Leinster
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robot Adding: [[simple:Leinster]]
{{otheruses4|the Province of Ireland|the town in Western Australia|Leinster, Western Australia}}
{{otheruses4||the ship which was sunk on 10 October 1918 with over 500 deaths|RMS Leinster}}
{{Infobox Irish Place|
name = Leinster|
gaeilge = Laighin|
flag image = Flag of Leinster.svg|
map image = IrelandLeinster.png|
area = 19,774.23|
population = 2,292,939|
census yr = 2006|
|}}
'''Leinster''' ({{IPAEng|ˈlɛnstər}}; [[Irish language|Irish]]: ''Laighin'', {{IPA2|lainʲ}}), one of the [[Provinces of Ireland]], lies in the east of [[Ireland]] and comprises the counties of [[County Carlow|Carlow]], [[County Dublin|Dublin]], [[County Kildare|Kildare]], [[County Kilkenny|Kilkenny]], [[County Laois|Laois]], [[County Longford|Longford]], [[County Louth|Louth]], [[County Meath|Meath]], [[County Offaly|Offaly]], [[County Westmeath|Westmeath]], [[County Wexford|Wexford]] and [[County Wicklow|Wicklow]]. Leinster has the largest population of the four provinces of Ireland. The traditional flag of Leinster features a [[gold]]en [[harp]] on a [[green]] background.
== Cities==
*The largest city in Leinster is [[Dublin]], the capital of Ireland. The [[Greater Dublin Area]] (GDA) has a population of 1,661,185 (2006). Some of the larger urban areas in the GDA are [[Tallaght]] & environs (103,301), [[Blanchardstown]] (60,000), [[Clondalkin]] (43,929) and [[Lucan]] (37,622). The City of [[Kilkenny]] (and environs) has a population of 23,967 (2006).
== Large Towns ==
In order of size:
*[[Swords, Dublin|Swords]] (37,806)
*[[Drogheda]] (35,090)
*[[Dundalk]] (35,085)
*[[Bray]] (31,901)
*[[Finglas]] (31,529)
*[[Navan]] (26,938)
*[[Naas]] (21,715)
*[[Carlow]] (20,724)
*[[Wexford]] (18,590)
*[[Mullingar]] (18,529)
*[[Newbridge]] (18,520)
*[[Athlone]] (16,888)
*[[Balbriggan]] (15,559)
*[[Leixlip]] (14,676)
*[[Celbridge]] (14,675)
*[[Greystones]] (14,569)
*[[Portlaoise]] (14,275)
*[[Tullamore]] (13,085)
*[[Longford]] (13,000)
*[[Arklow]] (11,712)
*[[Malahide]] (11,069)
*[[Maynooth]] (10,715)
*[[Wicklow]] (10,070)
== Economy==
According to the CSO regional income report, GDP for the province of Leinster in 2004 was estimated to be well over 75 billion Euro.
== Name and Early History ==
In ancient times Leinster was occupied by five major [[Fir-Bolg]] tribes, of which the tribe of Laigin rose to dominance and gave Leinster its name. The Fir Bolg may be related to the [[Belgae]], but this has not been firmly established. The tribes of Leinster were united by [[Úgaine Mor]] [[Hugony, The Great]], who built the hill-fort of Ailinne [[Knochawlin]], near [[Kilcullen]], County Kildare. He is a likely, but uncertain candidate as the first historical King of Laigin (Leinster) in the [[7th century BC]]. The "-ster" of the toponym comes from the Nordic S-genitive and the Irish ''tír'', meaning country, as the Vikings dominated and held [[Dublin]], [[Wexford]] and [[Waterford]], among other times for a period of time (around 800 - 1000). Therefore Leinster breaks down as:
*Laigin
*s
*Tír
or "the country of the Laigin".
The kingdom of Laigin was re-founded circa 175/185 AD following a period of civil wars in Ireland by the legendary [[Cathair Mor]].
Finn Mac Cool, or [[Fionn mac Cumhaill]], was reputed to have built a stronghold at the Bog of Almhainn, in what was then Leinster.
In the fourth and fifth centuries, after [[Magnus Maximus]] left Britain with his legions, leaving a power vacuum, colonists from Laigin settled in North Wales, specifically in [[Anglesey]], [[Carnarvonshire]], and [[Denbighshire]]. In Wales some of the Leinster-Irish colonists left their name on the [[Llŷn]] peninsula, which derives its name from Laigin.
By the eighth century, Laigin , had split into two dynasties:
Northern Leinster dynasty: Murchad mac Brain (d. 727), King of [[Uí Dúnlainge]], and joint leader of the Laigin
Southern Leinster dynasty: [[Áed mac Colggen]] (d. 738), King of [[Uí Cheinnselaig]], and joint leader of the Laigin
After the death of the last Kildare-based King of Laigin, Murchad Mac Dunlainge in 1042, the Kingship of Leinster reverted to the [[Uí Cheinnselaig]] sept based in the south east (southern dynasty) which comprise the later [[Kings of Leinster]].
Some contend it was named after a powerful Welsh colony, meaning Land of the men of the Llyn Peninsula [http://www.bookrags.com/wiki/Leinster][http://experts.about.com/e/l/le/leinster.htm].
== Borders of Leinster ==
Today, made of twelve counties, it encompasses the old province of [[Mide]] (mostly now in modern-day County Meath and County Westmeath). Also in it are County Longford and the [[Annally]] and [[Lusmagh]] parishes of County Offaly, formerly of [[Connacht]], and [[County Louth]], formerly of [[Ulster]]. The borders were redrawn by Cromwell for administration and military reasons. The last major boundary changes occurred with the formation of County Wicklow (1603-1606), from lands in the north of Carlow (which previously extended to the sea) and most of southern Dublin.
Later minor changes dealt with "islands" of one county in another. By the late 18th century, Leinster looked as shown below.
[[Image:Ireland Leinster Hogg 1784 700x1030.jpg|left|thumb|Leinster, Province of Ireland - detailed; Hogg, 1784]]
==See also==
* [[Kings of Leinster]]
* [[Duke of Leinster]]
* [[Leinster House]]
* [[Provinces of Ireland]]
* [[Leinster GAA]]
* [[Leinster Rugby]]
* [[RMS Leinster|RMS ''Leinster]]
==References==
* Foster, R. F. ''The Oxford History of Ireland.'' Oxford University Press, Oxford & New York, 1992. ISBN 0-19-285271-X (references to Irish colony in North Wales, Lleyn Peninsula, page 6)
* [http://www.world-gazetteer.com/wg.php?x=&men=gcis&lng=en&dat=32&srt=npan&col=aohdq&geo=-102 2006 Town population estimates]
{{Ireland_counties}}
[http://www.cso.ie/releasespublications/documents/economy/current/regincome.pdf CSO Irish Regional Income/GDP 2004 Report]
[[Category:Leinster| ]]
[[Category:Provinces of Ireland]]
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