Munster

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

Template:Infobox Irish Place Munster (Irish: An Mhumhain, Template:IPA2) is the southernmost province of Ireland, comprising 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.

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

The largest city conurbation in Munster is Cork, which has a population of 251,062 (2002).

See also

• Provinces of Ireland
• Kings of Munster
• Munster Gaelic Athletic Association
• Munster Rugby

Template:Ireland countiesast:Munster ca:Munster cs:Munster de:Munster (Irland) es:Munster fr:Munster (Irlande) ga:Cúige Mumhan it:Munster nl:Munster (Ierland) ja:マンスター no:Munster, Irland pl:Munster (Haut-Rhin) ru:Манстер fi:Munster sv:Munster