The Republic of Ireland is located in Northern Europe and North Atlantic Ocean, just west of the United Kingdom. The country occupies a large majority of the island of Ireland, with Northern Ireland (part of the United Kingdom) covering the northeast.

Provinces of Ireland

Since early in the 17^th century, Ireland has been divided into four Provinces.

Connacht

This province takes up the western and northwestern parts of Ireland. It was named after the legendary Conn of the Hundred Battles and has five counties; Galway, Leitrim, Mayo, Roscommon and Sligo.

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The most notable county in Connacht is Galway which has a population of over 250,000. It is home to the Twelve Bens mountain range, many of Ireland’s largest lakes, and a plethora of wildlife.

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The poet William Butler Yeats made a local waterfall famous in his poem “The Stolen Child” which is based on Irish legends about fairies stealing children. In his poem the fairies beckon children to Glencar Waterfall in Leitrim County.

Leinster

This province lies in the east of Ireland. The name was derived from Laigin which is the name of a tribe that ruled the lands in ancient times.

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This province has a few notable counties such as Kilkenny and South Dublin. This area has picturesque towns, rolling hills, mountains, lakes, rivers and ancient castles. The Cooley Peninsula has ancient megalithic structures which remain standing as a testament to the capabilities of ancient artists.

Munster

Taking up the south of Ireland, this province is known historically for having once been the Kingdom of Munster. It is divided up into six counties; Clare, Cork, Kerry, Limerick, Tipperary, and Waterford.

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This province is filled with beauty to offer visitors. Among the most well-known are the cliffs of Moher.

Ulster

This province lies in the Northern part of Ireland. It was named combining words from the Norse and Irish languages.

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There are a lot of beautiful sights and experiences to be had in this area. The Slieve League offers some of the most breathtaking and wonderful sights you can experience anywhere in the world.