Midlands Region, Ireland
The Midlands Region is a NUTS Level III region of Ireland. It consists of the area under the jurisdiction of the county councils of Laois, Longford, Offaly, and Westmeath. The Midlands region spans 6,524 km2, 9.5% of the total area of the state and according to the 2011 census has a population of 282,195. The regional capital in Athlone. Its NUTS code is IE012.
The Midlands Region is also a popular tourist destination due to its rich natural beauty such as lakes, waterways and canals, as well as a rich history, heritage and culture dating from early Christian times.
Midland Regional Authority
The Midlands region was administered by the Midland Regional Authority, which consisted of 24 elected representatives including the region's representative on the EU Committee of the Regions. These representatives met once a month and were nominated from the four local government councils of the region:
Laois County Council
Longford County Council
Offaly County Council
Westmeath County Council