*Ireland has an enduring tradition of providing high-quality education, an approach that has a played a leading role in the country’s rapid economic development.

*Ireland is an English speaking country – and Irish too if you feel like learning something a little different!

*The 2006 IMD World Competitiveness Yearbook compiled the scores of the following countries in relation to how the national education system meets the needs of a competitive economy: Spain 3.51, UK 4.40, Germany 5.03, France 5.48, USA 5.65, Netherlands 5.68, Belgium 6.76 and Ireland 7.43.

*Ireland has a young, dynamic population with 40 per cent of the population aged under 25, which makes Ireland a top international student destination.

*Ireland is an increasingly multicultural country; 420,000 foreign nationals currently live here, about 10 per cent of the population. International students are important contributors to the continuing development of this exciting new society.

*Ireland’s worldwide reputation for friendliness is not a myth, in 2007 it just beat the US and Malawi to the number-one spot in travel publishers Lonely Planet’s chart of the friendliest nations on earth.

*Ireland has a beautiful landscape and very temperate weather that is ideal for outdoor pursuits.

*Ireland is a highly developed democracy within the EU, with a modern economy and a free media. It is also one of the safest countries in the world to live in.

*Ireland is at the cutting edge of science and technology, and is therefore a prime destination for international research students.

*Most international students seeking an English language destination decide upon the UK or the US. Ireland represents something that’s a little different, so why not come here? Variety is, after all, the spice of life!