The following table and map show the areas in Ireland, previously designated as Cities, Boroughs, or Towns in the Local Government Act 2001.

Under the Local Government (Ireland) Act 1898, Ireland had a two-tier system of local authorities. The first tier consisted of administrative counties and county boroughs. The county boroughs were in the major municipal population centres. The second tier consisted of urban districts, governed by urban district councils; some of the urban district retained a higher status of borough with a corporation. Below that were towns with town commissioners, administered under the Towns Improvement (Ireland) Act 1854.

Under the Local Government Act 2001, administrative counties and county boroughs were redesignated as counties and cities respectively. The lower tier consisted of boroughs and towns (including both former urban districts and towns administered by town commissioners).

Under the Local Government Reform Act 2014, only Dublin, Cork and Galway retain separate city councils. Limerick and Waterford were merged into the corresponding county councils and all borough and town councils were abolished. Municipal districts were created from local electoral areas with councillors being those elected to the county councils. In the case of Limerick and Waterford, these are called Metropolitan Districts; in the case of Drogheda, Wexford, Sligo and Clonmel, these are called Borough Districts; and in the case of Kilkenny, it is called the Municipal District of Kilkenny City.[1]

Explanation of table

Column name Meaning Explanation Sources
Name(s) Names of the town The first name listed is the commonest English name, and links to the relevant article. Alternative names are listed in parentheses. If the official name used in census reports is not the linked name, it is in italics. Only the name of the municipality is given, not that of any suburban areas (e.g. Tallaght is not named separately from Dublin). [2]
Council Type of municipal council The Local Government Act 2001 defines three types of municipal council, namely "City", "Borough", and "Town". The "Town council" label replaced the earlier "Urban district council" and "Town commissioners", but did not abolish the distinction in their respective powers. Values listed in this column are as follows:
City For the 5 former county boroughs with the same powers as county councils.[n 1]
Borough For the few ancient boroughs whose charters were not extinguished by the Municipal Corporations (Ireland) Act 1840 or promoted to the status later. Their powers were practically identical to those of the former urban districts and later town councils, but the label "borough" was more prestigious. Abolished in 2014.
UD Area which was governed by an urban district under the Local Government (Ireland) Act 1898 and a town council under the Local Government Act 2001. Abolished in 2014.
Comm Area which was governed by town commissioners under the Towns Improvement (Ireland) Act 1854, less powerful than an urban district council, and a town council under the Local Government Act 2001. Abolished in 2014.
[3][4][5]
Core County Core county for town County is that in which the municipal area is entirely located. In the case of cities, the namesake county is considered the core county even though the city is administratively separate from it. [6]
Other Counties Other counties For towns whose suburbs/environs span a county boundary, any county other than the core county. [6][7]
2006 Tot Total population in 2006 Sum of the municipal population and the suburban population. [6]
2011 Tot Total population in 2011. Sum of the municipal population and the suburban population. [6]
% change Tot Change in total population As a percentage of 2006 population. Calculated
Tot area Total area of the town 2011 area in square kilometres (km2). Only for towns with a total population of at least 1,500. [8]
Tot dens Population density of total area Persons per km2. Based on 2011 total area and population. Calculated
2006 Mun Population of the municipal area in 2006 Population within the 2006 municipal area. [6]
2011 Mun Population of the municipal area in 2011 Population within the 2011 municipal area. [6]
% change Mun Change in population of the municipal area. As a percentage of 2006 population. Where the municipal area changed in the interim, this is noted. Calculated. For changed areas:[9]
Mun area Municipal area of the town Area within the legally defined municipal boundary in 2011. Where this had increased since 2006, this is noted. [10] For changed areas:[9]
Mun dens Population density of municipal area Persons per km2. Based on 2011 municipal area and population. Calculated
2009 elect Electorate for the 2009 local elections. The Local Government Act 1994 extended the boundaries of some towns for electoral purposes only.[11] That is, people living outside the municipal area were entitled to vote for the town council even though their residence was outside its jurisdiction. In a few cases, the municipal boundary of the town was subsequently extended to remove this anomaly.[9][12] The remaining cases are marked by an asterisk in this column. Where the municipal area changed between the 2006 census and the 2009 election, this is noted. (No municipal area changed between the 2009 election and the 2011 census.[9]) [11][13]
2006 Sub Population of the suburbs/environs in 2006 Called "Suburbs" for cities and "Environs" for boroughs and towns. Defined as "the continuation of a distinct population cluster outside its legally defined boundary in which no occupied dwelling is more than 200 metres distant from the nearest occupied dwelling. In applying the 200-metre criterion, industrial, commercial and recreational buildings and facilities are not regarded as breaking the continuity of a built-up area. New suburbs or environs are defined only where there are at least twenty occupied dwellings outside the legal boundary within the new limit."[14] [6]
2011 Sub Population of the suburbs/environs in 2011 The 2006 definition was changed by reducing the limit from 200 metres to 100.[14] [6]

Cities, boroughs and towns up to 2014

Name(s) Council Core County Other Counties 2006 Total 2011 Total % change Tot al Tot area Tot dens 2006 Mun 2011 Mun % change Mun Mun area Mun dens 2009 elect 2006 Sub 2011 Sub
Dublin City Dublin Dublin (Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown, Fingal, South Dublin) 1,045,769 1,110,627 6.2 318 3,493 506,211 527,612 4.2 116.58 4,526 347,312 539,558 583,015
Cork City Cork 190,384 198,582 4.3 494 402 119,418 119,230 −0.2 38.59 3,090 82,896 70,966 79,352
Limerick City Limerick Clare 90,757 91,454 0.8 57 1,604 52,539 57,106[n 2] 8.7[n 2] 28.38[n 2] 2,012 40,358 38,218 34,348[n 2]
Galway City Galway 72,729 76,778 5.6 53 1,449 72,414 75,529 4.3 50 1,511 46,164 315 1,249
Waterford City Waterford Kilkenny 49,213 51,519 4.7 44 1,171 45,748 46,732 2.2 38.35 1,219 26,598 3,465 4,787
Drogheda Borough Louth Meath 35,090 38,578 9.9 15 2,572 28,973 30,393 4.9 12.76 2,382 23,091* 6,117 8,185
Kilkenny Borough[n 1] Kilkenny 22,179 24,423 10.1 27 905 8,661 8,711 0.6 3.74 2,329 14,324* 13,518 15,712
Wexford Borough Wexford 18,163 20,072 10.5 38 528 8,854 19,913[n 3] 124.9[n 3] 18.63[n 3] 1,069 15,752 9,309 159[n 3]
Sligo Borough Sligo 19,402 19,452 0.3 31 627 17,892 17,568 −1.8 12.84 1,368 13,941* 1,510 1,884
Clonmel Borough Tipperary Waterford 17,008 17,908 5.3 17 1,053 15,482 15,793 2 11.36 1,390 10,763 1,526 2,115
Dundalk UD Louth 35,085 37,816 7.8 110 344 29,037 31,149 7.3 25.19 1,237 21,958* 6,048 6,667
Bray UD Wicklow Dublin (Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown) 31,901 31,872 −0.1 9 3,541 27,041 26,852 −0.7 7.49 3,585 19,255* 4,860 5,020
Navan (An Uaimh) UD Meath 24,851 28,559 14.9 45 635 3,710 28,158[n 4] 659[n 4] 20.04[n 4] 1,405 17,541 21,141 401[n 4]
Ennis UD Clare 24,253 25,360 4.6 45 564 20,142 20,180 0.2 14.6 1,382 14,182 4,111 5,180
Tralee UD Kerry 22,744 23,693 4.2 32 740 20,288 20,814 2.6 12.09 1,722 16,391* 2,456 2,879
Carlow UD Carlow Laois 20,724 23,030 11.1 13 1,772 13,623 13,698 0.6 6.45 2,124 11,835* 7,101 9,332
Naas UD Kildare 20,044 20,713 3.3 18 1,151 20,044 20,713 3.3 18.24 1,136 13,434 — —
Athlone UD Westmeath Roscommon 17,544 20,153 14.9 17 1,185 14,347 15,558 8.4 10.92 1,425 12,637* 3,197 4,595
Letterkenny UD Donegal 17,586 19,588 11.4 48 408 15,062 15,387 2.2 19.03 809 10,905* 2,524 4,201
Tullamore UD Offaly 12,927 14,361 11.1 21 684 10,900 11,346 4.1 7.84 1,447 8,573* 2,027 3,015
Killarney UD Kerry 14,603 14,219 −2.6 38 374 13,497 12,740 −5.6 13.44 948 8,064* 1,106 1,479
Arklow UD Wicklow 11,759 13,009 10.6 14 929 11,712 12,770 9 6.44 1,983 7,831 47 239
Cobh UD Cork 11,303 12,347 9.2 9 1,372 6,541 6,500 −0.6 2.38 2,731 8,087* 4,762 5,847
Castlebar UD Mayo 11,891 12,318 3.6 27 456 10,655 10,826 1.6 11.5 941 8,115* 1,236 1,492
Midleton UD Cork 10,048 12,001 19.4 12 1,000 3,934 3,733 −5.1 1.55 2,408 7,102* 6,114 8,268
Mallow UD Cork 10,241 11,605 13.3 17 683 7,864 8,578 9.1 6.49 1,322 7,965* 2,377 3,027
Ballina UD Mayo 10,409 11,086 6.5 30 370 10,056 10,361 3 13.69 757 7,569* 353 725
Enniscorthy UD Wexford 9,538 10,838 13.6 18 602 3,241 2,842 −12.3 1.16 2,450 5,806* 6,297 7,996
Wicklow UD Wicklow 10,070 10,356 2.8 10 1,036 6,930 6,761 −2.4 3.08 2,195 6,069* 3,140 3,595
Cavan UD Cavan 7,883 10,205 29.5 18 567 3,934 3,649 −7.2 2.01 1,815 4,406* 3,949 6,556
Athy UD Kildare 8,218 9,926 20.8 25 397 7,943 9,587 20.7 10.29 932 6,263 275 339
Longford UD Longford 8,836 9,601 8.7 22 436 7,622 8,002 5 8.93 896 6,100* 1,214 1,599
Dungarvan UD Waterford 8,362 9,427 12.7 17 555 7,813 7,991 2.3 6.21 1,287 6,210 549 1,436
Nenagh UD Tipperary 7,751 8,439 8.9 18 469 7,415 8,023 8.2 8.46 948 5,388* 336 416
Trim UD Meath 6,870 8,268 20.3 9 919 1,375 1,441 4.8 0.67 2,151 4,271* 5,495 6,827
New Ross UD Wexford Kilkenny 7,709 8,151 5.7 5 1,630 4,677 4,533 −3.1 1.87 2,424 5,533* 3,032 3,618
Thurles UD Tipperary 7,682 7,933 3.3 13 610 6,831 6,929 1.4 5.15 1,345 5,877* 851 1,004
Youghal UD Cork 6,785 7,794 14.9 11 709 6,393 6,990 9.3 4.87 1,435 5,683* 392 804
Monaghan UD Monaghan 6,710 7,452 11.1 13 573 6,221 6,637 6.7 5.51 1,205 5,474* 489 815
Buncrana UD Donegal 5,911 6,839 15.7 17 402 3,411 3,452 1.2 4.67 739 4,766* 2,500 3,387
Ballinasloe UD Galway Roscommon 6,303 6,659 5.6 18 370 6,049 6,449 6.6 16.74 385 5,092* 254 210
Fermoy UD Cork 5,873 6,489 10.5 8 811 2,275 2,223 −2.3 1.25 1,778 5,000* 3,598 4,266
Westport UD Mayo 5,475 6,063 10.7 20 303 5,163 5,543 7.4 8.14 681 3,731 312 520
Carrick-on-Suir UD Tipperary Waterford 5,906 5,931 0.4 9 659 5,856 5,886 0.5 9 654 3,500 50 45
Kells (Ceannanus Mór) UD Meath 5,248 5,888 12.2 6 981 2,257 2,208 −2.2 1.18 1,871 3,769* 2,991 3,680
Birr UD Offaly Tipperary 5,081 5,822 14.6 19 306 4,091 4,428 8.2 6.35 697 3,295 990 1,394
Tipperary UD Tipperary 5,065 5,310 4.8 11 483 4,415 4,322 −2.1 3.36 1,286 3,798* 650 988
Carrickmacross UD Monaghan 4,387 4,925 12.3 10 493 1,973 1,978 0.3 1.42 1,393 4,302* 2,414 2,947
Kinsale UD Cork 4,099 4,893 19.4 7 699 2,298 2,198 −4.4 1.11 1,980 3,099* 1,801 2,695
Listowel UD Kerry 4,338 4,832 11.4 17 284 3,901 4,205 7.8 6.36 661 3,841* 437 627
Clonakilty UD Cork 4,154 4,721 13.6 10 472 3,745 4,000 6.8 4.45 899 3,634* 409 721
Cashel UD Tipperary 2,936 4,051 38 5 810 2,413 2,275 −5.7 1.35 1,685 2,929* 523 1,776
Macroom UD Cork 3,553 3,879 9.2 22 176 3,407 3,738 9.7 10.67 350 2,937 146 141
Castleblayney (Castleblaney) UD Monaghan 3,124 3,634 16.3 7 519 1,822 1,752 −3.8 1.2 1,460 3,118* 1,302 1,882
Kilrush UD Clare 2,694 2,695 0 11 245 2,657 2,539 −4.4 5.35 475 2,137 37 156
Skibbereen UD Cork 2,338 2,670 14.2 9 297 2,338 2,568 9.8 4.07 631 1,947 — 102
Bundoran UD Donegal 1,964 2,140 9 10 214 1,706 1,781 4.4 3.93 453 1,529 258 359
Templemore UD Tipperary 2,384 2,071 −13.1 10 207 2,255 1,941 −13.9 4.35 446 1,766* 129 130
Clones UD Monaghan 1,767 1,761 −0.3 5 352 1,517 1,491 −1.7 1.83 815 1,601* 250 270
Newbridge (Droichead Nua) Comm Kildare 18,520 21,561 16.4 16 1,348 17,042 17,127 0.5 2.8[n 5] 6,117 13,604 1,478 4,434
Portlaoise (Portlaoise) Comm Laois 14,613 20,145 37.9 19 1,060 3,281 3,639 10.9 2.05[n 6] 1,775 8,409* 11,332 16,506
Mullingar Comm Westmeath 18,416 20,103 9.2 23 874 8,940 9,414 5.3 5.58[n 7] 1,687 9,791* 9,476 10,689
Balbriggan Comm Dublin (Fingal) 15,559 19,960 28.3 13 1,535 6,731 19,932[n 8] 196.1[n 8] 6.52[n 8][n 9] 3,061 10,500 8,828 28[n 8]
Greystones Comm Wicklow 14,569 17,468 19.9 30 582 10,112 10,173 0.6 3.8[n 10] 2,677 9,966* 4,457 7,295
Leixlip Comm Kildare 14,676 15,452 5.3 7 2,207 14,676 15,452 5.3 11.3[n 11] 1,367 12,724 — —
Tramore Comm Waterford 9,634 10,328 7.2 14 738 9,192 9,722 5.8 16.61[n 12] 585 7,712 442 606
Shannon Comm Clare 9,222 9,673 4.9 9 1,075 8,481 9,673[n 13] 14.1[n 13] 31.2[n 13] 310 7,113 741 —[n 13]
Gorey Comm Wexford 7,193 9,114 26.7 9 1,013 3,479 3,463 −0.5 1.71[n 14] 2,025 4,379* 3,714 5,651
Tuam Comm Galway 6,885 8,242 19.7 13 634 2,997 3,348 11.7 2.36[n 15] 1,419 5,863* 3,888 4,894
Edenderry Comm Offaly 5,888 6,977 18.5 17 410 5,617 6,490 15.5 7.93[n 16] 818 4,306* 271 487
Bandon Comm Cork 5,822 6,640 14.1 10 664 1,721 1,917 11.4 0.84[n 17] 2,282 3,886* 4,101 4,723
Passage West Comm Cork 5,203 5,790 11.3 10 579 4,818 5,122 6.3 4.03[n 18] 1,271 4,315* 385 668
Loughrea Comm Galway 4,532 5,062 11.7 4 1,266 4,532 5,062 11.7 4.25[n 19] 1,191 3,914 — —
Ardee Comm Louth 4,694 4,927 5 14 352 4,301 4,554 5.9 4.75[n 20] 959 3,197 393 373
Mountmellick Comm Laois 4,069 4,735 16.4 8 592 2,872 2,998 4.4 2.27[n 21] 1,321 3,095* 1,197 1,737
Bantry Comm Cork 3,309 3,348 1.2 10 335 3,309 3,348 1.2 10[n 22] 335 2,645 — —
Muine Bheag (Muinebeag, Bagenalstown) Comm Carlow 2,735 2,950 7.9 7 421 2,532 2,775 9.6 2.88[n 23] 964 2,193 203 175
Boyle Comm Roscommon 2,522 2,588 2.6 11 235 1,599 1,459 −8.8 2.98[n 24] 490 2,500* 923 1,129
Ballyshannon Comm Donegal 2,686 2,503 −6.8 10 250 2,004 1,855 −7.4 3.43[n 25] 541 2,324* 682 648
Cootehill Comm Cavan 1,892 2,123 12.2 6 354 1,243 1,592 28.1 1.82[n 26] 875 1,795* 649 531
Ballybay Comm Monaghan 1,217 1,461 20 — — 401 298 −25.7 0.25[n 27] 1,192 1,218* 816 1,163
Belturbet Comm Cavan 1,411 1,407 −0.3 — — 1,395 1,378 −1.2 4.38[n 28] 315 1,296 16 29
Lismore Comm Waterford 1,240 1,369 10.4 — — 790 732 −7.3 0.57[n 29] 1,284 1,138* 450 637
Kilkee Comm Clare 1,325 1,139 −14 — — 1,325 1,037 −21.7 5.25[n 30] 198 1,063 — 102
Granard Comm Longford 933 1,021 9.4 — — 933 1,021 9.4 8.12[n 31] 126 911 — —

Map

List of cities, boroughs and towns in the Republic of Ireland is located in Ireland
Navan
Ardee
Arklow
Athy
Athlone
Balbriggan
Ballybay
Ballina
Ballinasloe
Ballyshannon
Bandon
Bundoran
Buncrana
Bantry
Belturbet
Birr
Boyle
Bray
Galway
Gorey
Granard
Greystones
Dungarvan
Dundalk
Newbridge
Drogheda
Dublin
Edenderry
Youghal
Cavan
Carlow
Carrick-on-Suir
Carrick- macross
Castlebar
Castleblayney
Cashel
Kells
Kilkenny[n 1]
Killarney
Kilkee
Kilrush
Kinsale
Clonakilty
Clonmel
Clones
Cobh
Cork
Cootehill
Leixlip
Letterkenny
Limerick
Lismore
Listowel
Longford
Loughrea
Mullingar
Macroom
Mallow
Mountmellick
Midleton
Muine Bheag
Monaghan
Naas
Nenagh
New Ross
Passage West
Portlaoise
Skibbereen
Sligo
Tullamore
Temple- more
Tipperary
Tralee
Tramore
Trim
Tuam
Thurles
Wicklow
Waterford
Wexford
Westport
Fermoy
Shannon
Ennis
Enniscorthy
 City ·  Borough ·  Town

See also

Notes

  1. ^ a b c Kilkenny was governed by Borough Council until 2014, but retained the right to the description "City" for ceremonial purposes.[3] Since 2014, it has been governed by the Municipal District of Kilkenny City within Kilkenny County Council.
  2. ^ a b c d City boundary extended after the 2006 census and before the 2009 election.[15]
  3. ^ a b c d Borough boundary extended after the 2006 census and before the 2009 election.[16]
  4. ^ a b c d Town boundary extended after the 2006 census and before the 2009 election.[17]
  5. ^ Droichead Nua (Newbridge) Urban electoral division
  6. ^ Portlaoighise (Maryborough) Urban electoral division
  7. ^ Mullingar North Urban electoral division plus Mullingar South Urban electoral division
  8. ^ a b c d Town boundary extended after the 2006 census and before the 2009 election.[18]
  9. ^ Revised area is old area (Balbiggan Urban electoral division, area 2.2 km²[10]) plus added area (432 hectares[19])
  10. ^ Greystones electoral division
  11. ^ Leixlip electoral division
  12. ^ Tramore electoral division
  13. ^ a b c d Town boundary extended after the 2006 census and before the 2009 election.[20]
  14. ^ Gorey Urban electoral division
  15. ^ Tuam Urban electoral division
  16. ^ Edenderry Urban electoral division
  17. ^ Bandon electoral division
  18. ^ Monkstown Urban electoral division
  19. ^ Loughrea Urban electoral division
  20. ^ Ardee Urban electoral division
  21. ^ Mountmellick Urban electoral division
  22. ^ Bantry Urban electoral division
  23. ^ Muinebeag (Bagenalstown) Urban electoral division
  24. ^ Boyle Urban electoral division
  25. ^ Ballyshannon Urban electoral division
  26. ^ Cootehill Urban electoral division
  27. ^ Ballybay Urban electoral division
  28. ^ Belturbet Urban electoral division
  29. ^ Lismore electoral division
  30. ^ Kilkee electoral division
  31. ^ Granard Urban electoral division

References

  1. ^ Local Government Reform Act 2014 (No. 1 of 2014). Enacted on 27 January 2014. Act of the Oireachtas. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 30 January 2019.
  2. ^ Census 2011 Population Classified by Area Table 12 "Alphabetical list of towns with their population, 2006 and 2011"
  3. ^ a b Local Government Act 2001, section 10 Irish Statute Book
  4. ^ Census 2011 Population Classified by Area Appendix 2 "Towns with Legally Defined Boundaries"
  5. ^ Local Government Act 2001, Schedule 5 Part 2, and Schedule 6 Irish Statute Book
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h Census 2011 Population Classified by Area Table 5 "Population of towns ordered by county and size, 2006 and 2011"
  7. ^ Census 2011 Population Classified by Area Appendix 4 "Population of Towns or Environs/Suburbs which are located in more than one County"
  8. ^ Census 2011 Population Classified by Area Table 7 "Population of each town with 1,500 population and over, distinguishing those within legally defined boundaries and in the surrounding suburbs or environs, 2006 and 2011" (Interactive table)
  9. ^ a b c d Census 2011 Population Classified by Area Appendix 3 "Extensions to Legal Towns and Boroughs since 1926"
  10. ^ a b Census 2011 Population Classified by Area Table 6 "Population of each province, county, city, urban area, rural area and electoral division, 2006 and 2011"
    • For City, Borough, and former UD towns, there is an explicit summary row in Table 6 for the town.
    • For former commissioner towns, the area is that of one or more electoral divisions in a rural area of the relevant county. These divisions are noted.
  11. ^ a b Local Government Act 1994 (Irish Statute Book)
  12. ^ "The Local Government Commission and Boundaries". Stronger Local Democracy- Options for Change. Department of the Environment, Heritage & Local Government. April 2008. Archived from the original on 29 June 2012. Retrieved 10 April 2012. Those towns which had their boundaries extended, for electoral purposes only, in 1994, represent an anomaly, as residents of the environs of a town may help elect the town council but do not fall within the functional area of the council. A number of these towns' boundaries have been altered since 1994, however in the majority of cases the anomaly continues to exist. The correction of this anomaly would appear to be in order.
  13. ^ Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (2010). Local Elections 2009: Results, Transfer of Votes and Statistics. Dublin: Stationery Office. ISBN 978-1-4064-2510-9.
  14. ^ a b Census 2011 Population Classified by Area Appendix 1 "Census Geographic Definitions"
  15. ^ Limerick City Boundary Alteration Order 2008 (S.I. No. 53 of 2008). Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book.
  16. ^ Wexford Borough Boundary Alteration Order 2007 (S.I. No. 818 of 2007). Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book.
  17. ^ Navan Town Boundary Alteration Order 2009 (S.I. No. 136 of 2009). Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book.
  18. ^ Balbriggan Town Boundary Alteration Order 2009 (S.I. No. 17 of 2009). Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book.
  19. ^ "Report on revision of administrative and electoral boundary of Balbriggan Town Council area". Fingal County Council. 13 October 2008. Archived from the original on 31 July 2012. Retrieved 1 May 2012.
  20. ^ Shannon town Boundary Alteration Order 2008 (S.I. No. 557 of 2008). Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book.

Further reading

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