What is the Nationality of Ireland? Understanding "Irish"

The demonym and nationality for the island of Ireland and the sovereign state of the Republic of Ireland is Irish (Irish: Éireannach, pronounced [ˈeːɾʲən̪ˠəx]).

Political vs. Geographic Nuance

It is crucial to distinguish between the island of Ireland (geographic) and the two political entities on it:

• Republic of Ireland (Éire): A sovereign nation. Its citizens hold Irish nationality and carry Irish passports (EU passports).
• Northern Ireland: Part of the United Kingdom. Residents are British citizens by law, but under the Good Friday Agreement, they have the birthright to identify as Irish, British, or both, and can hold an Irish passport.

Ethnic and Cultural Identity

"Irish" also denotes an ethnic group and cultural identity shared by the diaspora worldwide (over 70 million people claim Irish ancestry). The Irish language (Gaeilge) is the first official language of the Republic, though English is the dominant vernacular.