Munster

Munster is the largest of the four provinces of Ireland, in the southwest part of the island. It is completely inside the Republic of Ireland. Long ago, this area was called the Kingdom of Munster, ruled by a leader known as a "king of over-kings" in Gaelic Ireland. Later, after the Norman invasion of Ireland, the land was split into smaller parts called counties to make governing easier.

Today, Munster does not have an official role in local government, but people still know it by special codes like "IE-M." The province covers a big area of 24,675 km² (9,527 sq mi) and had a population of 1,373,346 in 2022. The largest city in Munster is Cork. Other important towns are Limerick and Waterford.

History

Main article: Kingdom of Munster

In the early years after Christ, Munster was home to groups like the Iverni. Important leaders included Cú Roí. Later, Saint Patrick visited and helped start Christian communities.

During the Early Middle Ages, Munster was part of the Kingdom of Munster, ruled by the Eóganachta family. Other groups such as the Gaels and Norse Vikings arrived and created towns like Cork, Waterford, and Limerick.

Over time, Munster split into smaller areas. Later, British settlers arrived during a period called the plantations. In the 1800s, the area suffered during the Great Famine. In the early 1900s, Munster was part of events leading to Ireland's independence.

Culture

Munster is famous for its traditions in Irish folk music and its many old castles and monasteries. People love to visit these places. In the fifth century, St. Patrick was in Munster, helping to start new churches and choosing leaders. Another important person from that time, Ailbe, is the special protector or patron saint of Munster.

Old Irish stories talk about powerful women and gods linked to Munster, like Anann, Áine, and Grian. Munster has had strong ties with places in Europe, trading goods and sharing ideas. For example, people from Munster traded with areas along the coast of France and had religious links with Germany.

Sport

Many sports are played in Munster, such as hurling, Gaelic football, rugby union, and soccer. Hurling is very important in Munster. Teams from Cork GAA, Tipperary GAA, and Limerick GAA are some of the best in Ireland. Rugby is popular in cities like Limerick and Cork. The Munster rugby team has won big competitions many times. Soccer is also played a lot, with clubs from Munster in national leagues.

Irish language

The Irish language, especially the version spoken in Munster, is still used by many people in some areas. These places where Irish is spoken at home are called Gaeltachtaí. Many students learn Irish in special schools across Munster.

Divisions

The province is divided into six traditional counties: Clare, Cork, Kerry, Limerick, Tipperary and Waterford. Munster is the largest of Ireland's four provinces by land area, and the third largest by population.

Urban areas

Munster has many large towns, including some smaller towns that are growing. It is the province with the most cities (three) in Ireland. Here is a list of urban areas in Munster by size in 2022, with cities and county towns shown in bold:

See also: List of urban areas in the Republic of Ireland

Urban areas over 10,000 inhabitants:

• Cork (222,526)
• Limerick (102,287)
• Waterford (60,079)
• Ennis (27,923)
• Tralee (26,079)
• Clonmel (18,369)^[A]
• Carrigaline (18,239)
• Killarney (14,412)
• Cobh (14,148)
• Midleton (13,906)
• Mallow (13,456)
• Tramore (11,277)
• Shannon (10,256)
• Dungarvan (10,081)

Urban areas with 5,000–10,000 inhabitants:

• Nenagh (9,895)^[A]
• Youghal (8,564)
• Bandon (8,196)
• Thurles (8,185)
• Newcastle West (7,209)
• Fermoy (6,720)
• Passage West-Monktown (6,051)
• Kinsale (5,991)
• Carrick on Suir (5,752)
• Carrigtwohill (5,568)
• Roscrea (5,542)
• Tipperary (5,387)
• Clonakilty (5,112)

Economy

In 2014, the amount of money each person made in Munster was different in each place. In South Tipperary and Waterford, it was about €28,094. In Cork and Kerry, it was higher at €50,544. In 2008, the average amount of money people could spend after paying for things was around €22,000 per person.

Munster is important for farming, especially in areas called the Golden Vale, covering Cork, Limerick, and Tipperary. Big companies like Kerry Group make products from milk, and others produce food and goods.

Many large companies have offices in Munster, including well-known names like Amazon, Apple, and Dell. The biggest place for jobs is in Cork city, and another important area is the Shannon Free Zone near Limerick.

In media

See also: List of newspapers in the Republic of Ireland

Some TV stations have shown programs about Munster. These include RTÉ Cork, a studio in Cork, as well as South Coast TV and Channel South. Channel South shared shows with Cork, Limerick, and parts of Kerry, Waterford, Clare, and Tipperary.

Besides local newspapers, several papers serve all of Munster. Examples are the Avondhu, the Nationalist & Munster Advertiser, the Munster Express, and more.