爱尔兰人，狭义上指爱尔兰共和国的公民，广义上来讲是自古居住在爱尔兰岛上的人们。广义的爱尔兰人属于凯尔特(Celtic)人种。爱尔兰岛分为两部分，南部是爱尔兰共和国，北部是北爱尔兰，由英国统治。但无论南北，都属于广义的爱尔兰人。爱尔兰人大部分信仰天主教，北爱尔兰有部分人信仰英国国教。

爱尔兰人（Irish: Muintir na hÉireann or na hÉireannaigh; Ulster-Scots: Airisch or Airish fowk）是欧洲西北部的爱尔兰岛的一个种族。爱尔兰岛有人居住的历史达9000年（根据考古学研究，详见史前爱尔兰）

The Irish people (Irish:Muintir na hÉireann or Na hÉireannaigh) are a nation and ethnic group native to the island of Ireland, who share a common Irish ancestry, identity and culture. Ireland has been inhabited for about 9,000 years according to archaeological studies (see Prehistoric Ireland). For most of Ireland's recorded history, the Irish have been primarily a Gaelic people (see Gaelic Ireland). Anglo-Normans conquered parts of Ireland in the 12th century, while England's 16th/17th century (re)conquest and colonization of Ireland brought a large number of English and Lowland Scots to parts of the island, especially the north. Today, Ireland is made up of the Republic of Ireland (an independent state), and the smaller Northern Ireland (a part of the United Kingdom). The people of Northern Ireland hold various national identities; including Irish, Northern Irish, British, or some combination thereof.