| The Four Provinces of Ireland Ceithre Chúigí na hÉireann |
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| Location | |
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| 1. Leinster, 2. Munster, 3. Connacht, 4. Ulster | |
| Statistics | |
| Area: | 84,412 km² |
| Population (2006): | 5,962,110 |
Ireland has historically been divided into four provinces, although the Irish-language word for this territorial division, cúige (literally: "fifth part"), indicates that there were once five — Meath (now incorporated into Leinster) being the fifth. Area is a Quantity expressing the two- Dimensional size of a defined part of a Surface, typically a region bounded by a closed Curve. In Biology a population is the collection of inter-breeding organisms of a particular Species; in Sociology Ireland (pronounced /ˈaɾlənd/ Éire) is the third largest island in Europe, and the twentieth-largest island in the world A province is a territorial unit almost always an Administrative division. Irish (ga ''Gaeilge'' is a Goidelic language of the Indo-European language family originating in Ireland and historically spoken by the Irish. Mide ( Old Irish pronunciation; English pronunciation, also anglicised Meath) was a medieval kingdom in Ireland.
The four provinces are:
| Province | Population (2006) | Area (km²) | Number of Counties† | Chief city |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Leinster |
2,292,939 | 19,774 | 12 | Dublin |
 Munster |
1,172,170 | 24,608 | 6 | Cork |
 Connacht |
503,083 | 17,713 | 5 | Galway |
 Ulster |
1,993,918‡ | 24,481 | 9 | Belfast |
| Note 1: † "Number of Counties" is traditional counties, not administrative ones. Since the late 16th century the Island of Ireland has been divided into 32 counties ( Irish language contae or condae Leinster (ˈlɛnstər Irish: Laighin, lainʲ one of the Provinces of Ireland, lies in the east of Ireland and comprises the counties of Dublin (ˈdʌblɨn/ /ˈdʊblɨn or /ˈdʊbəlɪn/, bˠalʲə aːha klʲiəh or cliə(ɸ is both the largest city and capital of Ireland. Munster ( Irish: An Mhumhain, ənˈvuːnʲ Cúige Mumhan or Mumha) is the southernmost of the four Provinces of Ireland. Cork (Corcaigh is the second largest city in the Republic of Ireland and the island of Ireland 's third most populous city after Dublin and Belfast Galway (Gaillimh is the only city in the province of Connacht in Ireland. Ulster ( Ulaidh ˈkwɪɟɪ ˈʌlˠu / ˈʌlˠi is one of the four provinces of Ireland, in addition to Connacht, Munster and Leinster Belfast ( is the capital city of Northern Ireland and the seat of government in Northern Ireland. Note 2: ‡ Population for Ulster is the sum of the 2006 census results for counties of Ulster in Republic of Ireland and the 2006 estimated population for Northern Ireland. [1] Population for other provinces is all 2006 census results. |
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The origins of these provinces (loosely federated kingdoms with somewhat flexible boundaries) of which there were five in existence prior to the coming of the Normans can be traced to the overriding influence exerted in their respective territories by the great Irish dynastic families of O Neill (Ulster), O Melaghlin (Mide), O Brien (Munster), O Conor (Connacht) and MacMurrough-Kavanagh (Leinster). In the post-Norman period the historic provinces of Leinster and Meath gradually merged, mainly due to the impact of the Pale, which straddled both, thereby forming the present-day province of Leinster. The Pale ( An Pháil in Irish) or the English Pale ( An Pháil Sasanach) was the English-controlled part of Ireland that had reduced by the late In the Irish Annals these five ancient political divisions were invariably referred to as Cúigí, i. e ‘fifth parts’, such as the fifth of Munster, the fifth of Ulster and so on. Later record-makers, dubbed them ‘provinces’, in imitation of the Roman imperial provinciae.
In modern times they have become associated with groups of specific counties, although they have no legal status. The Republic of Ireland has a Common law Legal system with a written constitution which provides for a parliamentary democracy based on the British parliamentary system They are today seen in a sporting context, as Ireland's four professional rugby teams play under the names of the provinces, and the Gaelic Athletic Association has separate Provincial councils and Provincial championships. The Gaelic Athletic Association ( GAA) ( Irish: Cumann Lúthchleas Gael /'kʊmˠən̪ˠ 'l̪ˠuh Provincial councils are organisational bodies within the Gaelic Athletic Association, each made up of several GAA counties. A Provincial Championship occurs in the Gaelic Athletic Association in Ireland.
The provinces were supplanted by the present system of counties after the Norman occupation in the twelfth century. The Normans were the people who gave their names to Normandy, a region in northern France.
Six of the nine Ulster counties form modern-day Northern Ireland, which is part of the United Kingdom. Northern Ireland (Tuaisceart Éireann Ulster Scots: Norlin Airlann) is a Country within the United Kingdom, lying in the northeast of The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located Northern Ireland is often referred to as a province of the United Kingdom. A province is a territorial unit almost always an Administrative division. These two inconsistent usages of the word "province" (along with the use of the term "Ulster" to describe Northern Ireland) can cause confusion.
Poetic description
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Life in the Republic of Ireland |
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This dinnseanchas poem named Ard Ruide (Ruide Headland) poetically describes the kingdoms of Ireland. Ireland ( Irish: Éire, ˈeːrʲə is a country in north-western Europe. Irish cuisine can be divided into two main categories &ndash traditional mainly simple dishes and more modern dishes as served in restaurants and hotels The culture of the people living on the island of Ireland is far from monolithic Etiquette in Europe is not uniform Even the Regions of Europe do not have common Manners Even within a single country there may be different Customs especially Public holidays are observed in the Republic of Ireland on School Holidays (Primary In Ireland the academic year in Irish Music is the generic term for music that has been created in various genres on the entire island of Ireland, North and South of the border 2006 Census The 2006 census showed the following results Eurobarometer Poll 2005 According to the most recent Eurobarometer Poll 2005 Sport on the island of Ireland is popular and widespread Levels of participation and spectating are high but as in other western regions participation Telecommunications in the Republic of Ireland, including Postal services run by An Post, are regulated to a large extent by the Commission The economy of the Republic of Ireland is modern and trade-dependent with growth averaging a 7% per annum in 1995&ndash2007 The system of Taxation in Ireland is broadly similar to the system of Taxation in the United Kingdom. Most of the transport system in Ireland is in public hands either side of the Irish border. The architecture of Ireland is one of the most visible features in the Irish countryside - with remains from all eras since the Stone age abounding The geography of Ireland describes an Island in Northwest Europe in the north Atlantic Ocean. The history of Ireland begins with the first known settlement in Ireland around 8000 BC when Hunter-gatherers arrived from Great Britain and continental Óglaigh na hÉireann the Irish Defence Forces encompass the Army, Navy, air corps and reserve forces of Ireland. Rates of household recycling in Ireland have increased dramatically since the late 1990s but are still lagging behind European averages General demographics 4239848 (2006 Census 4339000 (2007 est 4442100 (2008 est The Republic of Ireland 's education system is quite similar to that of most other western countries "Health care in Ireland" redirects here For health care in Northern Ireland see Health and Care NI The public Health care system The media in Ireland include all the media and Communications outlets of any other developed nation The Government of Ireland (Rialtas na hÉireann n̪ˠə ˈheːɾʲən̪ˠ is the Cabinet that exercises executive authority in Ireland. The Republic of Ireland has a Common law Legal system with a written constitution which provides for a parliamentary democracy based on the British parliamentary system Law enforcement on the island of Ireland is divided into two distinctive areas due to political boundaries The Republic of Ireland is a parliamentary representative democratic Republic. The foreign relations of Ireland are substantially influenced by its membership of the European Union, although bilateral relations with the United States Abortion in Ireland has had a controversial history and remains a disputed subject today Prostitution itself is not illegal in the Republic of Ireland, but the law criminalises many activities associated with it Below is a translation from Old Irish:
| “ | Connacht in the west is the kingdom of learning, the seat of the greatest and wisest druids and magicians; the men of Connacht are famed for their eloquence, their handsomeness and their ability to pronounce true judgement. Old Irish is the name given to the oldest form of the Irish language, or rather the Goidelic languages, for which extensive written texts are possessed
Ulster in the north is the seat of battle valour, of haughtiness, strife, boasting; the men of Ulster are the fiercest warriors of all Ireland, and the queens and goddesses of Ulster are associated with battle and death. Ulster ( Ulaidh ˈkwɪɟɪ ˈʌlˠu / ˈʌlˠi is one of the four provinces of Ireland, in addition to Connacht, Munster and Leinster Leinster, the eastern kingdom, is the seat of prosperity, hospitality, the importing of rich foreign wares like silk or wine; the men of Leinster are noble in speech and their women are exceptionally beautiful. Leinster (ˈlɛnstər Irish: Laighin, lainʲ one of the Provinces of Ireland, lies in the east of Ireland and comprises the counties of Munster in the south is the kingdom of music and the arts, of harpers, of skilled ficheall players and of skilled horsemen. Munster ( Irish: An Mhumhain, ənˈvuːnʲ Cúige Mumhan or Mumha) is the southernmost of the four Provinces of Ireland. Fidchell (in Irish; also called fidhcheall fidceall or fithchill; pronounced /ˈfɪðʲˌçɛll/ in Old Irish) or The fairs of Munster were the greatest in all Ireland. The last kingdom, Meath, is the kingdom of Kingship, of stewardship, of bounty in government; in Meath lies the Hill of Tara, the traditional seat of the High King of Ireland. Mide ( Old Irish pronunciation; English pronunciation, also anglicised Meath) was a medieval kingdom in Ireland. The Hill of Tara ( Irish Teamhair na Rí, "Hill of the Kings" located near the River Boyne, is an archaeological complex that runs A High King of Ireland ( Ard Rí na hÉireann) is a historical or legendary figure who claimed lordship over the whole of Ireland. The ancient earthwork of Tara is called Rath na Ríthe. |
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See also
References
- ^ World Gazetteer, Northern Ireland
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