Leinster

Leinster [ lɛnstə ] (Irish Cúige Laighean, / ˌ ku ː g'ə laiən /, " fifth ( the tribe ) of Laigin " ) is one of the four historic provinces of Ireland, located in the eastern and southeastern part of the Republic of Ireland. In the north- east Leinster borders the Northern Ireland counties of Armagh and Down, to the east by the Irish Sea, to the south and southwest of Munster and the west and north-west of Connacht. Leinster, one of the five ancient provincial kingdoms of Ireland, includes the former kingdoms of Meath and Leinster, and includes twelve of the 26 counties of Ireland in an area of ​​19,775 km ².

The counties are:

• County Louth,
• County Meath,
• County Dublin,
• County Wicklow,
• County Wexford,
• County Kilkenny,
• County Carlow,
• County Laois
• County Offaly,
• County Kildare,
• County Westmeath and
• County Longford.

Geography

A large part of Leinster is located in the central lowlands of Ireland. The main upland areas are to the east and south, where drags the Leinster chain from Dublin through the Wicklow Mountains to the Blackstair Mountains.

Economy

Leinster is a productive agricultural region. Barley, oats, potatoes, sugar beets, turnips, and wheat are grown, meat and dairy cattle are kept. Dublin serves as a market for horticulture. The province is a center of the peat industry, whose raw material is stabbed in the peat bogs of the interior. One of the most important lead and zinc mines in the world is located in Navan, County Meath. Dublin is the most important industrial center of the county, followed by Dundalk and Drogheda. But the main employer is the service sector, which includes tourism belongs.

Population

Total living with 2,501,208 inhabitants ( as of 2011) about 55 % of the Irish population (excluding Northern Ireland) in the province of Leinster. About half of the population lives in the greater Dublin area. An important city is also Dun Laoghaire.

Management

The regional management is based on the twelve counties. County Dublin is divided into four regional administrative areas: City of Dublin with the rights of a county, South Dublin, Fingal and Dun Laoghaire - Rathdown. The County Dublin selects 47 deputies in the Dáil Éireann ( the lower house of Parliament ), the other counties make up 10 constituencies, choose the 41 deputies.