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Province of Munster
Munster is is the southernmost of the four provinces of Ireland. It comprises the counties of Clare, Cork, Kerry, Limerick, Tipperary and Waterford. The name is derived from the Celtic goddess, Muma. The province was once divided into six regions: Tuadh Mhuman (north Munster), Deas Mhuman (south Munster), Urh Mumhan (east Munster), Iar mumhan (west Munster), Ernaibh Muman (the Ernai tribe's portion of Munster), and Deisi Muman (the Deisi tribe's portion of Munster). Ultimately, these were all subsumed into the kingdoms of Thomond (north), Desmond (south), and Ormond (east), all of which were eventually subsumed by surrender and regrant as Earldoms in the Peerage of Ireland. The names exist only indirectly today, particularly in the case of Thomond. The three crowns represent these three kingdoms. This flag can easily be confused with the flag of Dublin which has three castles in a similar pattern on a blue background. For 30 days during the Irish Civil War, the province of Munster broke away from the Irish Free State and established the Munster Republic in opposition to the acceptance of the Anglo-Irish Treaty. The Munster Republic was short lived and subsequently crushed by armed Free State forces.
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Province of Leinster
In ancient times Leinster was occupied by five major Fir-Bolg tribes, of which the tribe of Laigin rose to dominance and gave Leinster its name. The Fir Bolg may be related to the Belgae, but this has not been firmly established. The tribes of Leinster were united by Ugaine Mor [Hugony "The Great"], who built the hill-fort of Ailinne [Knochawlin], near Kilcullen, County Kildare, and is a likely, but uncertain candidate as the first historical King of Laigin [Leinster] in the 7th century BC. The "ster" portion of the toponym comes from a Nordic word for state, as the Vikings dominated and held Dublin for a period of time. Today, made of twelve counties, it encompasses the old province of Meath (Modern day Meath and Westmeath). Also in it are Longford County(Annally) and Lusmagh parish (in offaly), both ormerly of Connacht, and Louth, formerly of Ulster.
The borders were redrawn by Cromwell for administration and military reasons.
- Carlow
- Dublin
- Kildare
- Kilkenny
- Laois
- Longford
- Louth
- Meath
- Offaly
- Westmeath
- Wexford
- Wicklow
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Province of Connacht
Connacht is the western province of Ireland, comprising the counties of Galway (Co. na Gaillimhe), Leitrim (Liatroim), Mayo (Co. Mhaigh Eo), Roscommon (Co. Ros Comain), Sligo (Sligeach). In Irish the province is usually Cuige Chonnacht i.e. the province (literally, fifth) of Connacht. Its main urban centres are Galway in the south, and Sligo in the north. It has a population of 503,083, the smallest of the four Irish provinces.
The Irish language is spoken in the Gaeltacht areas of west Mayo and west Galway, the largest being Connemara.
The highest point of Connacht is Mweelrea (814 metres), in Mayo. Its largest island is Achill, the largest in Ireland. The biggest lake is Lough Corrib.
- Galway
- Leitrim
- Mayo
- Roscommon
- Sligo
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Province of Ulster
The province's early story extends further back than written records and survives mainly in legends such as the Ulster Cycle. In early medieval Ireland, the Ui Neill (O'Neill) dynasty dominated Ulster from their base in Tir Eogain (Eoghan's Country) - modern Tyrone. After the Norman invasion of Ireland in the twelfth century, the east of the province fell by conquest to Norman barons, first De Courcy (died 1219), then Hugh de Lacy (1176-1243), who founded the Earldom of Ulster - based around the modern counties of Antrim and Down. However, by the end of the 15th century the Earldom had collapsed and Ulster had become the only Irish province completely outside of English control.
Today, Ulster has a population of just under 2 million people and an area of 24,481 square kilometres (8,952 square miles). Its biggest city, Belfast has a conurbation of well over half a million inhabitants. The next largest city is Derry, with almost 100,000 residents.
Six of Ulster's nine counties, Antrim (Aontroim), Armagh (Ard Mhacha), Down (An Dún), Fermanagh (Fear Manach), Derry (Doire) and Tyrone (Tir Eoghain), form Northern Ireland, and remained part of the United Kingdom after the rest of Ireland set up a separate political unit in 1921. Three counties, Cavan (An Cabhan), Donegal (Dun na nGall) and Monaghan (Muineachan) form part of the Republic of Ireland. About half of Ulster's population lives in Antrim and Down.
- Antrim
- Armagh
- Cavan
- Derry
- Donegal
- Down
- Fermanagh
- Monaghan
- Tyrone
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