Above : One of Five Province “Munster“

A tradition dating from long before those seven dynasties divided Ireland into Five Provinces the ” Cuig Cuigi.” There is uncertainty as to what those traditional Provinces were, but they are generally given as Ulaidh, Connacht, Laighin, and the two Mumha.* When Tuathal founded the dynasty of Tara, it is said that he grouped parts of the others into a new Province, and that as the two provinces of Mumha coalesced about the same time, there still remained only five Provinces. The origin of the ” CU15 Cuigi,” or ” Five Fifths” is ascribed to the legendary Firbolgs. But their existence as political facts is inconsistent with the stories of the division between Heremon and Heber, the centralised power of Ollamh Fodhla, and the twenty-five fold division of Ugaine M6r—the latter lasting for centuries, and ending at an import­ant date just before the Tain, and not long before Tuathal founded or developed Tara. Of the extent of these Kingdoms we are told little but their respective coast boundaries, and that they all met at the Hill of Uisneach (in modern Co. Westmeath).

The tradition of ” Five Fifths of Ireland ” is still a living reality in Gaelic speech. But the instance of ” Leath Mogha” and ” Leath Chuinn” warns us that popular names may be widespread and permanent, and yet be based upon very temporary political facts. Accepting, therefore, the existence of five Provinces in Ireland at some time, it is still a matter of learned speculation as to when they originated and how long they continued. Their existence at the time of St. Patrick is now rejected, for it is accepted that there were then in Ireland not five, but seven independent states.^ The evolution of the dynasties which then and ever afterwards ruled these states has been indicated, but the earlier political conditions which they super­seded is uncertain. The seven dynasties of Ulaidh, Laighin, Tara, Caiseal, Oirghialla, Aileach and Connacht are the keys to all subsequent Irish history.

The traditional Five Provinces are popularly supposed to be represented, with certain changes, by the modern four provinces. As regards Connacht and Munster, this is fairly accurate, although traditional Connacht included the County of Clare, and historical Connacht included the County of Cavan. Modern Leinster also represents both the traditional and historical states of Laighin and Tara, together with the County of Louth. Modern Ulster, however, although its coast line is nearly the same as that of the traditional Province of Ulaidh, includes only a portion of its territory ; and, on the other hand, comprises nearly all of three of the historical Kingdoms.* The first division into four provinces was ecclesiastical when the Synod of Kells in 1152 grouped the Church around the four arch-dioceses of Armagh, Cashel, Tuam, and Dublin. The creation of provincial ” Presidents ” in the 16th century by the Tudors gave them definite recognition in political affairs.

* Or, according to some, two in Laighin and one in Mumha. The divisions 0/ Mumha are sometimes given as North and South, and at other times East and West.