Welcome to Munster

Munster - Mumhan, is the Southern most province of Ireland, often called the legs of Ireland and is home to 6 of the 32 counties - Clare, Cork, Kerry, Limerick, Tipperary and Waterford. All the counties touch the Atlantic except for Tipperary. Cork is the largest county in Ireland and is the second largest city. Other cities in the province include Limerick and Waterford. The major towns are Tralee, Killarney, Ennis and Clonmel.

Before the county system was introduced Munster was divided by Tuaths or Clans and the King of Munster presided over these. For a period around the 1st millenium AD, The King of Munster - Brian Ború ruled all Ireland from the Rock of Cashel in Tipperary (world heritage site) which is an old settlement on a limestone hill overlooking the Golden Vale Plain of West Tipperary and Limerick. There are megalithic sites spread throughout Munster.

Munster is a tremendously fertile area of Ireland with many major rivers including the Bandon, the Lee, the Blackwater, the Suir and the final stages of the Shannon and its spectacular Lough Derg which is a border point of Munster, Connacht and Leinster. Munster has a number of mountain ranges and includes the largest peak in Ireland - Carrauntoohil in Kerrys majestic MacGillycuddy Reeks, the Comeragh mts, the knockmealdown mts, the Galtys and the Slieve Bloom mts provide the scenic backdrops to Tipperary, Waterford and Cork. Some of the oldest Limestone Caves in the world can be found in Munster - Mitchelstown Caves, Cragg Cave and Aillwee Cave.

The peninsulas of West Cork and Kerry is still the home to the strong Irish speaking gaeltacht. Sport is regarded as a religion in Munster. The Gaelic Athletic Association - GAA - was formed in Thurles, Co.Tipperary and all Munsters counties are passionate about their hurling and gaelic football.