Ireland’s natural resources are notable for their minerals, especially zinc and lead, mined at Tara Mines near Navan, and gold, found at Clontibret, along with 52 km³ of renewable freshwater resources. Fishing and rivers such as the Shannon also stand out. What mineral resources does Ireland have?
Ireland is a country in Western Europe with a great diversity of natural resources. The country is a place of great ecological importance.
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In addition, its coasts and rivers provide an abundance of fish and shellfish, which has made fishing an economic activity of great importance. However, the sustainable use of Ireland’s natural resources remains a key challenge today.
What are Ireland’s natural resources? What animals and plants live in Ireland? What mineral resources does Ireland have, and how does it compare with other countries?
Natural resources
Natural resources are materials or energy sources provided by or found on Earth that are useful to humans. Every product we manufacture is made up of natural resources.
- Renewable resources: these can be restored by natural processes faster than the rate at which they are consumed. Examples include solar radiation, wind, hydroelectric power, water when used properly, and plant and animal life.
- Non-renewable resources: once extracted, these are depleted and cannot regenerate. Examples include hydrocarbons, metals and minerals.
Examples of Ireland’s main natural resources
Environmental profile of Ireland
Land use, available water and energy, in comparable figures.
| Agricultural land | 60.8% of land area2023 |
|---|---|
| Arable land | 6.4% of land area2023 |
| Forest cover | 11.5% of land area2023 |
| Renewable freshwater per capita | 9,400 m³ per year2022 |
| Renewable electricity | 37.2% of total generation2021 |
| Protected land area | 14.2% of land area2025 |
Gas resources in Ireland
In 2024, the country produced 1,081 million cubic meters of natural gas, according to Eurostat.
Examples of Ireland’s mineral resources
Ireland has a rich variety of mineral resources. The most common minerals mined or explored for in Ireland are zinc, lead, gold, gypsum and coal. Zinc and lead are mined mainly at Tara Mines, near Navan in County Meath, while gold deposits have been identified through exploration in the Clontibret area, in County Monaghan. Gypsum, on the other hand, is found largely in the Kingscourt area, in County Cavan.
In Ireland, coal reserves stood at 15,432,340 tonnes in 2016. The main coal-producing region in Ireland is the Leinster Coalfield, in the east of the country.
Water resources of Ireland
Ireland has 52 km³ of renewable freshwater resources, which places it 83rd in the world. This island country has many rivers and lakes, the most important being the River Shannon and the River Barrow, as well as Lough Corrib, the largest lake in the Republic of Ireland.
Average rainfall and soils of Ireland
Ireland has an average annual rainfall of 1,118 mm, which places it 71st in the world. Rain falls steadily throughout the year.
Soil moisture is high, which favors plant growth and agriculture.
Renewable electricity and hydropower production in Ireland
In 2025, Ireland generated 14.9 TWh of electricity from renewable sources — 48% of its total generation of 31.0 TWh — and hydropower alone supplied 650 GWh (Ember, 2025). The country’s main hydroelectric plant is Ardnacrusha, on the River Shannon, with a generating capacity of 86 MW.
Forest resources of Ireland
Ireland’s forest area covers 11.35% of its territory, equivalent to 7,820.2 km². It ranks 124th in the world for forest area, and the Wicklow forest region is one of the most important in the country and a vital resource for biodiversity conservation and climate change mitigation.
Environmental performance and protection of Ireland’s natural resources
Ireland has an Environmental Performance Index (2024) score of 65.8 and ranks 16th, according to the Yale EPI 2024. In addition, terrestrial protected areas cover 14.2% of its land area, which demonstrates its commitment to conserving natural resources.
Natural parks of Ireland: the hidden wealth of natural resources
Biodiversity: animal and plant resources of Ireland
Birds of Ireland
Ireland has a rich diversity of birds, with a total of 411 species recorded, according to data from BirdLife International (2023). The country ranks 156th in the world.
However, it should be noted that 9 of these species are endangered. Among the most notable species is the Atlantic puffin, one of the country’s most emblematic birds.
Fish and amphibians of Ireland
Ireland has 399 fish species, and its main fish species is the brown trout. Although it is not near the top of the world ranking for number of fish species, where it ranks 137th, it is important to note that the country has 28 threatened fish species.
Mammals of Ireland
In Ireland, 5 threatened mammal species were recorded in 2016.
It is important to stress the need to protect and conserve natural resources to ensure the survival of wildlife, notably the red fox.
Reptiles of Ireland
Ireland has a total of 18 reptile species, which places it 125th in the world for diversity of these animals. A notable species is the viviparous lizard, Ireland’s only native land reptile.
Organizations that protect or study Ireland’s natural resources
- National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) – Protects and conserves Ireland’s biodiversity and natural heritage.
- Irish Environmental Network (IEN) – A network of environmental organizations working together to protect Ireland’s environment.
- BirdWatch Ireland – Conservation of birds and their habitats in Ireland.
- Friends of the Earth Ireland – Campaigns for environmental justice and sustainability in Ireland.
- Coastwatch Ireland – Monitoring and protection of Ireland’s coast and marine resources.
- Trees on the Land – Reforestation and planting of native trees in Ireland.
- Bat Conservation Ireland – Conservation and study of bats and their habitats in Ireland.
Ireland is not known for rich mineral or fossil fuel resources, but it is home to Europe’s largest zinc mine: Tara Mines, near Navan, which produces about 200,000 tonnes of zinc concentrate a year, according to Boliden Tara, 2025. Its real natural strengths, however, lie in its farmland, its wind and that one exceptional metal deposit.
Europe’s largest zinc mine
Tara Mines, in County Meath, is the largest zinc mine in Europe and one of the largest in the world. It has operated since 1977 and is now run by the Swedish company Boliden, which reopened it at the end of 2024, according to Boliden, 2025.
A European leader in wind energy
Wind supplied about a third of the electricity on the island of Ireland in 2024, with peaks of 41% in December, according to Wind Energy Ireland, 2025. The country surpassed 5,000 MW of installed onshore wind capacity for the first time.
Green pastures: dairy and beef
The wet climate and pastures make livestock farming the country’s great export resource. Exports of butter, cheese, milk and yogurt reached €3.8 billion, and meat exports reached €3.9 billion, according to the Central Statistics Office (CSO), 2024.
Frequently asked questions
Is Ireland rich in mineral resources? Not broadly, but it is rich in zinc: Tara Mines is the largest zinc mine in Europe, producing about 200,000 tonnes of concentrate a year, according to Boliden Tara, 2025.
How does Ireland perform environmentally? It ranks 16th out of 180 countries on the Environmental Performance Index, with a score of 65.8, according to Yale EPI, 2024.
Sources used
- List of countries by mineral production – Wikipedia
- Economic data by country – The Global Economy
- Forest area (km²) – World Bank
- Forest area (% of land area) – World Bank
- Coal reserves – Worldometers
- Water and agriculture statistics – FAO
- Precipitation (mm) – World Bank
- Environmental Performance Index – Environmental Performance Index
- Bird species – Mongabay
- Amphibian species by country – Mongabay
- Mammal species – Mongabay
- Endemic mammal species – Our World in Data
- Plant species – Mongabay
- Reptile species by country – Mongabay
- Endemic bird species by country – Our World in Data
Ireland’s Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reported in 2023 that wind energy supplied more than 33% of the country’s electricity, with wind farms continuing to expand.
Last updated: September 26, 2026
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