City of Launceston

The **City of Launceston** is one of the centres of industry and commerce on the Mainland,

## History

* first settled around 2,800 BCE, permanently settled since 2,000 BCE, most likely as a whaling port
* 2019 Launceston Harvest Festival.

## Geography

Lying at the northern coast of the Free Lands, also known as the Icy Shore, Launceston is one of the few large cities in the area. Temperate grasslands surround Launceston.

### Climate

Launceston is characterized by a humid continental climate, Dfb on the Köppen Climate Scale, with relatively warm summers, long and cold winters and high precipitation year around. Due to its closeness to the arctic circle, the day-night-cycle is wonky if seen by other Mainland-Selkie.

Launceston is very close to the Arctic Circle, which influences the day-night-cycle considerably.

### Launceston Area

#### Town of Súdaire

The Town of Tanners, 35 km away from Launceston, is home to Barriall Cobblers and their leather-working industry,

## Demographics

The City of Launceston is home to 9,812 people (2018 census), the sphere of influence housing another 26,974 people (2018 census) in various towns, villages and farmsteads. The total population of the Launceston-Area is 36,786 (2018 census).

## Government

Mayor, since 2000, is Finnegan Halcathrach of the Tribe of Galway.

### SDF-Garrison

Both SDF-Army and SDF-Navy have garissions in Launceston, the former with the II. and III. Squadrons of the 2nd Dragan-Regiment and a military training area closeby, the latter with Naval Station Launceston and the vessels stationed there, namely of the 4th Patrol Gunboat Squadron and the 21st Fast Gunboat Squadron, as well as a few other units and duty stations.

## Economy

One of the main economic factors of Launceston is the over-abundance of livestock, mainly cattle and especially sheep, around it, the latter of which made it a centre of wool manufacturing rather early on. Nowadays, most of the clothes-making industry is taken up by Bicíní Industries, which have their main facilities in Launceston. Barriall Cobblers has facilities in Launceston as well, with its main facilities in the Town of Súdaire, the Town of Tanners, thirty-five kilometres away from Launceston.
Due to the abundance of livestock, and milk produced from it, the Icy Shore is also famous for its Milk Spirits, called *Spiorad na Bainne* in Selkie.

   Other then that, Launceston is also famous for its fish and fishermen, which have to pause during winter.

Launceston is also home to the Launceston Aircraft Factories, which produced the LAF-3 Rualacha Torpedo Bomber in the 20s and a number of other planes under the Naval Armament Program of 1920, but left the military sector around the time of the introduction of jet-powered aircraft like the Sciathán Fabhcún. By now, LAF mostly focuses on small civilian utility aircraft.

## Infrastructure

Launceston has a small regional airport, the Launceston Regional Airport, which is specifically designed to handle turboprop planes,

Launceston boasts a total of three harbours, the Old Harbour, the Small Fisherman Harbour and the Freight Harbour. Usually, when cruise liners arrive or depart, they do so at the Old Harbour, as Launceston is pretty popular for arctic cruises. At the Freight Harbour, SDY maintains a small yard for building and maintaining vessels.

Launceston is the last stop of the Old Traveling Roads, connected to the system formally in 1120. Most famously, however, Launceston was one of the first cities connected to the railway system,

## Education

### Binn Boarding School Complex

Near Launceston, on the Cliffs, is the Binn Boarding School Complex, the northern competitor of the Iris Boarding School Complex near Fortham.

The school has its own Sensha-Do Team, the Seabhac.

### University of Launceston

The UoLa is known for its studies of is Marine Biology and Arctic Studies with ideal access to the Northern Islands, but are also known for veterinary medicine of marine animals. The Caorthann-class Polar Research Vessel *Caorthann* is at home in Launceston, when she is not on arctic cruises.

The university has around two thousand students.

#### Swimmer Team

One of the points of sportive pride is the Swimmer Team, the Murúch,

Amy Ramallae of the Tribe of Monaghan is one of its members.

## Culture

Traditionally, Launceston is one of the centres of the ,

Launceston is famous for its seafood and sheep dishes, a remarkable variation on the usual Selkie-Cuisine.

Another famous cultural export is the Selkie-Rock Band Mórbhileog and Bicíní Industries.

## Sights

### Sípéir Square

#### The Grand Temple of Ladra of Launceston

Current head of the Temple is Liliane Peacach of the Tribe of Wexford.

### Inns, bars and restaurants

* The Caora Inn is one of the most popular inns in the City. Good food, good prices, good beds and professional staff make it enjoyable to stay there. It's not too far away from the Sípéir Square either.
* The Muirmhíle Inn is a popular inn among travelers, with good beds and a nice view. The professional staff is very much in their element.
* The Sraoilleáil Inn is a huge house at the edge of the City. It's a large enterprise and quite new, so it doesn't really have a reputation yet. It's cheap, though.
* The Seanmhairnéalach Inn is a house of a rather good reputation, with especially good seafood. The prices are good, too. The Seanmhairnéalach Inn offers 'Additional Services'.
* The Mórrón Inn is a small inn by the harbour, mostly frequented by sailors. Good food at decent prices, but also nice staff. The Mórrón Inn offers 'Additional Services'.
* The Coileachaball, the Cock's Tail, is a bar in Launceston, mostly known as a meeting point of UoL-Students.