itunes charts, are they for country only

When I look at the itunes top 200 chart for songs is that for Ireland?

Ireland. Though by what measure that "top 200" is compiled Apple does not detail.

If it's Ireland only, can I view the top 200 in other countries.

Sure. Just click the "Change Country" link at the very bottom of the iTunes Store main page and select the country whose charts you wish to view. You won't be able to purchase from those countries, so don't forget to change back to Ireland when you're done looking at the charts.

Regards.

I assume it's from downloads. But from what date till what date or time to time? Is there other factors, ratings and such? I was keeping an eye on one band and they moved 14 places in the space of an hour.

Apple has refused to provide such information so as to keep content owners from "gaming the system" to push their item farther up the chart. Your guess is as good as mine, and both of us could easily be wrong.

Any song you buy from the Irish iTunes Store, which is the only Store you can buy through, would apply to any count of such things there, yes. But whether that is how those charts are calculated is unknown.

Regards.