100 records Ireland's geography and tribes. The Free French received the island from the United Kingdom in 1943. Many scholars, however, now favour a view that emphasises cultural diffusion from overseas over significant colonisation.The Romans referred to Ireland as Hibernia. British troops occupied the strategic island in 1942 to preclude its seizure by the Japanese. They are traditionally thought to have colonised Ireland in a series of waves between the 8th and 1st centuries BC, with the Gael, the last wave of Celts, conquering the island and dividing it into five or more kingdoms. After France fell to Germany, the Vichy government administered Madagascar. The Iron Age in Ireland is associated with people now known as Celts. Action on the plan was never begun.

The Bronze Age, which began around 2500 BC, saw the production of elaborate gold and bronze ornaments and weapons. Immediately preceding the fall of France, Germany initiated planning to forcibly deport all of Europe's Jews to Madagascar in what was known as the Madagascar Plan. Stone age inhabitants arrived sometime after 8000 BC, with the culture progressing from Mesolithic to high Neolithic over the course of three or four millennia. During World War II, Malagasy troops fought in France, Morocco, and Syria. It has been inhabited for about 9,000 years. Before leaving port the Russian sailors were required to put ashore the animals they had acquired, including monkeys, boa constrictors and one crocodile. Ireland was mostly ice-covered and joined by land to Britain and Europe during the last ice age. In December 1904, the Russian Baltic Fleet stopped at Diego Suarez for coal and provisions before sailing on to its doomed encounter with the Japanese Fleet in the Battle of Tsushima.

In contrast the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) uses the Tricolour to represent the whole island. Absolute French control over Madagascar was established by military force in 1895-1896, and the Merina monarchy was abolished. St Patrick's Saltire is used to represent the island of Ireland by the all-island Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU). The British accepted the imposition of a French protectorate over Madagascar in 1885 in return for eventual control over Zanzibar (now part of Tanzania) and as part of an overall definition of spheres of influence in the area. The Royal Standard also shows a version of an ancient Irish flag (depicting a harp) in one of its four quadrants. British influence remained strong for several decades, during which the Merina court was converted to Presbyterianism, Congregationalism, and Anglicanism. However as the tricolour is the flag of the Republic of Ireland it is not used to represent the island of Ireland, given that the island also includes Northern Ireland. In return, the island received British military and financial assistance.

Patrick's cross, the flag sometimes used for the Kingdom of Ireland and which represented Ireland on the Union Flag after the Act of Union, a green flag with a harp (used by some radical nationalists in the 19th century and which is also the flag of Leinster), a blue flag with a harp used from the 18th century onwards by many nationalists (now the standard of the President of Ireland), and the Irish tricolour. In 1817, the Merina ruler and the British governor of Mauritius concluded a treaty abolishing the slave trade, which had been important in Madagascar's economy. Historically a number of flags were used, including St. Beginning in the 1790s, Merina rulers succeeded in establishing hegemony over the major part of the island, including the coast. While the Tricolour is the official flag of the Republic, there is no universally agreed flag that represents the entire island of Ireland. For a short time the Betsimisaraka of the east coast also unified, but this unification was short lived. More details http://www.npws.ie/[1]. But with the domination of the Indian Ocean by the British fleet and the end of the Arab slave trade, the Sakalava would lose their power to the emerging Merina threat.

http://www.npws.ie/en/PublicationsLiterature/IrishWildlifeManuals/. The influence of the Sakalava extended across what is now the provinces of Antsiranana, Mahajanga and Toliara. The volumes are published on an irregular basis by Ireland's National Parks and Wildlife Service. Among these were the Sakalava chiefdoms of the Menabe, centered in what is now the town of Morondava, and of Boina, centered in what is now the provincial capital of Mahajanga (Majunga). Irish Wildlife Manuals is a series of contract reports relating to the conservation management of habitats and species in Ireland. Large chiefdoms began to dominate considerable areas of the island. Ireland has a very rich marine avifauna, with many large seabird colonies dotted around its coastline such as those on the Saltee Islands and Skellig Michael. During the Middle Ages, the chiefs of the different settlements on the island began to extend their power through trade with Madagascar's Indian Ocean neighbors, notably North Africa, the Middle-east and India.

About 400 bird species have been recorded in Ireland, many of which are migratory, either arctic birds who come in the winter, or birds such as the Swallow which come from Africa in the summer to breed. From about 1774 to 1824, it was a favorite haunt for pirates, including Americans, one of whom brought Malagasy rice to South Carolina. See List of Irish Mammals. In the late 17th century, the French established trading posts along the east coast. rabbits and the Brown Rat. European contact began in the 1500s, when Portuguese sea captain Diego Dias sighted the island after his ship became separated from a fleet going to India. Some introduced species have become thoroughly naturalised, e.g. The written history of Madagascar began in the 7th century, when Arabs established trading posts along the northwest coast.

Some species, such as the Red Fox, Hedgehog, Stoat, and Badger are very common, whereas others, like the Red Deer and Pine Marten are rare and only seen in certain national parks and nature reserves around the island. . Only 31 mammal species are native to Ireland, again because it was isolated from Europe by rising sea levels after the Ice Age. The adjective and noun (language, ethnicity and citizenship) derived from Madagascar is Malagasy. The Flora of Ireland. Among its most notable examples of biodiversity are the lemur family of primates, three endemic bird families and its baobab trees. Many different habitat types are found in Ireland, including farmland, open woodland, temperate forests, conifer plantations, peat bogs, and various coastal habitats. It is the home of five percent of the world's plant and animal species, 80 percent of them unique to Madagascar.

Nevertheless, it is home to hundreds of plant species. The main island, also called Madagascar, is the fourth largest island in the world. Ireland's flora is poorer in species numbers than Britain or mainland Europe because it became an island very soon after the end of the last Ice Age, about 8,000 years ago. The Republic of Madagascar, or Madagascar, is an island nation in the Indian Ocean, off the eastern coast of Africa. These areas are largely spectacularly mountainous and rocky, with beautiful green vistas.
. Transportation in Madagascar. Ireland's least arable land lies in the south-western and western counties. Military of Madagascar.

Across Ireland, the 32 counties are still used in sports and in some other cultural areas and retain a strong sense of local identity. Foreign relations of Madagascar. For election constituencies, some counties are merged or divided, but constitutionally the boundaries have to be observed. Communications in Madagascar. In the Republic, the county boundaries are still adhered to for local government, albeit with Tipperary and Dublin subdivided (some cities also have their own administrative regions). US State Department [2]. Six of the Ulster counties remain under British sovereignty as Northern Ireland following Ireland's partition in 1922 (the remaining 26 forming present-day Republic of Ireland); since the UK's 1974 reshuffle these county boundaries no longer exist in Northern Ireland for administrative purposes, although Fermanagh District Council is almost identical to the county. CIA World Factbook [1].

These were further divided into 32 counties for administrative purposes. American Journal of Human Genetics, 76:894-901, 2005.. Previously there were five provinces - Connacht, Munster, Ulster, Leinster and Meath, comprising the counties of Meath, Westmeath and Longford. The Dual Origin of the Malagasy in Island Southeast Asia and East Africa: Evidence from Maternal and Paternal Lineages. In Irish these are referred to as Cúige's ( Cúige - meaning fifths). Hules, et al (2005). Ireland is divided into four provinces: Connacht, Leinster, Munster and Ulster. Matthew E.

The island's area is 32,477 square miles (84,079 km²). According to the latest census data, the majority of Malagasy citizens (about 52%) practice indigenous religious beliefs rather than world religions. The island's lush vegetation, a product of its mild climate and frequent but soft rainfall, earns it the sobriquet "Emerald Isle". The situation reversed itself when the company reintroduced its classic formula. The island is bisected by the River Shannon, at 161 miles (259 km) the longest river in Ireland or Britain. The Malagasy economy took a brief downturn during the 1980s when Coca-Cola, the world's leading purchaser of vanilla, switched to the New Coke formula that contained synthetic vanillin. The highest peak is Carrauntuohill (Irish: Corrán Tuathail), which is 3414 feet (1041 m). Both nations instead use multiples of five.

A ring of coastal mountains surrounds low central plains. Madagascar and Mauritania are the only countries in the world not to use decimal-based currency. Another suggestion, although much less used, is the Islands of the North Atlantic (IONA). List of writers from Madagascar. For this reason, "Britain and Ireland" is commonly used as a more neutral alternative. Music of Madagascar. However, some people, especially in Ireland, take exception to this name, which seems to suggest that both islands belong to Britain. Tootiorou.

The island is often referred to as being part of the British Isles. Menabe. The Ireland Funds, an international fund-raising organisation, tries to help people on both sides find peace and reconciliation through community development, education, arts and culture. Tasimo Andrefana. Irish and Scottish traditional music have many similarities. Anosy. Traditional Irish music, for example, though showing some variance in all geographical areas, is, broadly speaking, the same on both sides of the border. Androy.

The island also has a shared culture in many other ways. Toliara