User:UlsterWatch/POU
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Provinces of Ireland (Irish: Cúigí na hÉireann) refers to the historical and cultural major territorial divisions that the island is divided by. The provinces originally corresponded to an over-kingdom, the boundaries of which where changeable. With the end of the Gaelic era, the provinces came to function as fixed-boundary historical and cultural entities that have been used since by various organisations as a means of regional administration and representation.
Each province is known in Irish as a cuigeadh, which means a "fifth", based on the assumption that at one stage Ireland was divided into five provinces.[1] This is still reflected in the Irish term Cuig Cuigidh na hEireann, meaning the Five Fifths of Ireland.[2] The actual number of historical provinces however varied, with as many as seven circa 800AD.[1] It has only been since the mid-17th century that there have only been four: Connacht, Leinster, Munster, and Ulster.
Each province was ruled by a rí ruírech (king of over-kings), also known as a rí cúigíd (king of a fifth).[1] This was the highest rank of king provided for in Irish law tracts, despite notions of an ard rí (High-King).[1]