Munster (province)

Munster (province), the largest province in the Republic of Ireland bounded by Connaught to the north, Leinster to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the south and west. It comprises six counties: Clare, Cork, Kerry, Limerick, Tipperary North and South, and Waterford.

The surface is highly diversified but is in the main mountainous, with Silurian Rocks, Old Red Sandstone, and limestone forming the basis of the province. The chief rivers are the Suir, the Blackwater, the Lee, and the Bandon. The Lakes of Killarney are the principal lakes.

Munster has a mild climate. The average temperature on the coast in January is 7° C and 16° C in July. In the north-east the winter temperature drops to less than 4° C. Rainfall, depending on location and height, varies between 1,000 mm and 2,000 mm (39 in to 78 in).

Munster has an estimated population of 1,009,533 (1991); 95 per cent are Roman Catholic. There are about 13,000 people in the four main Gaeltacht (Irish speaking) areas, in parts of Cork, Kerry, and Waterford.

Tourism, agriculture, manufacturing and the service industries all contribute to the economy. The eastern region is mainly arable farming, with beef and dairy cattle in the west and sheep on high ground. A diversified industrial base from glass making to brewing, clothing to light engineering, and a growing movement into modern technology is developing.