Counties of Ireland: Difference between revisions
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==Former counties== |
==Former counties== |
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Former counties include [[County Coleraine]], which formed the basis of County Derry, |
Former counties include [[County Coleraine]], which formed the basis of County Derry, [[County Desmond]] which was split between Counties Cork and Kerry, the [[County of Caterlaugh]] occupying the southern part of what is now County Wicklow, and [[Nether Tyrone|Nether]] and [[Upper Tyrone]] which were merged when County Derry was created. |
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==See also== |
==See also== |
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Revision as of 17:15, 22 April 2004
Ireland is often referred to as the 32 counties, with its two states, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, being nicknamed respectively the Six Counties and the 26 Counties. The counties were in fact a creation of British rule in Ireland and were first set up in the 19th century to provide a framework for local government. Subsequently adopted by sporting and cultural organisations such as the Gaelic Athletic Association, which organises its activities on county lines, today they attract strong loyalties, particularly in the sporting field.
Map
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Local government
The 32 counties are no longer used for local government purposes, although unlike the Counties of England, the Republic's counties have merely been subdivided.
In Northern Ireland, a major re-organisation of local government in 1973 replaced the six large counties by 26 "single-tier" districts. These cross county boundaries.
In the Republic of Ireland, six of the original 26 counties have been subdivided for administrative purposes, producing a total of 34 "county-level" authorities. Tipperary has long been administered as two counties: Tipperary North Riding and Tipperary South Riding. Cork Galway, Limerick, Ireland and Waterford are county boroughs and are administered separately from the counties bearing those names. The remaining rural part of County Dublin was split in 1994 for administrative purposes into [Dún Laoghaire - Rathdown]], Fingal, and South Dublin.
Outside the field of local government, however, the "traditional" 32 counties remain in universal use as the basis of local identity and loyalties.
Below is a list of the original 32 counties, as created under British rule.
Alphabetical list
Former counties
Former counties include County Coleraine, which formed the basis of County Derry, County Desmond which was split between Counties Cork and Kerry, the County of Caterlaugh occupying the southern part of what is now County Wicklow, and Nether and Upper Tyrone which were merged when County Derry was created.
See also
- List of Irish counties by population
- List of Irish counties by area.
- Provinces of Ireland
- Irish Vehicle Registration Plates, identifiable on a per-county basis.