| Munster
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| Statistics
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| Area: | 24,607.52 kmē
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| Population: | 1,100,614 (2002)
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- For other places with the same or similar names, and other uses of the word, see Munster (disambiguation).
Munster (Irish: An Mhumhain) 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), Des 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.
Munster is also a Irish Rugby Football Union club. It competes in the Celtic League and for the Heineken Cup.
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