Munster

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Munster
An Mhumhain[1]
Flag of Munster
Flag
File:Munster locator map.svg
Coordinates: Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
State Republic of Ireland Ireland
Counties Clare
Cork
Kerry
Limerick
Tipperary
Waterford
Government
 • Teachta Dála 21 Fine Gael TDs
9 Labour Party TDs
7 Fianna Fáil TDs
5 Independent TDs
3 Sinn Féin TDs
1 ULA TD
Area
 • Total 24,675 km2 (9,527 sq mi)
Population (2011)[2]
 • Total 1,246,088
 • Rank 3rd in Ireland, 2nd in the Republic of Ireland
ISO 3166 code IE-M
Patron Saint: Ailbe of Emly[3]

Munster (Irish: an Mhumhain / Cúige Mumhan, pronounced [ənˈvuːnʲ], [ˌkuːɟəˈmuːn]) is one of the Provinces of Ireland situated in the south of Ireland. In Ancient Ireland, it was one of the fifths ruled by a "king of over-kings" Irish: rí ruirech. Following the Norman invasion of Ireland, the ancient kingdoms were shired into a number of counties for administrative and judicial purposes. In later centuries, local government legislation has seen further sub-division of the historic counties.

Munster has no official function for local government purposes. For the purposes of the ISO, the province is listed as one of the provincial sub-divisions of the State (ISO 3166-2:IE) and coded as "IE-M". Geographically, Munster covers a total area of 24,675 km2 (9,527 sq mi) and has a population of 1,246,088 with the most populated city being Cork. Other significant urban centres in the province include Limerick and Waterford.

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History

The Rock of Cashel, Co. Tipperary, historical seat of the Kings of Munster

In the early centuries AD, Munster was the domain of the Iverni and the legendary Clanna Dedad led by Cú Roí and to whom the celebrated Conaire Mór also belonged. In the Fifth Century, St. Patrick spent seven years in the area founding Christian churches and ordaining priests. During the Early Middle Ages, most of the area was part of the Kingdom of Munster, ruled by the Eóganachta dynasty. Prior to this date, the area was ruled by the Dáirine and Corcu Loígde overlords from the early 7th century onwards, perhaps beginning with the notable career of Faílbe Flann mac Áedo Duib. Later rulers from the Eóganachta who would dominate a greater part of Ireland were Cathal mac Finguine and Feidlimid mac Cremthanin. Notable regional kingdoms and lordships of Early Medieval Munster were Iarmuman (West Munster), Osraige (Ossory), Uí Liatháin, Uí Fidgenti, Éile, Múscraige, Ciarraige Luachra, Corcu Duibne, Corcu Baiscinn, and Déisi Muman. By the 9th century the Gaels had been joined by Norse Vikings who founded towns such as Cork, Waterford and Limerick, for the most part incorporated into a maritime empire by the Dynasty of Ivar, who periodically would threaten Munster with conquest in the next century. Around this period Ossory broke away from Munster. The 10th century saw the rise of the Dalcassians (probably descendants of the ancient Mairtine, a sept of the Iverni/Érainn), who had earlier annexed Thomond, north of the Shannon to Munster. Their leaders were the ancestors of the O'Brien dynasty and spawned Brian Bóruma, perhaps the most noted High King of Ireland, and several of whose descendants were also High Kings. By 1118 Munster had fractured into the Kingdom of Thomond under the O'Briens, the Kingdom of Desmond under the MacCarthy dynasty (Eóganachta), and the short-lived Kingdom of Ormond under the O'Kennedys (another Dalcassian sept).

The three crowns of the Munster flag represent these three late 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, the Three Crowns.

There was Norman influence from the 14th century, due to adventuring of the FitzGerald, de Clare and Butler houses, two of whom carved out earldoms within the Lordship of Ireland, the Earls of Desmond eventually becoming independent potentates, for a time the greatest in Ireland, while the Earls of Ormond remained closer to England. The O'Brien of Thomond and MacCarthy of Desmond surrendered and regranted sovereignty to the Tudors in 1543 and 1565, joining the Kingdom of Ireland. The terrible Desmond Rebellions, led by the FitzGeralds, soon followed.

Almost three centuries later much of the area was hit hard in the Great Hunger, especially the west.[4] After the kingdom was merged into the United Kingdom, there was a war in the 20th century resulting in secession of the Irish Free State. There was a brief Munster Republic during the Irish Civil War, soon defeated by the Irish Army. The Irish leaders Michael Collins and earlier Daniel O'Connell came from families of the old Gaelic Munster gentry.

Culture

The area is famed for Irish traditional music. There are many ancient castles and monasteries in the province; this coupled with the vast green countryside and three cities makes it a feature of the tourism industry. During the fifth century, St. Patrick spent seven years founding churches and ordaining priests in Munster, but a fifth century bishop named Ailbe is the patron saint of Munster.

In Irish mythology, a number of pagan goddesses are associated with the province including Anann, Áine, Grian, Clíodhna, Aimend, Mór Muman, Bébinn, Aibell and Queen Mongfind. Each is historically associated with certain septs of the nobility. The druid-god of Munster is Mug Ruith. A more shadowy figure is Donn, associated with Tech Duinn, beyond the mortal realm.

The province has long had trading and cultural links with continental Europe. The tribe of Corcu Loígde is known to have had a trading fleet active along the French Atlantic coast, as far south as Gascony, importing wine to Munster. The Eóganachta had ecclesiastical ties with distant Germany, which show in the architecture of their ceremonial capital, the famous acropolis on the Rock of Cashel.

The majority of Irish ogham inscriptions are found in Munster, principally in areas occupied by the Iverni, especially the Corcu Duibne.[5] Later, Europe's first linguistic dictionary in any non-Classical language, the Sanas Cormaic, was compiled by Munster scholars, traditionally thought to have been directed by the king-bishop Cormac mac Cuilennáin (d. 908).

The School of Ross in Munster was one of Europe's leading centres of learning in the Early Middle Ages.

Cultural Venues

Venue County Capacity
INEC Killarney Kerry 3,500
University Concert Hall Limerick 1.038
The Opera House Cork 1,000
Cork City Concert Hall Cork 1,000
The Everyman Cork 650
Lime Tree Theatre Limerick 510
Glór Irish Music Centre Ennis Clare 485
Theatre Royal Waterford 430
Curtis Auditorium @ CIT Cork 400
Exel Theatre Tipperary 377
Siamsa Tire Kerry 355
LIT Millenium Theatre Limerick 350
The Source Thurles Tipperary 250

[6] [7] [8]

Political divisions

Historical population
Year Pop. ±%
1981 998,315 —    
1986 1,020,577 +2.2%
1991 1,009,533 −1.1%
1996 1,033,903 +2.4%
2002 1,100,614 +6.5%
2006 1,173,340 +6.6%
2011 1,246,088 +6.2%
[9]

The province stands divided into six counties and three cities.

County/City Population[10] Area (km²)
County Clare 117,196 3,450
County Cork 399,802 7,500
Cork City 198,582
County Kerry 145,502 4,807
County Limerick 100,394 2,756
Limerick City 102,161
County Tipperary 158,754 4,305
County Waterford 62,276 1,857
Waterford City 51,519
Total 1,246,088 24,675

Urban areas

Munster has many large towns and is the province with the most cites in the Republic of Ireland. Many small satellite towns and villages now have large populations because of cities getting larger. Ballincollig is a good example of this. Not long ago it was a small village in the countryside but because of Cork growing larger it is now one of the largest towns in Munster.


Patrick Street, Cork City
River Shannon and King John's Castle, Limerick City
Waterford City Quays
Ballincollig Castle

In order of size (2011 census figures; urban areas with over 10,000 inhabitants):

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Urban areas 5,000–10,000

Urban areas in bold have city status.

Suburbs

Suburbs are areas of cities which used to be towns or villages but joined the cities because of them growing larger.

Cork city suburbs

Limerick city suburbs


Waterford city suburbs

Shopping

List of shopping centres in the province.

Shopping Centre No. Stores County
Crescent Shopping Centre 100 Limerick
Mahon Point 60 Cork
Wilton Shopping Centre 70 Cork
Blackpool Shopping Centre 50 Cork
Douglas Village S.C. 50 Cork
Douglas Court S.C. 50 Cork
Manor West 50 Kerry
Skycourt 50 Clare

Economy

Munster is the second wealthiest province(wealthier than Ulster and Connacht) on the island of Ireland and also benefits from high salary levels. According to the 2012 Eurostat figures, GDP per capita ranges from €25,600 in the South Tipperary/Waterford (South-East)region to €48,500 in Cork and Kerry(South-West).[11] The province contributes 50bn euro to Irish GDP (25% of total Irish GDP) (2012) (greater than the Economy of Northern Ireland 43 bn euro).[12] Munster also is wealthier than Slovenia (pop. 2m), Lithuania (pop. 3.5m), Latvia (pop. 2.5m) and Kenya (pop. 35m). Munster is the home to many modern capital intensive, highly productive private sector enterprises.


Area Population Counties City GDP € GDP per person €
South-West Region 660,000 Cork & Kerry Cork €32.3 bn €48,500
Mid-West Region 380,000 Limerick & North Tipperary & Clare Limerick €11.4 bn €30,300
South-East Region 460,000 Waterford & South Tipperary Waterford €12.8 bn €25,600

[13]

The Economy of Cork and Economy of Limerick are the main engines of the province's economy. The Cork harbour area was the centre of Ireland's heavy industry manufacturing sector. Cork had a steel mill, a shipyard, a car assembly plant, a tyre plant, a deep harbour, and a thriving textile sector in the mid twentieth century. However heavy taxes, excessive regulation, competition from larger centres of economic activity, and the sudden removal of protective tariffs upon membership of the European Economic Community caused a decline in the 1970s. Cork was Ireland's rust belt city in the 1980s, as heavy industry moved out, and newer sectors tried to get established in as unemployment peaked.

The Kerry group is one of Ireland's companies. The largest retail groups are Dunnes Stores, and the Musgrave Group. Cork is also home to two of the three Irish stout brands; Murphy's Irish stout, and Beamish, as well as the 'Paddy' brand of Irish whiskey as well as the cider brand Bulmers.

The Crescent Shopping Centre is Munster's largest shopping centre located in Dooradoyle in Limerick City with over 110 shops in an estimated 100,000 square metres of retail space. Mahon Point Shopping Centre located in Cork City has an estimated total retail floor area of 23,225 square metres and has 60 shops.

Shannon Airport, a rich music tradition, the best food from land and sea, and landscapes of international renown, have all been influential in the development of the tourist sector in Munster.

Power generation & Mines

Ardnacrusha Power Station on the Shannon

The majority of the Republic's power stations are located in Munster.

Ireland's only oil refinery and oil storage facility is still located at Whitegate.

The majority of Ireland's gas production comes from Kinsale Head in County Cork, from where it is transported by pipeline across the country.

Moneypoint power station located near Kilrush in County Clare is Ireland's largest electricity generating station. It is Ireland's only coal powered station and is Ireland's largest emitter of greenhouse gases. It is capable of meeting around 25% of customer demand across the country.

The hydroelectric power plant at Ardnacrusha to the north of Limerick City in County Clare is Ireland's largest river hydroelectric power station and is operated on a purpose built canal from the River Shannon. It was the largest infrastructural project undertaken by newly established Irish Free State and was completed in 1927. For a time it was the largest hydroelectric power station in the world but was overtaken by the Hoover Dam.

Limerick Alumina and Lisheen mine are located in the province.

Wind Energy

Ireland has 225 wind farms with a total installed capacity of 3025 MW (Megawatts). Munster is home to the majority of Ireland's wind farms. [14]

Wind Farm Completed Capacity (MW) Turbines Turbine Vendor Model Size (MW) County Coordinates Operator
Astellas 2011 0.8 1 ENERCON E-53 0.8 Kerry
Ballincollig Hill 2009 13.3 16 ENERCON E-44 and E-48 0.9 and 0.8 Kerry Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
Ballinlough/Ikerrin 2006 2.55 3 Vestas V52/850 0.85 Tipperary Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
Ballinveny 2006 2.55 3 Vestas V52/850 0.85 Tipperary Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
Ballybane 2008 29.9 13 ENERCON E-70 2.3 Cork Windprospect[15]
Bawnmore 1 2011 11.5 5 ENERCON E-82 2.3 Cork
Bawnmore 2 (Carriganima) 2011 13.8 6 ENERCON E-82 2.3 Cork
Beal Hill/1 2000 1.65 1 Vestas V66 1.65 Kerry
Beal Hill/2 2003 2.55 3 Vestas V52/850 0.85 Kerry
Beallough 2008 1.7 2 Vestas V52/850 0.85 Waterford
Beenageeha 2000 3.96 6 Vestas V47/660 0.66 Kerry B9[16]
Boggeragh 2009 57 19 Vestas V90 3 Cork
Booltiagh[17] 2005 19.5 13 GE 1.5s 1.5 Clare SWS[18]
Caherdowney 2012 9.2 4 ENERCON E-70 2.3 Cork
Carrigcannon 2010 23 10 ENERCON E-70 2.3 Cork
Carrigh 2006 2.55 3 Vestas V52 0.85 Tipperary
Carrons 2010 4.6 2 ENERCON E-82 2.3 Limerick
Clydaghroe 2012 4.6 2 ENERCON E70 2 Cork
Coomacheo[19] 2008 41.4 18 Siemens 2.3VS 2.3 Cork SSE Renewables[20]
Coomatallin[21] 2005 6 4 GE 1.5SE 1.5 Cork SSE Renewables[20]
Crocane 2010 1.6 2 ENERCON E-48 0.8 Cork
Curragh[22] 2009 18 8 Siemens 2.3VS 2.3 Cork SSE Renewables[20]
Curraghgraigue 2004 2.55 3 Vestas V52 0.85 Tipperary
Dromada[23] 2009 28.5 19 GE 1.5s 1.5 Limerick SSE Renewables[20]
Gneeves[24] 2005 9.35 11 Vestas V52 0.85 Cork SWS[18]
Kealkill 2006 8.5 10 Gamesa V52 0.85 Cork
Kilgarvan[25] 2006 45 15 Vestas V90 3 Kerry Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. SWS[18]
Kilgarvan Ext[25] 2009 30 13 Nordex N90 2.3 Kerry SWS[18]
Kilvinane 2006 4.5 3 Gamesa G850 0.85 Cork
Knockastanna[26] 2009 6 4 GE 1.5 1.5 Limerick SSE Renewables[20]
Knockawarriga[27] 2008 22.5 9 Nordex N90 2.5 Limerick SWS[18]
Lacka Cross 2009 4.6 2 ENERCON E-82 2.3 Kerry
Lahanaght Hill 2006 4.25 5 Vestas V52 0.85 Cork
Lisheen[28] 2009 54 18 Vestas V90 3 Tipperary SWS[18]
Midas[29] 2007 32.24 23 Vestas V90 and V52 3 and 0.85 Kerry SSE Renewables[20]
Mienvee(I and II) 2004 1.7 1 Vestas V52 0.85 Tipperary SWS[18]
Milane Hill 2000 5.94 9 Vestas V47 0.66 Cork B9[16]
Moanmore 2006 14 7 ENERCON E-70 E4 2 Clare
Mount Eagle 2 2008 1.7 2 Vestas V52 0.85 Kerry
Muingnaminnane 2008 14.8 18 ENERCON E-44 and E-48 0.9 and 0.8 Kerry Saorgus[30]
Pallas 2008 40 20 ENERCON E-70 2.0 Kerry Pallas Wind Farms Ltd
Rahora 2008 4 5 ENERCON E-48 0.8 Cork
Reenascreena 2009 4.0 5 ENERCON E-48 0.8 Cork
Skehanagh 2006 4.25 5 Vestas V52 0.85 Tipperary
Slievereagh 2009 2.3 1 ENERCON E-70 2.3 Limerick
Taurbeg 2006 25.3 11 Siemens SWT-2.3 2.3 Cork B9[16]
Tournafulla[31] 2007 27 18 GE 1.5s 1.5 Limerick SSE Renewables[20]
Tursillagh/1 2000 15.8 23 Vestas V47 0.66 Kerry Saorgus[30]
Tursillagh/2 2004 6.8 23 Vestas V52 0.85 Kerry Saorgus[30]
Glenough 2011 32.5 13 NORDEX N80/N90 2.5 Tipperary ABO Wind
Grouselodge 2011 20 8 NORDEX N90 2.5 Limerick ESBI
Garracummer 2012 42.5 17 NORDEX N90 2.5 Tipperary Bord Gais

Proposed or under construction

Wind Farm Scheduled Capacity (MW) Turbines Type Operator Location Type
Carrowleagh 2012 36.8 16 ENERCON E-70 2.3 County Cork
Glenmore 2009 Summer 30 10 VESTAS V90 Clare Winds Ltd County Clare Onshore
Glenough[32] 2010 Winter 32.5 13 NORDEX N80/N90 ABO Wind County Tipperary Onshore
Grouse Lodge[32] 2011 Summer 20 8 NORDEX N90 ESBI County Tipperary Onshore
Moneypoint[33] Unknown 22.5 9 Unknown Hibernian Windpower County Clare Onshore
Mount Callan[34] Unknown 90 30 3MW West Clare Renewable Energy County Clare Onshore
Shragh[35] planning submitted Oct 2011 135 45 ENERCON E82 3.0 MW Clare Coastal Wind Power Ltd. County Clare Onshore
Garracummer 2012 42.5 17 NORDEX N90 2.5MW Bord Gais Energy County Tipperary Onshore
Knockacummer 2013 87.5 35 NORDEX N90 2.5MW Bord Gais Energy County Cork Onshore
Monaincha 2013 36 15 NORDEX N117 2.4MW Element Power County Tipperary Onshore
Glenough Extension 2013 2.5 1 NORDEX N90 2.5MW ABO Wind County Tipperary Onshore

I.T. and pharmaceutical industry

Munster is one of Ireland's most important I.T. hubs with such multinationals as Apple, Intel, Amazon and Dell locating in the province. The Atlantic Quarter in Cork is a new plan to create a smaller version of Dublin's IFSC in Cork docklands. In Kerry, FEXCO Financial Services in Killorglin is a foreign exchange and global payments group.[36]

Munster has developed into the centre of Ireland's pharmaceutical industry. The province plays an ever greater role in the bio-pharmaceutical industry and is successful in fighting off stiff competition from Switzerland and Singapore for inward investments in the bio-pharmaceutical area in companies such as Amgen and Pfizer and Roche (located in Clarecastle Co.Clare).[37]

Business Parks

The following are some of the more important employers in the region: AOL, Bausch & Lomb, Dairygold, Dell, Amazon, Motorola, Amgen, Pfizer, Analog Devices, Fexco Financial Services, Vistakon, Waterford Crystal, Apple Computer, Intel, Novartis, O2, Lufthansa Technik, Kerry Group, Siemens, Sony and Blizzard Entertainment. The largest employment hub in Munster is Metropolitan Cork, with many large multinational firms located in the area.

Business Park County No. Companies No. Employees
Little Island Business Park Cork 1,000 15,000
Shannon Free Zone Clare 120 7,500
National Technology Park Limerick 80 3,000
City Gate Mahon Cork 20
Cork Airport Business Park Cork 24
Westpark Shannon Clare 50 2,000

[38]

Biggest employers

Company Name No. Employees
Kerry Group 24,500
Musgrave Group 7,869
Dawn Meats 3,300
PCH International 5,000
Apple Computers 4,000
EMC 2,800
Dairygold 1,145
Josar Holdings(Kentech) 3,000
Boston Scientific 3,000
Mentor Graphics 2,257
Arrow Group 1,600
Munster Joinery 1,300

[39]

Harbour

Cork Harbour is the largest natural harbour in Europe and has always had a long and important maritime history.

Haulbowline Island is the location of the Irish naval fleet. The National Maritime College of Ireland is at Ringaskiddy on the western side of the harbour.

The town of Cobh and the village of Dunmore East are the only cruise ship destination. Cobh is also where the Titanic made its last port of call before meeting its final destiny.

Shannon Foynes Port is located in north County Limerick on the Shannon Estuary on a deep water estuary. Foynes Harbour is located 35 kilometres (22 mi) from the mouth of the River Shannon. The very busy commercial shipping town provides an excellent anchorage plus moorings and a club pontoon that accommodate visitors. New plans are underway for further development of the port,[40]

Foynes provides complete protection from all winds and may easily be described as the most sheltered location upon the Shannon Estuary. It offers safe access as it is well lit and all dangers are well marked. Although subject to the challenges of the Shannon currents, it can be approached at all points of the tide, night or day. The harbour may be entered either from west through the preferred main deep water channel or from northeast by a buoyed channel. [41]

Limerick Port is now control under Shannon Foynes Port Company which is Ireland second largest port authority (2007).[42] [43] [44]

Waterford Harbour(Irish: Loch Dá Chaoch / Cuan Phort Láirge) is a natural harbour at the mouth of the Three Sisters; the River Nore, the River Suir and the River Barrow in Ireland. It is navigable for shipping to both Waterford and New Ross. The Port of Waterford is capable of accommodating vessels up to 32,000 tons dwt. It separates County Waterford from County Wexford on the eastern side of the estuary.

Golden Vale

The Golden Vale is considered rich pastureland and has historically contributed to the wealth of Munster. It is the best land in Ireland for dairy farming.

Infrastructure & Public Transport

Road

Munster is linked to the rest of Ireland via several connections on Ireland's motorway network, most which have been constructed in the past decade. Main interurban routes include the M8 from Cork City which runs through North Co. Cork & Tipperary. The M7 which runs east from Limerick City – acting as a bypass for the city – through north Co. Tipperary & converges with the M8 in Co. Laois to form the primary interurban route to Dublin from the province. Also, the M9 motorway connects Waterford City to Dublin. It merges with the M7 motorway at Newbridge.

Other major regional routes include the M18 Which runs north from Limerick City through Co. Clare, the N25 which runs east from Cork City through east Co. Cork to Waterford City and onto Rosslare Europort, the N20 which connects Cork City with Limerick City, the N21 & N22 which links Co. Kerry with Limerick City & Cork City respectively. The N24 connects Limerick City to Waterford City. The N71 runs south west from Cork City through West Cork & Co. Kerry. The N72 runs from North Co. Kerry, through North Cork and into Co. Waterford.

The busiest road in the province is the N40 which acts as a southern bypass and artery for the Cork City metropolitan area. This road, previously signposted the N25 until re-designation in 2012, has been extensively upgraded in the past decade with the removal of the Kinsale Road Roundabout & the ongoing removal of the Bandon Road & Sarsfield Road roundabouts. The N40 links with the N25 via the Jack Lynch Tunnel, which is frequently congested due to the under-powered design of the Dunkettle Interchange

In Limerick, the Shannon tunnel (which runs west of the city), links the M7/M20 motorways with the N18/M18 motorway. Waterford City is also bypassed by way of the N25 dual carriageway. This bypass connects to the N24 and M9 motorway.

Inter-City & Regional Rail

Railway services in Munster[45] are operated by Iarnród Éireann. Whilst the province, like the rest of Ireland, had an extensive railway network at one time reaching effectively all major population centres within the province, these have been pared back in the past half century to the network as it stands now.

Current Inter-City services are provided in Cork, Limerick, Tralee & Waterford which all have direct connections to Dublin and other provincial centres.[46] In addition there are local services provided on the Tralee – Mallow line, The Limerick – Nenagh – Ballybrophy line & The Waterford – Clonmel – Limerick Junction – Limerick line. In the last decade the Inter-City Network in Munster has expanded with the expansion of the Western Railway Corridor from Limerick railway station through Co. Clare, with new/re-opened stations at Sixmilebridge, Ennis and onto Athenry & Galway railway station in Galway City.

Farranfore station connects with Kerry Airport.

Cork Commuter Rail

In the past decade there has been a significant expansion of services on the Cork Commuter lines.[47] In addition to the existing Cork – Cobh railway which has experienced an increase in frequencies, there has been the re-opening of the Midleton branch,[48] and an expansion of services on the Mallow – Cork line, with proposals for new stations to be established at Blarney & Monard as outlined in Transport 21.

Limerick Commuter Rail

Limerick has three commuter lines, servicing Ennis, Nenagh and Tipperary town.

Bus

There is an extensive public bus network in operation throughout the province.[49] The main provider of public buses is the state-owned Bus Éireann, which operates intercity,[50] regional,[51] city/commuter[52] & public service obligation routes[53] in the province.

There is also a rural bus network in existence for places not served by other services.[54] Note that these services do not cover all rural areas and tend to have limited timetables and services.

In addition there are private operators on certain routes at a local and regional level, most prominent including Aircoach, JJ Kavanaghs[55] & Irish Citylink.

Airports

Airport Rank by Pax in ROI
Cork Airport 2nd
Kerry Airport 5th
Shannon Airport 3rd
Waterford Airport 6th

Irish language

The Irish language, or more specifically Munster Irish is spoken as a first language in Gaeltachtaí (Irish speaking areas);

  • in West Kerry (Corca Dhuibhne)
  • in South Kerry (Uíbh Ráthach).
  • in West Cork (Múscraí)
  • in south-west Cork (Oileán Cléire)
  • in south-west Waterford (Gaeltacht na Rinne or Gaeltacht na nDéise)

There are about 35,000 Irish language speakers in Munster, with 9,737 native speakers in the Munster Gaeltacht areas of Cork, Kerry and Waterford and there is also the 12,219 attending the 46 Gaelscoils (Irish language primary schools) and 22 Gaelcholáiste (Irish language secondary schools) across the province. According to the Irish Census 2011 there are 13,193 daily speakers outside the education system in the province.

The number of Gaelscoileanna (Irish language schools) has increased in the last ten years. Children learn Irish and speak Irish in the Gaelscoileanna. Munster has the second highest number of Irish-medium primary schools (46) in Ireland and the highest number of Irish-medium secondary schools (22) of any Irish province.

Third level institutions

There are nearly 80,000 third level students in the province.

Munster media

Television

Newspapers

  • The Irish ExaminerCork-based national newspaper
  • Evening Echo – daily evening paper covering Cork city. Also a daily Limerick edition
  • The Avondhu – covers North East Cork, West Waterford, South Limerick and South Tipperary.
  • The Munster Express – covers the South East.
  • Nationalist & Munster Advertiser
  • Cork News

The Limerick Leader (covers the Mid West)

Clare

  • Clare Champion
  • Clare People
  • Clare Courier
  • Clare County Express

Cork

Kerry

Limerick

Tipperary

  • The Guardian, Nenagh
  • The Tipperary Star
  • The Nationalist, Clonmel and South Tipperaray
  • "The Three Counties", Carrick-On-Suir
  • "South Tipp Today", South Tipperary
  • The Midland Tribune, Roscrea, and North east Tipperary

Waterford

  • The Waterford News and Star, Waterford City
  • The Waterford Today, Waterford City
  • The Munster Express, Dungarvan
  • The Dungarvan Leader, Dungarvan
  • The Dungarvan Observer, Dungarvan

Radio

  • Red FM – Cork Youth-driven service
  • Clare FM – County Clare
  • Tipp FM – County Tipperary
  • Radio Kerry – County Kerry
  • WLR FM – Waterford City and County
  • 96FM and C103 (dual franchise) – General service for Cork
  • Limerick East community radio – Limerick East
  • Live 95FM – Limerick City and County, covering Thomond (Tuadh Mumhan North Munster)
  • West Limerick 102 – Limerick city and County
  • Spin SW – province-wide- Based in Limerick city
  • Beat 102-103 – Youth-driven service. Counties Carlow, Kilkenny, Waterford, Wexford, South Tipperary and East Limerick covering the Ormond (Urh Mumhan East Munster)
  • RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta "Camchuairt" – Tralee, County Kerry covering Desmond (Deas Mumhan South Munster)
  • RTÉ lyric fm – 96-99FM – Cornmarket Row, Limerick City. Broadcast Country wide

People

Notable citizens or former citizens of Munster are:

Sport

Hurling and Gaelic football are the dominant sports in most of Munster. Rugby and Soccer are mainly dominant in cities such as Cork, Waterford and Limerick.

Hurling

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Munster is famous for its tradition of hurling. The town of Thurles in County Tipperary is the birthplace of modern GAA. Three of the four most successful teams in the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship are from Munster; Cork GAA, Tipperary GAA and Limerick GAA. Clare GAA and Waterford GAA are also among the most prominent teams in the sport. The final of the Munster Senior Hurling Championship is one of the most important days in the Irish GAA calendar. Munster is the only province in Ireland that all of its counties have won an All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship

Gaelic football

Traditionally, the dominant teams in Munster football are Kerry GAA and Cork GAA, although Tipperary GAA and Limerick GAA have also won All-Ireland Senior Football Championships. Kerry in particular are famous as the most successful team in the history of football.

Rugby Union

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Rugby is a popular game in the cities of Limerick and Cork. Munster is an Irish Rugby Football Union representative side which competes in the RaboDirect Pro12, winning in 2003,2009 and 2011 and in the Heineken Cup, winning in 2006 and 2008. The Munster side is the only Irish side to have defeated the New Zealand All Blacks.

Soccer

Association football is also a popular game in Munster. Four Munster clubs play in the Airtricity League of Ireland; Cork City F.C. and Limerick FC in the League of Ireland Premier Division and Waterford United & Cobh Ramblers in the Irish First Division.

Munster sports stadia[58]

In order of capacity

See also

References

  1. ISO 3166-2 Newsletter II-1, 19 February 2010, which gives "Munster" as the official English name of the Province and "An Mhumhain" as the official Irish name of the Province and cites "Ordnance Survey Office, Dublin 1993" as its source – http://www.iso.org/iso/iso_3166-2_newsletter_ii-1_corrected_2010-02-19.pdf
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  3. Challoner, Richard. A Memorial of Ancient British Piety: or, a British Martyrology, p. 128. W. Needham, 1761. Retrieved 14 March 2013.
  4. In 1841, before the Great Famine, there were just under three million people living in the province, but the population dropped devastatingly low due to mass emigration in the 1840s and continued emigration up until the 1980s.
  5. The ruins of the Iron Age mountaintop fortress Caherconree, preserving the name of Cú Roí, can also be found in their lands.
  6. http://www.inec.ie/media-kit.html
  7. http://www.uch.ie/about-us/
  8. http://www.irishtheatre.ie/venues
  9. for post 1821 figures, 1653 and 1659 figures from Civil Survey Census of those years, Paper of Mr Hardinge to Royal Irish Academy March 14, 1865, For a discussion on the accuracy of pre-famine census returns see JJ Lee "On the accuracy of the pre-famine Irish censuses" in Irish Population, Economy and Society edited by JM Goldstrom and LA Clarkson (1981) p54, in and also New Developments in Irish Population History, 1700-1850 by Joel Mokyr and Cormac Ó Gráda in The Economic History Review, New Series, Vol. 37, No. 4 (Nov., 1984), pp. 473-488.
  10. CSO, Census 2011.
  11. County Dublin#cite note-7
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  13. http://appsso.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/nui/submitViewTableAction.do
  14. http://www.iwea.com/faqs
  15. Windprospect
  16. 16.0 16.1 16.2 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named b9home
  17. IWEA page on Booltiagh
  18. 18.0 18.1 18.2 18.3 18.4 18.5 18.6 SWS Homepage
  19. SSE Renewables page on Coomacheo
  20. 20.0 20.1 20.2 20.3 20.4 20.5 20.6 SSE Renewables Homepage
  21. SSE Renewables page on Coomatallin
  22. SSE page on Curragh
  23. SSE Renewables page on Dromada
  24. SWS page on Gneeves
  25. 25.0 25.1 SWS page on Kilgarvan
  26. SSE Renewables page on Knockastanna
  27. SWS page on Knockawarriga
  28. SWS page on Lisheen
  29. SSE Renewables page on Midas
  30. 30.0 30.1 30.2 Saorgus Homepage
  31. SSE Renewables page on Tournafulla
  32. 32.0 32.1 ABO Wind page
  33. Hibernian page on Moneypoint
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  35. website
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  38. http://www.liba.ie/news.php
  39. http://www.top1000.ie/companies
  40. url= http://www.limerickleader.ie/news/business/business-news/plan-for-foynes-port-to-capitalise-on-new-era-of-global-supertankers-1-4839274
  41. url = http://www.inyourfootsteps.com/sailing/harbours/95/foynes_harbour
  42. url = http://www.limerickcity.ie/media/docks%20117.pdf
  43. url=http://www.limerickcity.ie/Library/LocalStudies/LocalStudiesFiles/D/Docks/
  44. url = http://limerickslife.com/limerick-docks/
  45. Ireland Map. Irishrail.ie.
  46. Printed PDF Timetables – Iarnród Éireann – Irish Rail. Irishrail.ie (20 January 2013).
  47. see Cork Suburban Rail
  48. Service begins on Cork-Midleton line – RTÉ News. Raidió Teilifís Éireann.ie (30 July 2009).
  49. http://www.buseireann.ie/pdf/1360856510-NetworkMap.pdf
  50. Timetables – Expressway / Intercity – Bus Éireann – View Ireland Bus and Coach Timetables & Buy Tickets. Buseireann.ie (17 July 2013).
  51. Timetables – Regional Services by County – Bus Éireann – View Ireland Bus and Coach Timetables & Buy Tickets. Buseireann.ie.
  52. Timetables – City / Town Services – Bus Éireann – View Ireland Bus and Coach Timetables & Buy Tickets. Buseireann.ie (17 July 2013).
  53. Public Service Obligation Contracts | National Transport Authority. Nationaltransport.ie.
  54. RTP by County (Carlow-Louth) » Rural Transport Network. Ruraltransportnetwork.ie.
  55. Printable PDF Timetables. Jjkavanagh.ie.
  56. http://www.corkweekly.ie
  57. http://www.columbans.eu
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External links