province of Ireland
Also known as Provinces of Ireland
cultural and formerly political division of Ireland
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Ireland is traditionally divided into four provinces—Connacht, Leinster, Munster, and Ulster—that were once important political units but are now mainly recognized as cultural and historical regions. These provinces matter today primarily for their role in Irish heritage and identity, though they no longer have official governmental functions.
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- Provinces of Ireland
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The four provinces of Ireland are Connacht, Leinster, Munster and Ulster. Three of the four provinces—Connacht, Leinster, and Munster–are found entirely within the Republic of Ireland today, while the province of Ulster is located in both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.
The Irish word for this territorial division, cúige, meaning "fifth part", suggests that there were once five, and at times 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 delineation fluctuated until 1610, when they were permanently set by the administration of James I.