Munster

:''For other places with the same or similar names, and other uses of the word, see Munster (disambiguation). Irish Place|

 name          = Munster|
 gaeilge       = Cúige Mumhan|
 flag image    = Flag of Munster.svg|
 map image     = IrelandMunster.png|
 area          = 24,607.52|
 population    = 1,172,170|
 census yr     = 2006|}}

Munster (Irish: An Mhumhain, ) is the southernmost of the four provinces of Ireland. It comprises the counties of Clare, Cork, Kerry, Limerick, Tipperary and Waterford.

The name is derived from the Celtic goddess, Muma. The province was once divided into six regions: Tuadh Mhuman (north Munster), Deas Mhuman (south Munster), Urh Mumhan (east Munster), Iar mumhan (west Munster), Ernaibh Muman (the Ernai tribe's portion of Munster), and Deisi Muman (the Deisi tribe's portion of Munster). Ultimately, these were all subsumed into the kingdoms of Thomond (north), Desmond (south), and Ormond (east), all of which were eventually subsumed by surrender and regrant as Earldoms in the Peerage of Ireland. The names exist only indirectly today, particularly in the case of Thomond. The three crowns represent these three kingdoms. This flag can easily be confused with the flag of Dublin which has three castles in a similar pattern on a blue background; it also resembles the lesser coat-of-arms of Sweden.

For 30 days during the Irish Civil War, the province of Munster broke away from the Irish Free State and established the Munster Republic in opposition to the acceptance of the Anglo-Irish Treaty. The Munster Republic was short lived and subsequently crushed by armed Free State forces.

Munster is also an Irish Rugby Football Union representative side which competes in the Celtic League and for the Heineken Cup, winning in 2006.

Cities

Metropolitan Cork is the largest city conurbation which has a population of approximately 274,000 (2006).

Other important city conurbations are Limerick (93,321) and Waterford (44,594).

Large Towns

*Ennis (25,263)
*Tralee (23,261)
*Clonmel (17,529)
*Carrigaline (13,574)
*Killarney (14,025)
*Mallow (9,689)
*Cobh (10,738)
*Midleton (9,231)
*Tramore (9,481)

Economy

The province of Munster contributes in excess of 30 billion euro to Irish GDP.(2002) (equivalent to the GDP of Northern Ireland)(See "GDP stats" below)

The following are some of the more important employers in the region: Dell, Amazon, Motorola, Amgen, Pfizer, Analog Devices, Vistakon, Waterford Crystal, Apple Computer, Novartis, 02, Kerry Group, Siemens, Sony.

The province is continuing to play an ever greater role in the bio-pharmaceutical industry and fighting off stiff competition from Switzerland and Singapore for inward investments in the bio-pharmaceutical area such as Amgen and Pfizer.Munster is becoming increasingly important as one of Ireland's most important I.T. hubs outside of Dublin with such multinationals as Apple Computer, Amazon and Dell locating their operations in the province.

Irish Language

The Irish language is spoken as a first language in Gaeltachtaí (Irish speaking areas);
* in West Kerry (Corce Dhuibhne)
* in South Kerry (Uíbh Ráthach), though incredibly endangered
* in West Cork (Múscraí)
* in south-west Cork (Oileán Cléire)
* in south-west Waterford (Gaeltacht na Rinne or Gaeltacht na nDeise)The Irish language in Munster, like the rest of Ireland, is also increasing outside of the Gaeltachtaí. Within the past thirty years, there has been a big increase in the amount of Gaelscoileanna (Irish language schools) outside of the Gaeltachtaí. As in Dublin and in Belfast, there is now a mini 'urban' Gaeltacht in Cork city, though it does not have the same high profile for the language.

Munster Stadia

* Tipperary County Thurles Semple Stadium 55,000 (2nd)
* Limerick County Limerick Gaelic Grounds 50,000 (3rd)
* Cork County Cork Páirc Uí Chaoimh 43,500 (4th)
* Kerry County Killarney FitzGerald Stadium 43 000
* Clare County Ennis Cusack Park 28 000
* Waterford County Waterford Walsh Park 17 000
* GAA-use Waterford Fraher Field 15 000
* Munster Rugby Cork Musgrave Park 14 500
* Munster Rugby Limerick Thomond Park Stadium 13 300
* Cork City Cork Turners Cross Stadium 11 500
* Limerick FC Limerick Hogan Park 10 000
* Cobh Ramblers Cobh St. Colman's Park 10 000
* Waterford United Waterford Regional Sports Centre 8 200

Munster: Encyclopedia BETA

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