Irish unemployment rises to two-and-a-half year high of 4.7%

DUBLIN (Reuters) - Ireland's unemployment rate hit its highest rate in two-and-a-half years in July, rising to 4.7% from an upwardly revised 4.5% a month earlier, Central Statistics Office data showed on Tuesday.

Data for March to May that had previously put the jobless rate near a record low in each month at 4% were also revised higher, meaning unemployment has now risen steadily for five successive months from 4.1% in February.

(Reporting by Padraic Halpin; Editing by Alex Richardson)