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Ireland’s Four Provinces
Ireland is the most westerly island in Europe. Comprised of 32 individual counties, the island is divided historically into four provinces; Ulster, Munster, Leinster and Connaught which, roughly correspond to the Northern, Southern, Eastern and Western areas of the island respectively.
Politically, the island is divided into the 26 county Republic of Ireland, also known as ‘the South’, and the 6 counties, also known as ‘the North’, or Ulster.
The historic province of Ulster comprises the six counties commonly known as Northern Ireland, plus the three counties of Cavan, Donegal and Monaghan, which are in the Republic.
ULSTER
This flag combines the Red Hand of the O'Neills of Tyrone, and the red cross on gold field of the de Burgos - the Earls of Ulster until 1333 when the last de Burgo earl died. The counties of ULSTER are: Armagh, Antrim, Cavan, Derry / Londonderry, Donegal, Down, Fermanagh, Monaghan and Tyrone.
MUNSTER
The harp became the symbol of Ireland in the 16th century. Prior to that, the official arms of the country were 3 gold crowns on a blue field. Uncertainty surrounds their meaning, but some believe they represent the medieval lordships of the O'Briens (Thomond), the Butlers (Ormond) and the Fitzgeralds (Desmond). The counties of MUNSTER are: Clare, Cork, Kerry, Limerick, Tipperary and Waterford.
LEINSTER
The flag of Leinster is indistinguishable from the Green Flag, but the arms of the province (of which the flag is a banner) date from the 17th century or earlier. The counties of LEINSTER are: Carlow, Dublin, Kildare, Kilkenny, Laois, Longford, Louth, Meath, Offaly, Westmeath, Wexford and Wicklow.
CONNAUGHT
More uncertainty clouds the meaning of the arms and flag of Connacht, but it is thought the arm and sword derive from the arms of the O'Connors, the ruling (and Gaelic) family in the province before the Norman invasion. The black eagle derives from the arms of the Browns (Old English), one of the 'tribes' of Galway city. The counties of CONNAUGHT are: Galway, Leitrim, Mayo, Roscommon and Sligo.
The Four Provinces Flag
This flag quarters the arms of the four provinces. As the flag is unofficial, the order in which the provinces appear can vary. Although all of the provincial arms have been in use since the 17th century, it was only in the 19th century that they were given official recognition.
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