"Geographically, Ireland is a medium-sized rural island that is slowly but steadily being consumed by sheep"

This quote by Dave Barry is a funny means of explaining the size and populace of Ireland. By claiming that the island is being "eaten by sheep," Barry is indicating that the populace of Ireland is lowering, which the land is coming to be extra rural. This is likely due to the truth that lots of people have actually left the island to go after opportunities somewhere else. The expression "medium-sized" indicates that Ireland is not a big nation, yet it is also not a small one either. This quote is a humorous way of defining the size and populace of Ireland, and the truth that it is coming to be much more rural as people leave the island.