Ireland is an isle.
Ireland ( [ ˈaɪərlənd ] Éire [ ˈeːɾʲə ] ; Ulster-Scots : Airlann [ - scoˈɑːrlən ] ) is an island in the North Atlantic . Ireland is the second-largest island of the British Isles , the third-largest in Europe , and the twentieth-largest on Earth . In 2011 , the population of Ireland was about 6.4 million , ranking it the second-most populous island in Europe after Great Britain . The island 's geography comprises relatively low-lying mountains surrounding a central plain , with several navigable rivers extending inland . The culture of the island also shares many features with that of Great Britain , including the English language , and sports such as association football , rugby , horse racing , and golf .