Eire is the Gaelic name for Ireland. The island's geography comprises a central plain surrounded by relatively low-lying mountains. Due to Ireland's mild oceanic climate, which avoides temperature extremes, vegetation is lush. The sobriquet, The Emerald Isle, came from the poem, 'When Erin First Rose' by William Drennin. The population of over 8 million in 1841 was almost halved by 1921. This dramatic population collapse was due partly to the Great Famine of 1845 to 1852, during which around 1 million people died. However, by far the greater reason for population decline was the dire economic state of the Ireland, which led to a deep-rooted culture of emigration lasting until the 21st century. This contributed to the Populations of England, the United States, Canada and Australia. In 2006 4.3 million Canadians and 34.5 million Americans claimed Irish ancestry.
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