1.
County Limerick
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County Limerick is a county in Ireland. It is located in the province of Munster, and is part of the Mid-West Region. It is named after the city of Limerick, Limerick City and County Council is the local council for the county. The countys population at the 2016 census is 195,175 of which 58,319 live in Limerick City, Limerick borders four other counties, Kerry to the west, Clare to the north, Tipperary to the east and Cork to the south. It is the fifth largest of Munsters six counties in size, the River Shannon flows through the city of Limerick into the Atlantic Ocean at the north of the county. Below the city, the waterway is known as the Shannon Estuary, because the estuary is shallow, the countys most important port is several kilometres west of the city, at Foynes. Limerick City is the county town and is also Irelands third largest city and it also serves as a regional centre for the greater Mid-West Region. Newcastle West, Killmallock & Abbeyfeale are other important towns in the county, there are fourteen historic baronies in the county. While baronies continue to be officially defined units, they are no longer used for administrative purposes. Their official status is illustrated by Placenames Orders made since 2003, the highest point in the county is located in its south-east corner at Galtymore, which separates Limerick from County Tipperary. The county is not a simply a plain, its topography consists of hills, the eastern part of the county is part of the Golden Vale, which is well known for dairy produce and consists of rolling low hills. This gives way to flat land around the centre of the county. Towards the west, the Mullaghareirk Mountains push across the county offering extensive views east over the county, tributaries of the Shannon drainage basin located in the county include the rivers Mulkear, Loobagh, Maigue, Camogue, Morning Star, Deel, and the Feale. It is thought that humans had established themselves in the Lough Gur area of the county as early as 3000 BC, the arrival of the Celts around 400 BC brought about the division of the county into petty kingdoms or túatha. The OBriens retained their power until late in the 1100s. The ancestors of both Michael Collins and the famous OConnells of Derrynane were also among the septs of the Uí Fidgenti. As the Ui Fidgenti were the clan in the Limerick after 400 a. d. the Uí Fidgenti still made a substantial contribution to the population of the central. Their capital was Dún Eochair, the earthworks of which still remain and can be found close to the modern town of Bruree
2.
Republic of Ireland
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Ireland, also known as the Republic of Ireland, is a sovereign state in north-western Europe occupying about five-sixths of the island of Ireland. The capital and largest city is Dublin, which is located on the part of the island. The state shares its land border with Northern Ireland, a part of the United Kingdom. It is otherwise surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean, with the Celtic Sea to the south, Saint Georges Channel to the south-east, and it is a unitary, parliamentary republic. The head of government is the Taoiseach, who is elected by the Dáil and appointed by the President, the state was created as the Irish Free State in 1922 as a result of the Anglo-Irish Treaty. It was officially declared a republic in 1949, following the Republic of Ireland Act 1948, Ireland became a member of the United Nations in December 1955. It joined the European Economic Community, the predecessor of the European Union, after joining the EEC, Ireland enacted a series of liberal economic policies that resulted in rapid economic growth. The country achieved considerable prosperity between the years of 1995 and 2007, which known as the Celtic Tiger period. This was halted by a financial crisis that began in 2008. However, as the Irish economy was the fastest growing in the EU in 2015, Ireland is again quickly ascending league tables comparing wealth and prosperity internationally. For example, in 2015, Ireland was ranked as the joint sixth most developed country in the world by the United Nations Human Development Index and it also performs well in several national performance metrics, including freedom of the press, economic freedom and civil liberties. Ireland is a member of the European Union and is a member of the Council of Europe. The 1922 state, comprising 26 of the 32 counties of Ireland, was styled, the Constitution of Ireland, adopted in 1937, provides that the name of the State is Éire, or, in the English language, Ireland. Section 2 of the Republic of Ireland Act 1948 states, It is hereby declared that the description of the State shall be the Republic of Ireland. The 1948 Act does not name the state as Republic of Ireland, because to have done so would have put it in conflict with the Constitution. The government of the United Kingdom used the name Eire, and, from 1949, Republic of Ireland, for the state, as well as Ireland, Éire or the Republic of Ireland, the state is also referred to as the Republic, Southern Ireland or the South. In an Irish republican context it is referred to as the Free State or the 26 Counties. From the Act of Union on 1 January 1801, until 6 December 1922, during the Great Famine, from 1845 to 1849, the islands population of over 8 million fell by 30%
3.
University College Dublin
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University College Dublin is a research university in Dublin, Ireland. It has over 1,482 faculty and 32,000 students, the university originates in a body founded in 1854 with John Henry Newman as the first rector known as the Catholic University of Ireland, re-formed in 1880 and chartered in its own right in 1908. Originally located in locations across Dublin city, all of the faculties have since been relocated to a 133-hectare campus at Belfield. University College Dublin is frequently ranked among the top universities in Europe, there are five Nobel Laureates amongst University College Dublins alumni and current and former staff. The 2016 QS World University Rankings ranks UCD #176 worldwide, and puts it in the 151-200 bracket, a report published in May 2015 showed that the total economic output generated by UCD and its students in Ireland amounted to €1.3 billion annually. In the 19th century, the question of education in Ireland was a contentious one. It had divided Daniel OConnell and the Young Ireland Movement for many years, the Catholic Hierarchy wanted to counteract the Godless Colleges established in Galway, Belfast and Cork and to provide a Catholic alternative to Trinity College, Dublin. In 1850 at the Synod of Thurles it was decided to open a Catholic University, as a result of these efforts a new Catholic University of Ireland was opened in 1854 and John Henry Newman was appointed as its first rector. Newman had been a figure in the Oxford Movement in the 19th Century. The Catholic University opened its doors on the feast of St Malachy,3 November 1854, to prepare students for entry to the new University, the Catholic University School was established as a feeder school under the guidance of Bartholomew Woodlock and Cardinal Newman. Among the first students enrolled were the grandson of Daniel O’Connell, OShea clashed with Newman and left to go to Trinity, however, after one year. Of the eight students in Newmans own home, two were Irish, two English, two Scottish and two French. Among them were a French viscount, and Irish baronet Sir Reginald Barnewall, the son of a French countess, the grandson of a Scottish marquis, later were added to his care two Belgian princes and a Polish count. Many were attracted to the University on the basis of the reputation of Newman, as a private university, the Catholic University was never given a royal charter, and so was unable to award recognized degrees and suffered from chronic financial difficulties. Newman left the university in 1857, after which the school went into a serious decline, Bartholomew Woodlock was appointed Rector and served until he became Bishop of Ardagh and Clonmacnoise in 1879. In this period he attempted to secure a site of 34 acres at Clonliffe West and he then turned his attention to expanding along St Stephens Green and over these years bought from No.82 to 87. The decline was halted in 1880 with the establishment of the Royal University of Ireland, the Royal Universities charter entitled all Irish students to sit the Universities examinations and receive its degrees. In order to avail of the benefits of the Royal University of Ireland arrangement, the college rapidly attracted many of the best students and academics in Ireland including Fr
4.
Irish general election, 1981
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The Irish general election of 1981 was held on 11 June 1981, three weeks after the dissolution of the Dáil on 21 May. The newly elected 166 members of the 22nd Dáil assembled at Leinster House on 30 June when a new Taoiseach, the general election took place in 41 parliamentary constituencies throughout Ireland for 166 seats in the lower house of parliament, Dáil Éireann. The number of seats in the Dáil was increased by 18 from 148 to 166, the general election of 1981 was the first one of five during the 1980s. The election also saw three new leaders of the three main parties fight their first general election. Charles Haughey had become Taoiseach and leader of Fianna Fáil at the end of 1979, Garret FitzGerald was the new leader of Fine Gael, Haughey and Fianna Fáil seemed extremely popular with the electorate in early 1981. By the dissolution in May, much of the optimism in the party had filtered out. The Anti H-Block movement fielded abstentionist candidates in solidarity with the hunger strikers, Fianna Fáils manifesto promised the electorate more spending programmes and Fine Gael put forward a series of tax-cutting plans. Fine Gael–Labour Party minority coalition government formed, when the votes were counted the result was inconclusive. Fianna Fáil lost seats as a result of sympathy to the Anti H-Block candidates and it was the worst performance for Fianna Fáil in twenty years. Meanwhile, Labour Party leader Frank Cluskey lost his seat, necessitating a change with Michael OLeary succeeding Cluskey. A Fine Gael–Labour Party coalition government came to power with Garret FitzGerald becoming Taoiseach, where more than one change took place in a constituency the concept of successor is an approximation for presentation only. Outgoing TDs re-elected in a new constituency, with no related changes, are not recorded as a change Members of the 22nd Dáil Government of the 22nd Dáil Ministers of State of the 22nd Dáil
5.
Limerick
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Limerick is a city in county Limerick, Ireland. It is located in the Mid-West Region and is part of the province of Munster. Limerick City and County Council is the authority for the city. The city lies on the River Shannon, with the core of the city located on Kings Island, which is bounded by the Shannon. Limerick is also located at the head of the Shannon Estuary where the river widens before it flows into the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 95,854, Limerick is the third most populous area in the state. There are 102,161 people living in the Limerick City Metropolitan District, on 1 June 2014 following the merger of Limerick City and County Council a new Metropolitan District of Limerick was formed within the united council which extended the city area. The Metropolitan District includes the city area and extends outwards towards Patrickswell in the west. The City Metropolitan Area however excludes city suburbs located within County Clare, when included this increases the overall city and metropolitan area by a further 5,000 with a combined total population of 107,161. Limerick is one of the constituent cities of the Cork–Limerick–Galway corridor which has a population of 1 million people and it is located at a strategic position on the River Shannon with four main crossing points near the city centre. To the south of the city is the Golden Vale, an area of rich pastureland, historically, much of the citys industry was based on this rich agricultural hinterland and it is particularly noted for Limerick Ham. Luimneach originally referred to the area along the banks of the Shannon Estuary known as Loch Luimnigh. The earliest settlement in the city, Inis Sibhtonn, was the name for Kings Island during the pre-Viking and Viking eras. This island was also called Inis an Ghaill Duibh, The Dark- Foreigners Island, the name is recorded in Viking sources as Hlymrekr. Antiquitys map-maker, Ptolemy, produced in 150 the earliest map of Ireland, history also records an important battle involving Cormac mac Airt in 221 and a visit by St. Patrick in 434 to baptise an Eóganachta king, Carthann the Fair. Saint Munchin, the first bishop of Limerick died in 652, in 812 the Vikings sailed up the Shannon and pillaged the city, burned the monastery of Mungret but were forced to flee when the Irish attacked and killed many of their number. The Normans redesigned the city in the 12th century and added much of the most notable architecture, such as King Johns Castle, one of the kingdoms most notable kings was Brian Boru, ancestor of the OBrien Clan of Dalcassians. The word Thomond is synonymous with the region and is retained in place such as Thomondgate
6.
Fine Gael
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Fine Gael is a liberal-conservative and Christian democratic political party in Ireland. Fine Gael is currently the governing and largest party in Ireland in terms of members of the Oireachtas, Kenny has led the party since 2002. Fine Gael was founded on 8 September 1933 following the merger of its parent party Cumann na nGaedheal, the National Centre Party and the National Guard. Its origins lie in the struggle for Irish independence and the pro-Treaty side in the Irish Civil War and Michael Collins, Fine Gael is generally considered to be more of a proponent of market liberalism than its traditional rival, Fianna Fáil. However, apart from brief minority governments, Fine Gael has rarely governed Ireland without a coalition also included the Labour Party. Fine Gael describes itself as a party of the centre which it defines as acting in a way that is right for Ireland. It lists its values as equality of opportunity, free enterprise and reward, security, integrity. It is strongly in favour of the European Union and opposed to physical force Irish republicanism, the partys youth wing, Young Fine Gael, was formed in 1977, and has approximately four thousand members. Fine Gael is a member of the European Peoples Party. In 1923 this faction formally separates to become Cumann na nGaedheal and it rules as a minority government until 1932 when it’s replaced by a Fianna Fáil minority government with support from the Labour Party. 1933, It becomes Fine Gael also merging with two groups, the National Centre Party and the National Guard. 1937, It campaigns against the enactment of a new constitution proposed by Fianna Fáil advocating a no vote in the referendum, 1948–51, It forms part of Ireland’s first coalition government also including the Labour Party, Clann na Poblachta, Clann na Talmhan and the National Labour Party. 1954–57, It takes part in a three-party coalition government with the Labour Party,1972, It supported the campaign for a yes vote in the referendum to join the European Communities, voters approved of this proposal in the referendum. Both amendments were approved by voters in referenda, 1973–77, It takes part in a two-party coalition government with the Labour Party. Both amendments were approved by voters in referenda, 1981–82, It takes part in a two-party minority coalition government with the Labour Party. 1982-87, It takes part in a two-party coalition government with the Labour Party,1984, It proposed and supported the campaign for a yes vote for a constitutional amendment to extend the voting franchise to allow votes for non-citizens who are residents. This amendment was approved by voters in the referendum,1986, It proposed and supported the campaign for a yes for a constitutional amendment to make divorce constitutional. This amendment was rejected by voters in the referendum,1987, It supported the campaign for a yes vote for a constitutional amendment permitting the state to ratify the Single European Act
7.
Cathaoirleach
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Cathaoirleach is the title of the chair of Seanad Éireann, the sixty-member upper house of the Oireachtas, the legislature of Ireland. The current Cathaoirleach is Fianna Fáil Senator Denis ODonovan, since 8 June 2016, the Cathaoirleach is the sole judge of order and has a range of powers and functions namely, Calls on members to speak and all speeches must be addressed to the Chair. Puts such questions to the House as are required, supervises Divisions, has authority to suppress disorder, to enforce prompt obedience to Rulings and may order members to withdraw from the House or name them for suspension by the House itself for a period. In the case of disorder can suspend or adjourn the House. The Cathaoirleach is also a member of the Presidential Commission. This list includes the panel and political affiliation of each Cathaoirleach as well as the number of their Seanad Éireann, the Cathaoirleachs deputy is the Leas-Chathaoirleach. The current Leas-Cathaoirleach is Fine Gael Senator Paul Coghlan, since 15 June 2016, the term Cathaoirleach is also used in a generic sense for chairs of various organisations and local authorities. Many voluntary organisations, associations and clubs also employ this term, for county boards. Ceann Comhairle Politics of the Republic of Ireland History of the Republic of Ireland Seanad Éireann Leader of the Seanad Official website
8.
Joe Costello (politician)
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Joe Costello is an Irish Labour Party politician. He was a Teachta Dála for the Dublin Central constituency and previously served as Minister of State for Trade, Costello was born in Geevagh, County Sligo and was educated at Summerhill College, Sligo, St Patricks College, Maynooth and University College Dublin. He worked as a school teacher before becoming a full-time public representative. He joined the Labour Party in 1985, and in 1989 he was elected to the 19th Seanad Éireann on the Administrative Panel and he remained there until the 1992 general election when he was elected to Dáil Éireann. Costello lost his seat at the 1997 general election but was elected to the Seanad again. Costello was re-elected to the Dáil at the 2002 and 2007 general elections and his wife Emer Costello is a former MEP for Dublin. He was director of elections for Michael D. Higgins during the 2011 presidential election, on 20 December 2011, he was appointed as Minister of State for Trade and Development, a position he served in until 15 July 2014. He was dropped as a Minister of State in a reshuffle in July 2014 and he was then appointed to the Dáil Public Accounts Committee. He lost his seat at the 2016 general election, joe Costellos page on the Labour Party website
9.
Joe O'Reilly
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Joe OReilly is an Irish Fine Gael politician. Elected at the election in February 2011 as a Teachta Dála for the Cavan–Monaghan constituency. Having served twice previously in Seanad Éireann, following the loss of his Dáil seat, OReilly is a primary schoolteacher by profession. In local politics, he was first elected to Cavan County Council in 1985 and he was re-elected at the 1999 local elections for the Bailieborough area and again in 2004. He was a candidate at the 2007 general election for the Cavan–Monaghan Dáil Éireann constituency. He lost this Dáil seat at the 2016 general election, in European elections, he was an unsuccessful candidate at the 2009 European Parliament election for the North-West constituency. As a Seanad member, he was first elected in 1989 to the 19th Seanad on the Cultural and Educational Panel and he lost his seat at the 1993 Seanad elections, and was unsuccessful again at the 1997 Seanad election. He was elected to the 23rd Seanad in 2007, serving on the Industrial and Commercial Panel and as Fine Gael Seanad spokesperson on Communications, Energy, OReilly was elected to the Labour Panel of the 25th Seanad in April 2016. Joe OReillys page on the Fine Gael website
