temperatures of between 4 °C and 7 °C while July and August are the warmest, with mean temperatures of between 14 °C and 16 °C. May and June are the sunniest months, averaging five to seven hours of sunshine per day. In low-lying areas average annual rainfall is mostly between 800mm and 1200mm but in mountainous areas it may exceed 2000mm.
The southern and western parts of Ireland have the longest growing season in the British Isles because of their mild climate and plentiful rainfall. In many areas, pasturelands can be used the year around.
Economy
Ireland has one of the best performing economies in the industrialised world with the fastest growth rate in the OECD area for the fourth successive year. The growth in real GNP is estimated at 8.3%. The economy is expected to expand on average about 4% in the coming years.
Demographics
The population of Ireland was estimated at 3.704 million in April 1998, a rise of 44,300 or 1.2 % on the previous April. This annual population increase (44,300) is the largest since 1979 (54,000). By 2001, four out of every ten people were under 25 years of age, a much higher proportion than in any other European country, and a statistic of great importance to companies relying on future availability of labour.
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