A region of folklore, tradition and music, southern Ireland was one of the original Gaelic kingdoms of Ireland. Bordered by the Irish Sea and the Atlantic Ocean, it has a maritime and agricultural heritage and is home to notable cities, including Cork and Limerick. From castles to surfing and food to festivals, a lot is competing for your attention. Our guide to the region can help you decide if it suits your study abroad ambitions.
What is southern Ireland like?
Location and demographics
You may hear southern Ireland referred to as Munster. The reason is that this is the province of Ireland that dominates the region. Munster covers the southwest and southeast areas of the island of Ireland. It is bordered by Connacht to the northwest and Leinster to the northeast. You’ll also find the Irish Sea to the east and the Atlantic Ocean to the west.
Munster is the largest of the four provinces of Ireland at 24,675 square kilometres. The province is home to just over 1,360,000 people, putting it ahead of Connacht, but behind Leinster. Munster consists of the counties of:
- Clare
- Cork
- Kerry
- Limerick
- Tipperary
- Waterford
Cork and Limerick are the most populated counties of Munster, with 500,000 and 200,000 residents respectively. The county is also home to three main cities and many smaller towns.
Culture and history
Munster has been inhabited since before the 1st century AD and was originally home to the Iverni people. It is reported that St Patrick visited and travelled through Munster in the 5th century founding churches.
Munster has gone through many eras and conflicts throughout its history. This includes the arrival of the Gaels and Vikings in the 9th century and the arrival of the Norman aristocracy in the 14th century.
In more recent history, Munster played a central role in the Irish War of Independence in the early 20th century. Munster is also renowned for creating, developing, and safeguarding Irish culture, from music and mythology to sports and ceremonies. It has the second-largest number of Irish speakers in Ireland.
The region was also the cradle of an early medieval Irish alphabet seen in inscriptions for the area. These days Munster is a significant tourist destination, especially for those who love history, culture, and cuisine.
What cities are in southern Ireland?
Munster is the largest province in Ireland by land area, so it’s little surprise that there are quite a few cities and towns in the region. The most notable are generally the capitals of each of the counties, which vary quite considerably in size. Let’s have a closer look:
- Cork is the second largest city in Ireland and the unofficial capital of Munster. The city has a community of over 220,00 people living in a harbourside location on the River Lee. Cork Was an original Viking settlement and is known for its food, arts, culture, and the unique Irish accent of its residents.
- Limerick is situated in west Munster alongside the River Shannon and Abbey River. It is the fourth most populated city in Ireland, with over 100,000 calling it home. Limerick is synonymous with literature, music, art, and media. It’s also famous for its 13th-century castle and a 12th-century cathedral.
- Waterford claims the title of the oldest city in Ireland and is found in the southeast of the country. Waterford began life as a Viking settlement and grew around a harbour into the dynamic city you’d recognise today. The city is famed for its glassmaking, festivals, Viking quarter and numerous museums.
- Ennis is a small town that is the main settlement of the county of Clare. It’s a small, tightly-knit community of 25,000 and is noted as the centre for Traditional Irish Music. The town is also known to be very picturesque and was given the title of the “Tidiest Town in Ireland”.
- Tralee is in the heart of county Kerry on the Dingle peninsula that stretches out towards the Atlantic Ocean. The town is small in comparison to others in the region, but it holds its own and each year hosts the world-renowned Rose of Tralee Festival. It’s also a known cultural site, with many areas of archaeological interest discovered there.
Discover more about some of the best cities in Ireland.
How much does it cost to live in southern Ireland?
You can expect to pay a little less per month and year if you study in Munster. For example, Cork is about 25 per cent more affordable than Dublin and about the same as studying in Connacht (western Ireland). It’s also about 10 per cent cheaper to study in Limerick than in Cork. Let’s turn our attention to the average costs you can expect to pay in Munster:
- Rent = EUR 1,100 to EUR 1,300 per month (off-campus accommodation)
- Accommodation on campus = EUR 700 to EUR 750 per month
- Utilities = EUR 180 per month
- Food = EUR 230 to EUR 330 per month
- Recreation = EUR 100 to EUR 300 per month
- Travel = EUR 120 per month
- Study materials = EUR 75 per month
Studying in southern Ireland means you’ll need to budget between EUR 750 and EUR 900 per month for living expenses, excluding your rent and tuition.
Find out more about the cost of living in Ireland.
What services are available in southern Ireland?
Southern Ireland is well covered by transport, health, and community services. The region is connected by rail, road, air, and sea to the rest of Ireland and Europe. There are four airports in Munster, namely Cork, Tralee, Waterford, and Shannon. The region is also home to over 20 hospitals.
We know that a student budget means you’ll be looking for affordable modes of transport, and these are provided by both bus and rail companies. Both Bus Eireann, the national bus service in Ireland and Iarnrod Eireann (Irish Rail) run across the region. You can get from Cork to Dublin in just under two and a half hours and from Cork to Waterford in just over two hours using the train.
There is additional support available for international students provided by universities' international offices, the Union of Students in Ireland and the Irish Council for International Students.
What are the post-study options?
If you have graduated from an Irish institution with the equivalent of a bachelor’s degree with honours you may be eligible for the third-level graduate programme. If you qualify you can stay in Ireland for up to 12 months after graduating to find work. If you have earned a postgraduate degree this may be extended further.
Ireland’s economy remains strong and continues to develop. It is expected to grow by about four per cent in 2023, meaning that there are opportunities for international graduates in the employment market. Staying in Ireland or Munster after graduation may open doors for you in industries including:
- Banking and finance
- Agriculture
- Software engineering
- Pharmaceuticals
- Electronic engineering
- Aerospace
- Manufacturing
The region is home to some large multinational companies you may recognise, including Motorola, Pfizer, Apple, Intel, and Sony.
What universities are in southern Ireland?
Studying in southern Ireland will give you a selection of higher education institutions, including those with international reputations and specialist areas of study:
- University College Cork has a 170-year history and is rated in the top one per cent of universities globally. It is ranked as a top five university in Ireland and the top 350 worldwide by the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2023. Home to 23,000 students, of which 3,000 are international students.
- Munster Technological University has six campuses across Munster and began as a merger between two institutes of technology in 2020. It hosts over 1,000 international students from 125 countries studying undergraduate and postgraduate courses from architecture to engineering.
- University of Limerick is ranked in the world’s top 800 institutions by THE and has also received a five-star QS rating for employability. The university has over 70 undergraduate programmes covering disciplines such as health sciences, engineering, business, and arts. International students account for over 15 per cent of the student community of 16,500.
- Southeast Technological University is in Waterford and is the only university in this area of Munster. The university has developed partnerships with over 100 institutions in the EU and has an industry-focused curriculum in key subject areas.
Get more information about the top universities in Ireland.
What are the main attractions in southern Ireland?
Munster provides a wide range of attractions and activities for people with diverse interests. From outdoor adventure to the relative quiet of museums, Munster has it all. We’ve picked some of the top places to visit and things to do.
- Visit Blarney Castle in Cork for an experience of medieval architecture, picturesque views and the world-famous Blarney Stone, which is said to bring those who kiss it the ability to tell excellent stories.
- Drombeg Stone Circle is the Munster equivalent of Stonehenge. It is a neolithic monument thought to have been used for ritual purposes and timekeeping.
- If you’re a nature lover, then Puffin Island in Kerry could be on your Irish bucket list. It hosts several local seabird colonies, including the iconic puffin.
- No trip around Munster would be complete without a visit to the world-famous King John’s Castle in Limerick, which dates to the 13th century.
- Killarney National Park is the perfect location for those who like the outdoors, with hiking trails, waterfalls and lakes covering its landscape.
- Cultural experiences in Limerick, Waterford and Cork are also available, with everything from music to whisky tours. It is well worth immersing yourself in these to understand the region and country.
You’re never short of options in Munster, with charming villages all along the coast and maritime history to explore at museums and exhibitions across the province.
Now that you have a better sense of what’s available to you in Munster, you may want to explore more on how to apply to study in Ireland and the ten things you should know before studying in Ireland.
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