6 measurements that will change the way you see Ireland

Allow us to change your perspective.

MOST OF US stop thinking about the size of the country after we’re finished with Geography in school.

But sometimes these little facts and measurements can give you a whole new perspective on the place. (Or, failing that, will give you the upper hand at the next pub quiz you attend, eh?)

See if you can guess the figures as we take you across the length and breadth of Ireland…

1. Local area

Ireland’s area is just over 84,409 square kilometres, with the Republic taking up 70,273 square kilometres of that.

Ireland, Ring of Kerry Ring of Kerry minniemouseaunt minniemouseaunt

2. Sea to shore

We have a truly breathtaking coastline on our hands here in Ireland, don’t we? But can you guess just how long it is altogether? Well, it comes in at a whopping 3,172 km.

InisBoffin Island, Galway, Ireland - 57 Inisboffin IvanWalsh.com IvanWalsh.com

3. M&M

This one you might remember from your Geography ekker back in the day. From Antrim down to Cork, you’d cover a distance of 486km. And travel even one kilometre more, and you’d be right into the sea – at either end.

Inishowen 255 Looking west from Malin Head alister667 alister667

4. Every breadth you take

And as for across? Well, you’d have to head from Dundrum Head in Down across to Annagh Head in Mayo. That would tot up to 167km, the greatest breadth in Ireland.

The view from Annagh Head Flickr Flickr

5. Fitting in

OK, so the above stats might SOUND big, but actually Ireland isn’t so tough. In fact, we could fit into Canada just over 118 times. And you could fit us into Russia a staggering 202.5 times. To give you even more perspective, we would slot right into the area of Texas just over 8 times.

Irish countryside near Ballyconnell Near Ballyconnell jimmyharris jimmyharris

6. In overdrive

And even with all that coastline and countryside to explore, did you know that 70% of Irish drivers drive less than 100km per day?

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