Munster, Historical province in southwest Ireland
Munster is a province in southwestern Ireland covering six counties: Clare, Cork, Kerry, Limerick, Tipperary, and Waterford. The coastline runs along much of the Irish Atlantic front, while inland you find rolling hills and river valleys.
The Eoghanachta dynasty ruled here from the 5th century, building Cashel as their capital. Later, the Anglo-Norman conquest brought new political structures that shaped the medieval face of the region.
The Irish name Mumhan comes from the goddess Mumu, whose name became one with the land itself. In some coastal towns and rural areas you can still hear Irish spoken in daily life, especially in the western counties.
Main roads connect Cork, Limerick, and Waterford with each other and with the smaller towns of the six counties. A car is often useful to reach coastal spots and areas away from the main routes.
The province's name appears in medieval maps often spelled as "Mounster", showing how English scribes heard the Irish original. The Shannon Estuary cuts deeply into the northern border, creating a natural gateway between land and sea.
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