View source for Provinces of Ireland

{{short description|Main territorial divisions of the island of Ireland}}
{{for|ecclesiastical provinces|List of Roman Catholic dioceses in Ireland|List of Anglican dioceses in the United Kingdom and Ireland}}
{{redirect|Four Provinces|the island in Japan|Shikoku}}
{{Use Hiberno-English|date=September 2023}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{Provinces of Ireland|nolink=yes}}
{{Infobox subdivision type
| name               = Irish provinces
| territory          = Ireland
| current_number     = 4
| population_range   = 589,338 ([[Connacht]])<br/> 2,870,354 ([[Leinster]])<br/> 1,373,346 ([[Munster]])<br/> 2,217,176 ([[Ulster]])
| subdivision        = [[Counties of Ireland|Counties]]
}}
There are four '''provinces of Ireland''': [[Connacht]], [[Leinster]], [[Munster]] and [[Ulster]]. The [[Irish language|Irish]] word for this territorial division, {{lang|ga|cúige}}, meaning "fifth part", suggests that there were once five, and at times [[Kingdom of Meath|Meath]] has been considered to be the fifth province. In the medieval period, however, there were often more than five. The number of provinces and their delimitation fluctuated until 1610, when they were permanently set by the English administration of [[James VI and I|James I]]. The provinces of Ireland no longer serve administrative or political purposes but function as historical and cultural entities.

==Etymology==
In modern [[Irish language|Irish]], the word for province is {{lang|ga|cúige}} (pl. {{lang|ga|cúigí}}). The modern Irish term derives from the [[Old Irish]] {{lang|ga|cóiced}} (pl. {{lang|ga|cóiceda}}) which literally meant "a fifth".<ref name="Koch"/> This term appears in 8th-century law texts such as {{lang|ga|Miadslechta}} and in the legendary tales of the [[Ulster Cycle]] where it refers to the five kingdoms of the "Pentarchy".<ref name="Koch"/> MacNeill enumerates the five earliest fifths mentioned, these comprising the kingdoms of Ulster, Connacht, Munster, Tara (North Leinster) and Dinn Riogh (South Leinster), located on the Barrow. The earliest hero tales name the Boyne as the dividing boundary between Ulster and Leinster, indicating that no province representative of Meath or Brega was yet in existence. The kings of Tara and Dinn Riogh were said to derive from the same lineage, which ruled all the Laigin.<ref>{{cite book |last1=MacNeill |first1=Eoin |title=Phases of Irish History |date=1920 |publisher=Gill |isbn=7800362035 |page=103 |edition=3}}</ref> In the 12th century {{lang|ga|[[Lebor na Cert]]}} (Book of Rights), the term means province, seemingly having lost its fractional meaning with seven {{lang|ga|cúigeadh}} listed.<ref name="Koch"/> Similarly this seems to be the case in regards to titles with the [[Annals of Ulster]] using the term {{lang|ga|rex in Chóicid}} (king of the fifth/province) for certain overkings.<ref name="Koch"/>

==History==
[[File:Ireland early peoples and politics.gif|thumb|Early medieval {{lang|ga|cóiceda}} (over-kingdoms) of Ireland, {{Circa|800}}]]
The origins of the provinces of Ireland can be traced to the medieval {{lang|ga|cóiceda}} (literally "fifths") or "over-kingdoms" of Ireland. There were theoretically five such over-kingdoms; however, in reality during the historical period there were always more.<ref name="Clontarf8-10"/><ref name="IrishKings"/> At the start of the 9th century the following are listed: [[Airgíalla]], [[Connachta]], [[Laigin]], [[Northern Uí Néill]] ([[Ailech]]), [[Southern Uí Néill]] ([[Kingdom of Meath|Mide]]), [[Munster|Mumu]], and [[Ulaid]].<ref name="Clontarf8-10"/><ref name="IrishKings"/> These seven over-kingdoms are again listed in the 12th-century {{lang|ga|Lebor na Cert}}.<ref name="Koch"/>

===Structure===
Each over-kingdom was divided into smaller territorial units, the definition of which, whilst not consistent in Irish law tracts, followed a pattern of different grades.<ref name="Clontarf8-10"/> In theory in the early medieval period:
*A province was ruled by a "king of over-kings", known as a {{lang|ga|rí ruírech}}. This was the highest rank allowed for in Irish law tracts despite claims by some dynasties to the symbolic title of {{lang|ga|rí Temro}} (king of Tara), also known as the {{lang|ga|ard rí}} ([[High King of Ireland]]);<ref name="Koch"/><ref name="Clontarf8-10"/> The term {{lang|ga|rí ruírech}} was replaced at a later date by the term {{lang|ga|rí cóicid}}, "king of a fifth".<ref name="Koch"/>
*Each province was made up of several petty-kingdoms that corresponded roughly to the size of modern [[Counties of Ireland|Irish counties]] or dioceses, and were ruled by an overking known as a {{lang|ga|ruirí}};<ref name="Clontarf8-10"/>
*Each of these petty-kingdoms was further subdivided into smaller petty-kingdoms known as a {{lang|ga|[[túath]]}} (a group of people), equating at their largest to the size of an [[Baronies of Ireland|Irish barony]].<ref name="Clontarf8-10"/> These túath were ruled by a king, or {{lang|ga|rí}}, and were also known as a {{lang|ga|rí túaithe}}, or "king of the people".<ref name="Clontarf8-10"/> By the 10th century the rulers of a {{lang|ga|túath}} were no longer assumed to be kings but became referred to as {{lang|ga|tigern}} (a lord) or {{lang|ga|toísech}} (a leader) instead.<ref name="Clontarf8-10"/>
This pyramid structure, however, by the later medieval period, had little validity.<ref name="Clontarf8-10"/>

Paul MacCotter proposes the following structure of lordship in the 12th century: High-king of Ireland; semi-provincial king, such as Connacht, Ulaid, [[Desmumu]]; regional king, such as [[Dál Fiatach]] and [[Uí Fhiachrach Aidni]]; local king or king of a {{lang|ga|[[trícha cét]]}}, such as [[Leth Cathail]] or Cenél Guaire; and {{lang|ga|taísig túaithe}} at the bottom.<ref name="MacCotter46"/>

===Early medieval period===
[[File:Ireland900.png|thumb|Ireland's over-kingdoms {{circa|900 AD}}]]
The kingdom of [[Osraige]], which had its genealogy traced back by early Irish genealogists to the Laigin, was part of Mumu from the 6th to 8th century and ruled by the [[Corcu Loígde]] dynasty.<ref name="DuffyMedieval358"/> By the 7th century Osraige had lost their dependence on the Corcu Loígde,<ref name="DuffyMedieval358"/> with the restoration of the local [[Dál Birn]] dynasty. Osraige remained part of Mumu until 859 when [[Máel Sechnaill I]], king of the [[Uí Néill]], forced Mumu to surrender it to his overlordship.<ref name="DuffyMedieval358"/><ref name="Clontarf19"/> After this situation ended it became an independent kingdom which gradually moved towards the Laigin sphere of influence as they sought to claim the Laigin kingship.<ref name="DuffyMedieval358"/> It was during the 9th century that Osraige, ruled by [[Cerball mac Dúnlainge]], became a major political player.<ref name="DuffyMedieval74"/>

Airgíalla had come under the dominance of the Ulaid;<ref name="Clontarf21"/> however, [[Niall Caille]], the son of [[Áed Oirdnide]], brought it under the hegemony of the Northern Uí Néill after defeating the combined forces of the Airgíalla and Ulaid at the battle of Leth Cam in 827.<ref name="Bardonpg14"/><ref name="DuffyMedieval490"/><ref name="Clontarf24"/><ref name="DuffyMedieval12"/>

===Later medieval period===
After a period of dynastic infighting in the early 12th century, Osraige fragmented and after a heavy defeat at the hands of High-King [[Muirchertach Mac Lochlainn]] became part of Laigin. In 1169, the king of Osraige, [[Mac Giolla Phádraig dynasty|Domnall Mac Gilla Pátraic]], hired the Norman knight [[Maurice de Prendergast]] to resist the Laigin king, [[Diarmait Mac Murchada]], who had also recruited Norman aid.<ref name="DuffyMedieval32"/>

In 1118, the king of Connacht, [[Tairrdelbach Ua Conchobair]], aided the [[Mac Cárthaigh]] of south Munster in a rebellion against the ruling [[Uí Briain]] dynasty.<ref name="DuffyMedieval458"/> This resulted in the division of Mumu into two: {{lang|ga|Tuadmumu}} ([[Thomond]], meaning "north Munster") to the north under the Uí Briain; and {{lang|ga|Desmumu}} ([[Kingdom of Desmond|Desmond]], meaning "south Munster") to the south under the Mac Cárthaigh.<ref name="DuffyMedieval458"/> Ua Conchobair would then conquer the heartland of the Uí Briain situated around modern [[County Clare]] and make it part of Connacht.<ref name="DuffyMedieval458"/> This was to force them to accept [[Cormac Mac Carthaig]], king of Desmumu, as the king of Mumu.<ref name="DuffyMedieval458"/> Despite Ua Conchobair's aid, Mac Carthaig and the Uí Briain would form an alliance to campaign against Connacht's hegemony, and by 1138 ended the threat from that kingdom.<ref name="DuffyMedieval458"/> The following decades would see Mumu united and repartitioned several times as the Uí Briain and Mac Cárthaigh vied for complete control.<ref name="DuffyMedieval458"/> In 1168, the king of Connacht, [[Ruaidrí Ua Conchobair]], ensured Mumu remained divided.<ref name="DuffyMedieval458"/> After [[Henry II of England|Henry II]], [[king of England]], landed in Ireland in 1171, the Mac Cárthaigh submitted to him to prevent an Uí Briain invasion.<ref name="DuffyMedieval458"/> The Uí Briain eventually followed suit in submitting to Henry II.<ref name="DuffyMedieval458"/> The eagerness of these submissions encouraged Henry II to revive the papal grant, [[Laudabiliter]], for Ireland.<ref name="DuffyMedieval458"/>

===Norman Ireland===
Osraige would be amongst the first Irish kingdoms to fall following the [[Norman invasion of Ireland]] in 1170, and was soon afterwards split from Leinster and made part of the royal demesne lands of Waterford.<ref name="DuffyMedieval358"/>

In the years following the invasion, the kingdoms of Connacht, Desmumu, Laigin, Mide, Tuadmumu, and Ulaid formed the basis for the Norman liberties of Connacht, Desmond, Leinster, Meath, Thomond and Ulster respectively.<ref name="Falkiner"/><ref name="MacCotter186"/> These liberties were later subdivided into smaller ones that became the basis for the counties of Ireland.<ref name="Falkiner"/>

The Northern Uí Néill remained outside of Norman control, eventually absorbing the greater part of Airgíalla, which had by the end of the 12th century lost its eastern territory (afterwards known as "English Oriel" and later as Louth) to the Normans.<ref name="Clontarf24"/> Airgíalla would eventually no longer be reckoned an over-kingdom; however, it survived in present-day County Monaghan for as long as the Gaelic order survived,<ref name="Connolly12"/> with the last king of Airgíalla being [[Hugh Roe McMahon]], who reigned from 1589 until his execution in September/October 1590.

With the collapse of English control in Ireland following the [[Bruce campaign in Ireland]] in 1315, and the subsequent collapse of the [[Earldom of Ulster]], the Gaelic order had a resurgence and the Clandeboye O'Neills of the Northern Uí Néill stepped into the power vacuum in Ulster bringing it under the sovereignty of the [[O'Neill dynasty|O'Neills]] of Tyrone. After this they claimed for the first time the title of  {{lang|ga|rí Ulad}}, "king of Ulster", amalgamating their territory into one united province. This reduced the number of provinces to five—Connact, Leinster, Meath, Munster, and Ulster.

===Tudor period===
[[File:1716 Homann Map of Ireland - Geographicus - Ireland-homann-1716.jpg|thumb|[[Johann Homann]]'s 1716 map of Ireland. He incorrectly places [[County Clare]] in Connacht; it had actually been returned to Munster in the immediate years after 1660.]]
During the reign of [[Mary I of England|Mary I]] (1553–1558), the [[Lord Deputy of Ireland]], [[Thomas Radclyffe, 3rd Earl of Sussex]], sought to divide Ireland into six parts—Connacht, Leinster, Meath, Nether Munster, Ulster, and Upper Munster.<ref name="Falkiner"/> His administrative reign in Ireland, however, was cut short; and even with his reappointment by [[Elizabeth I]] (1558–1603) this plan was never implemented.<ref name="Falkiner"/>

Sir [[Henry Sidney]] during his three tenures as Lord Deputy created two presidencies headed by a Lord President to administer [[Lord President of Connaught|Connacht]] and [[Lord President of Munster|Munster]].<ref name="Falkiner"/> In an attempt to reduce the importance of the province of Munster, Sydney, using the [[River Shannon]] as a natural boundary took Thomond and made it into the [[County Clare|county of Clare]] as part of the presidency of Connaught in 1569.<ref name="Falkiner"/> Around 1600 near the end of Elizabeth's reign, Clare was made an entirely distinct presidency of its own under the [[Earl of Thomond|Earls of Thomond]] and would not return to being part of Munster until after the [[Restoration (England)|Restoration]] in 1660.<ref name="Falkiner"/>

The exact boundaries of the provinces of Ireland during the Tudor period changed several times, usually as a result of the creation of new counties:
*County Clare upon its creation in 1569 was transferred from Munster to Connacht, and was only restored to Munster after 1660.<ref name="Falkiner"/>
*[[County Longford]] upon its creation in 1583 was transferred from Leinster to Connacht.<ref name="Falkiner"/><ref name="Crawford"/>
*[[County Cavan]] was created in 1584 and transferred from Connacht to Ulster.<ref name="roche"/>
*[[County Louth]], which had long been part of [[The Pale]], was transferred from Ulster to Leinster.<ref name="Falkiner"/>

It would not be until the reign of Elizabeth's successor, [[James VI and I|James I]], that Meath by 1610 would cease to be considered a province and that the provincial borders would be permanently set.<ref name="Falkiner"/>

==Prehistory==
The earliest recorded mention of the major division of Ireland is in the [[Ulster Cycle]] of legends, such as the {{lang|ga|[[Táin Bó Cúailnge]]}}.<ref name="MacNeill"/><ref name="Hogan1"/> The {{lang|ga|Táin}} is set during the reign of {{lang|ga|Conchobar Mac Nessa}}, king of [[Ulster]], and is believed to have happened in the 1st century.<ref name="Hurbert169-171"/> In this period Ireland is said to have been divided into five independent over-kingdoms, or {{lang|ga|cuigeadh}} whose {{lang|ga|rí}} (kings) were of equal rank, not subject to a central monarchy.<ref name="MacNeill"/><ref name="Koch"/><ref name="Hurbert169-171"/><ref name="Ossianic75"/> Pseudo-historians called this era {{lang|ga|Aimser na Coicedach}}, which has been translated as: "Time of the Pentarchs";<ref name="MacNeill"/> "Time of the Five Fifths";<ref name="Hurbert169-171"/> and "Time of the provincial kings".<ref name="Ossianic75"/> It was also described as "the Pentarchy".<ref name="MacNeill"/><ref name="Hogan1"/>

The five provinces that made up the Pentarchy where:<ref name="MacNeill"/><ref name="Hogan1"/><ref name="Hurbert169-171"/>
*{{lang|ga|Connacht}}, with its royal seat at {{lang|ga|[[Rathcroghan|Cruachan]]}}.
*{{lang|ga|Ulaid}} (Ulster), with its royal seat at {{lang|ga|[[Navan Fort|Emain Macha]]}}.
*{{lang|ga|Muman}} (Munster), with its royal seat at {{lang|ga|Teamhair Erann}}.
*{{lang|ga|Laigen Tuathgabair}} (North Leinster), with its royal seat at ''[[Hill of Tara|Tara]]'' (before it became the seat of the High King).
*{{lang|ga|Laigen Desgabair}} (South Leinster), with its royal seat at {{lang|ga|Dinn Riogh}}.

Historians [[Geoffrey Keating]] and [[T. F. O'Rahilly]] differ suggesting that it is Munster, not Leinster, that formed two of the fifths.<ref name="Ossianic75"/><ref name="JohnMacNeill102"/> These two fifths were called by Keating: {{lang|ga|Cuigeadh Eochaidh}} (eastern Munster) and {{lang|ga|Cuigeadh Con Raoi}} (western Munster),<ref name="JohnMacNeill102"/> both named after their respective king. [[Eoin MacNeill]] discounts this suggestion citing the {{lang|ga|Táin Bó Cúailnge}}, which makes mention of {{lang|ga|Eochaidh}} as king of all Munster, with {{lang|ga|Cu Roi}} simply a "great Munster hero".<ref name="MacNeill"/> He also cites that the {{lang|ga|Táin}} makes mention of the four fifths of Ireland that waged war on Ulster, which made reference to only one Munster.<ref name="MacNeill"/> Another reason given by MacNeill was a problem made by Keating himself. According to Keating, when the province of {{lang|ga|Míde}} was being founded, it was created from portions of each province which all met at the hill of Uisnech. The boundaries given by Keating himself for the five provinces, however, meant that this would have been highly unlikely, with the boundary between his Munster fifths nowhere near this area.<ref name="MacNeill"/>

Pseudo-historians list 84 kings of Ireland prior to the formation of the Pentarchy. When this mythical kingship was interrupted is a matter of dispute. The Annals of Tigernach state that Ireland was divided into the five upon the slaying of [[Conaire Mór]]; however, it is suggested alternatively that it happened upon the death of Conaire's father, [[Eterscél Mór]], the 84th king of Ireland.<ref name="Ossianic75"/> Keating, however, suggests it occurred in the reign of [[Eochu Feidlech]] who was the 82nd king of Ireland.<ref name="Ossianic75"/>

MacNeill claims that this division of Ireland into five is pre-historic and pre-Gaelic, describing the Pentarchy as "the oldest certain fact in the political history of Ireland".<ref name="MacNeill"/> The notion of Ireland being divided into five permeated itself throughout Irish literature over the centuries despite what the {{lang|ga|cuigeadh}} representing no longer existing by the time of Saint Patrick in the 5th century.<ref name="MacNeill"/> By then, Ireland had become divided into seven over-kingdoms.<ref name="MacNeill"/>

===The Three Collas and the founding of Airgíalla===
The main body of the events in the myth of [[the Three Collas]] may have occurred in the late 4th to early 5th century; however, as the centuries passed the myth underwent updating and alteration.<ref name="Schlegel160-4"/> The most oft quoted version of their story was written by Geoffrey Keating in the 17th century in his work the {{lang|ga|[[Foras Feasa ar Éirinn]]}}, also known as "The History of Ireland".<ref name="Schlegel160-4"/>

In it the Three Collas—Colla Menn, Colla Da Crioch, and Colla Uais—were the sons of Eocaidh Doimlén.<ref name="Schlegel160-4"/> It is from them that the Airgíalla are said to descend, branching off from the rest of the Connachta.<ref name="Schlegel160-4"/> The Northern and Southern Uí Néill dynasties are claimed to descend from Eocaidh's brother, [[Fiacha Sraibhtine]].<ref name="Schlegel160-4"/> According to the story the Collas were told by Fiacha's son, [[Muiredach Tirech]], the High King of Ireland, to conquer land of their own to pass on to their descendants, directing them to wage war on the Ulaid to avenge a slight against their great-grandfather [[Cormac mac Airt]].<ref name="Schlegel160-4"/>

The Collas with their army along with a host from Connacht marched to [[Achaidh Leithdeircc]] in Fernmagh, southern Ulaid, and fought the Ulaid in seven battles over the course of seven days.<ref name="Schlegel160-4"/> The host from Connacht fought the first six battles, and the Collas fought the seventh.<ref name="Schlegel160-4"/> It is after this last battle that the king of Ulaid, [[Fergus Foga]], was killed and his army routed.<ref name="Schlegel160-4"/> The Collas then pursued the Ulaid east of the "Glen Righe" (the valley of the [[Newry River]] in eastern County Armagh), before returning to loot and burn the Ulaid capital, Emain Macha, after which it never again had a king.<ref name="Schlegel160-4"/> They then took possession of central Ulaid spanning the modern counties of Armagh, Fermanagh, Londonderry, Monaghan and Tyrone founding the over-kingdom of Airgíalla.<ref name="Schlegel160-4"/>

==Usage==
{{more citations needed|section|date=August 2023}}
In modern times the provinces have become associated with groups of counties, although they have no [[Law of the Republic of Ireland|legal status]]. They are today seen mainly in a sporting context. Ireland's four professional rugby teams in the [[United Rugby Championship]] play under the names of the provinces. The [[Gaelic Athletic Association]] (GAA) has separate [[Provincial council (Gaelic games)|provincial council]]s and its [[county team]]s contest [[provincial championships]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.gaa.ie/the-gaa/about-the-gaa/structures|title=GAA Structures|date=10 January 2016 }}</ref>

Six of the nine Ulster counties form modern-day Northern Ireland, which is part of the United Kingdom. Many of Northern Ireland's unionist political parties use "Ulster" in their names such as the [[Ulster Unionist Party]] (UUP) and the [[Ulster Democratic Party]] (UDP). The ITV regional service is known as [[Ulster Television]] but generally abbreviated to UTV, while [[BBC Radio Ulster]] is the main BBC radio station from [[BBC Northern Ireland]].

In education [[Munster Technological University]] and [[Ulster University]] both use the provinces in which they are located in their name.

Many hotels also use the name of the province in which they are situated.

In media many local and regional newspapers use their province in their names such as ''[[The Munster Express]]'' in Waterford, ''[[Leinster Leader]]'' in Kildare, ''[[Connacht Tribune]]'' in Galway and ''[[Ulster Herald]]'' in Fermanagh.

In modern times politically the four provinces were referred to in the proposal of {{lang|ga|[[Éire Nua]]}} ("New Ireland"), which was supported by the [[Provisional Irish Republican Army|Provisional IRA]] and [[Sinn Féin]] during the 1970s and early 1980s for a [[Federation|federal]] [[United Ireland]]. The proposal was particularly associated with the [[Dublin]]-based leadership group centred on [[Ruairí Ó Brádaigh]] and [[Dáithí Ó Conaill]], who were the authors of the policy. {{lang|ga|Éire Nua}} envisaged a united Ireland that would be created when the British withdrew from Northern Ireland, and the creation of a [[Federation|federal]] state with assemblies for each of its four historic provinces.

The song [[Ireland's Call]] is used as a national anthem for sports teams representing the entire island (e.g. [[Ireland national rugby union team]] and [[Ireland cricket team]]). The first verse says "We have come to answer our country's call from the four proud provinces of Ireland".

==Coats of arms==
{{Main|Armorial of Ireland#Provinces}}
{{multiple image
 | align = right
 | direction = vertical
 | width = 170
 | image1 = Provincial Arms of Ireland.svg
 | caption1 = Quartered coat of arms
 | image2 = Four Provinces Flag.svg
 | caption2 = [[Four Provinces Flag of Ireland|Quartered flag]]
}}
Each province is today represented by its own unique arms and flag. These are joined to represent various All Ireland sports teams and organisations via the [[Four Provinces Flag of Ireland]] and a four province Crest of Ireland, with examples including the [[Ireland men's national field hockey team|Ireland national field hockey team]], [[Ireland national rugby league team]], [[Ireland national rugby union team]] and [[Irish Amateur Boxing Association]].

==Demographics and politics==
{| class="wikitable sortable" align="center" style="text-align: center;"
|-
!| Province !!| [[List of flags of Ireland#Traditional province flags|Flag]] !!| [[Armorial of Ireland|Arms]] !!| [[Irish language|Irish]] name !!| Population (2022)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cso.ie/en/releasesandpublications/ep/p-syi/psyi2016/people/cen/|title=Census – CSO – Central Statistics Office|author=<!--Not stated-->|date=24 April 2016|publisher=[[Central Statistics Office (Ireland)|Central Statistics Office]]|access-date=12 June 2021}}</ref> !!| Area (km<sup>2</sup>) !!| Density !!| Traditional [[counties of Ireland|counties]] !!| Largest city
|-
| [[Connacht]] || {{flagicon|Connacht|size=50px}} || {{coat of arms|Connacht|text=none|size=35px}} || {{lang|ga|Connachta}}<br /><small>{{lang|ga|Cúige Chonnacht}}</small> || 589,338 || 17,713 || 34 || 5 || [[Galway]]
|-
| [[Leinster]] || {{flagicon|Leinster|size=50px}} || {{coat of arms|Leinster|text=none|size=35px}} || {{lang|ga|Laighin}}<br /><small>{{lang|ga|Cúige Laighean}}</small> || 2,870,354 || 19,801 || 145 || 12 || [[Dublin]]
|-
| [[Munster]] || {{flagicon|Munster|size=50px}} || {{coat of arms|Munster|text=none|size=35px}} || {{lang|ga|Mumhain}}<br /><small>{{lang|ga|Cúige Mumhan}}</small> || 1,373,346 || 24,684 || 56 || 6 || [[Cork (city)|Cork]]
|-
| [[Ulster]] || {{flagicon|Ulster|size=50px}} || {{coat of arms|Ulster|text=none|size=35px}} || {{lang|ga|Ulaidh}}<br /><small>{{lang|ga|Cúige Uladh}}</small> || 2,217,176{{refn|group=note|The population for Ulster in the table above is the sum of the 2022 preliminary census results for the three counties of Ulster in the Republic of Ireland (counties [[County Cavan|Cavan]], [[County Donegal|Donegal]] and [[County Monaghan|Monaghan]]; 314,076) and the 2021 census results for Northern Ireland in the United Kingdom (Northern Ireland; 1,903,100).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nisra.gov.uk/statistics/census/2021census#:~:text=The%20population%20of%20Northern%20Ireland,in%20Northern%20Ireland%20was%20768%2C900.|title=2021 Census|access-date=5 August 2022}}</ref> The populations for the other provinces are from the Irish 2022 preliminary census results.}} || 22,067 || 100 || 9 || [[Belfast]]
|}

==Poetic description==
===Ard Ruide===
[[File:Cuchulain in Battle.jpg|thumb|upright|"[[Cú Chulainn|Cuchulain in Battle]]", illustration by [[J. C. Leyendecker]] in T. W. Rolleston's ''Myths & Legends of the Celtic Race'', 1911]]
The {{lang|ga|[[Dindsenchas|dinnseanchas]]}} poem named {{lang|ga|Ard Ruide}} (Ruide Headland) poetically describes the five kingdoms of Ireland.<!-- The reference for this has since disappeared [http://216.239.59.104/search?q=cache:Ovq8hPXwpJUJ:forum.skadi.net/archive/index.php/t-3737.html+ficheall&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=43&client=firefox-a] --> Below is a translation from [[Old Irish]]:

{{blockquote|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.

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.

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.

Munster in the south is the kingdom of music and the arts, of harpers, of skilled [[Fidchell|ficheall]] players and of skilled horsemen. 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]]. The ancient earthwork of Tara is called Rath na Ríthe ('Ringfort of the Kings').}}

===The Táin===
The [[epic poetry|epic poem]], ''An [[Táin Bó Cúailnge]]'' (the Cattle Raid of Cooley) describes a war between Connacht and Ulster, and is perhaps best known for [[Cú Chulainn|Cú{{nbsp}}Chulainn]]'s single handed defence of Ulster against the champions of Connacht in turn, while his comrades were disabled by a spell.

== See also ==
{{Portal|Ireland}}
* [[ISO 3166-2:IE]]
* [[Counties of Ireland]]
* [[Kings of Ulster]]
* [[Kings of Munster]]
* [[Kings of Mide]]
* [[Kings of Connacht]]
* [[Kings of Leinster]]
* [[Kings of Airgíalla]]
* [[Kings of Ailech]]

== Notes ==
{{Reflist|group=note}}

== References ==
=== Citations ===
{{Reflist
|colwidth= 25em
|refs =
<ref name="Falkiner">{{Cite book |title = The Counties of Ireland: An Historical Sketch of Their Origin, Constitution, and Gradual Delimitation |last=Falkiner |first=Caesar Litton |publisher=Royal Irish Academy }}</ref>
<ref name="Koch">Koch, pp. 459–460.</ref>
<ref name="DuffyMedieval32">Duffy (2005), p. 32.</ref>
<ref name="DuffyMedieval358">Duffy (2005), p. 358.</ref>
<ref name="DuffyMedieval74">Duffy (2005), p. 74.</ref>
<ref name="DuffyMedieval458">Duffy (2005), p. 458.</ref>
<ref name="Clontarf8-10">Duffy (2014), pp. 8–10.</ref>
<ref name="Clontarf19">Duffy (2014), p. 19.</ref>
<ref name="Clontarf21">Duffy (2014), p. 21.</ref>
<ref name="Clontarf24">Duffy (2014), p. 24.</ref>
<ref name="Schlegel160-4">Schlegel, pp. 160–4.</ref>
<ref name="MacNeill">{{Cite book |title=The Five Fifths of Ireland |author=Eoin MacNeill |year=1920}}</ref>
<ref name="Hurbert169-171">Hurbert, pp. 169–171</ref>
<ref name="Hogan1">Hogan, p. 1</ref>
<ref name="JohnMacNeill102">John MacNeill, p. 102</ref>
<ref name="Ossianic75">Stafford & Gaskill, p. 75</ref>
<ref name="Connolly12">Connolly, p. 12.</ref>
<ref name="DuffyMedieval12">Duffy (2005), p. 12.</ref>
<ref name="DuffyMedieval490">Duffy (2005), pp. 490–1.</ref>
<ref name="Bardonpg14">Bardon, p. 14.</ref>
<ref name="MacCotter46">MacCotter, p. 46.</ref>
<ref name="MacCotter186">MacCotter, p. 186.</ref>
<ref name="IrishKings">Byrne.</ref>
<ref name="roche">Desmond Roche, ''Local Government in Ireland'', Dublin, 1982</ref>
<ref name="Crawford">John G. Crawford, ''Anglicising the Government of Ireland: The Irish Privy Council & the Expansion of Tudor Rule 1556–1578'', Blackrock, 1993</ref>
}}

=== General sources ===
{{refbegin}}
* {{Cite book|first=Jonathan|last=Bardon|year=2005|author-link=Jonathan Bardon|title=A History of Ulster|publisher=The Blackstaff Press|isbn=0-85640-764-X|url=https://archive.org/details/historyofulster00jona}}
* {{Cite book|first=Francis|last=Byrne|author-link=Francis John Byrne|year=2001|edition=3|title=Irish Kings and High Kings|publisher=Four Courts Press|isbn=978-1851821969|url=https://archive.org/details/irishkingshighki00byrn_0}}
* {{Cite book |editor=Connolly, S.J.|year=2007|title=Oxford Companion to Irish History|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=978-0-19-923483-7}}
* {{Cite book |last=Duffy|first=Seán|title=Brian Boru and the Battle of Clontarf|year=2014|publisher=Gill & Macmillan|isbn=978-0-7171-6207-9}}
* {{Cite book |title=Medieval Ireland An Encyclopedia|last=Duffy|first=Seán |publisher=Routledge|year=2005|isbn=0-415-94052-4 }}
* {{cite book |first=Henri|last=Hubert|author-link=Henri Hubert|title=The Greatness and Decline of the Celts |year=1987|publisher=Routledge|url = https://archive.org/details/greatnessdecline00hube |url-access=registration|page=[https://archive.org/details/greatnessdecline00hube/page/170 170]|isbn=9780094678002|quote=aimser na coicedach.}}.
* {{Cite book |first=James|last=Hogan|title=The Tricha Cét and Related Land-Measures|year=1928|publisher=Royal Irish Academy}}
* {{Cite book |last=Koch|first=John T.|author-link=John T. Koch|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=f899xH_quaMC&q=r%C3%AD+ruirech&pg=PA461|title=Celtic Culture: Aberdeen breviary-celticism|year=2006|publisher=Bloomsbury Academic |isbn=9781851094400}}
* {{Cite book |first=Paul|last=MacCotter|year=2008|title=Medieval Ireland: Territorial, Political and Economic Divisions|publisher=Four Courts Press|isbn=978-1-84682-557-6}}
* {{Cite book |first=Eoin|last=MacNeill|author-link=Eoin MacNeill|title=Phases of Irish History|chapter=The Five Fifths of Ireland|year=1920|publisher=M.H. Gill & Son, Ltd.}}.
* {{Cite book |first=John|last=MacNeill|author-link=Eoin MacNeill|title=Early Irish Population-Groups: Their Nomenclature, Classification, and Chronology|year=1911|publisher=Royal Irish Academy }}
* {{Cite book |first=Donald M.|last=Schlegel |title=The Origin of the Three Collas and the Fall of Emain|publisher=Clogher Historical Society |volume=Clogher Record, Vol. 16, No. 2 (1998), pp. 159–181}}
* {{Cite book |first1=Fiona J. |last1=Stafford|first2=Howard|last2=Gaskill |url = https://books.google.com/books?id=4eUpQCP4WMIC&q=aimser+na+coicedach |title = From Gaelic to Romantic: Ossianic Translations |year=1998|publisher=Rodopi |isbn=9042007818}}
{{refend}}

{{Clear}}
{{Counties of Ireland}}

{{Ireland topics}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Provinces of Ireland}}
[[Category:Provinces of Ireland| ]]
[[Category:Historical regions|Ireland]]
[[Category:Lists of subdivisions of Ireland]]
[[Category:Subdivisions of Ireland]]