Ulster Irish: Ulaidh Ulster-Scots: Ulstèr |
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Sovereign states |
Republic of Ireland United Kingdom |
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Counties |
Antrim (UK) Armagh (UK) Cavan (ROI) Donegal (ROI) Down (UK) Fermanagh (UK) Londonderry (UK) Monaghan (ROI) Tyrone (UK) |
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Government | ||
• MEPs | 2 Sinn Féin MEPs 1 DUP MEP 1 UUP MEP |
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• MPs | 8 DUP MPs 4 Sinn Féin MPs 3 SDLP MPs 2 UUP MPs 1 Independent MP |
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• Teachtaí Dála & Councillors (ROI) | 6 Fianna Fáil TDs 3 Sinn Féin TDs 3 Fine Gael TDs 1 Independent TD 22 Fianna Fáil Cllrs 20 Sinn Féin Cllrs 18 Fine Gael Cllrs 1 Labour Cllr 12 Independent Cllrs |
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• MLAs & Councillors (UK) | 38 DUP MLAs 28 Sinn Féin MLAs 16 UUP MLAs 12 SDLP MLAs 8 Alliance MLAs 2 Green MLAs 2 PBP MLAs 1 TUV MLA 175 DUP Cllrs 138 Sinn Féin Cllrs 99 UUP Cllrs 87 SDLP Cllrs 44 Alliance Cllrs 6 TUV Cllrs 3 Green Cllrs 2 PUP Cllrs 1 UKIP Cllr 27 Independent Cllrs |
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Area | ||
• Total | 21,552 km2 (8,275 sq mi) | |
Population (2011 estimate) | ||
• Total | 2,105,666 | |
Patron Saints: Finnian of Moville |
Patron Saints: Finnian of Moville
Columba
Ulster (/ˈʌlstər/; Irish: Ulaidh pronounced [ˈul̪ˠəi] or Cúige Uladh pronounced [ˈkuːɟə ˈul̪ˠə], Ulster Scots: Ulstèr or Ulster) is a province in the north of the island of Ireland. In ancient Ireland, it was one of the fifths (Irish: cúige) ruled by a rí ruirech, or "king of over-kings".
The definition of the province was fluid from early to medieval times. It took a definitive shape in the reign of King James I of England when all the counties of Ireland were eventually shired. This process of evolving conquest had been under way since the Norman invasion of Ireland, particularly as advanced by the Cambro-Norman magnates Hugh de Lacy and John de Courcy. Ulster was a central topic role in the parliamentary debates that eventually resulted in the Government of Ireland Act 1920. Under the terms of the Act, Ireland was divided into two territories, Southern Ireland and Northern Ireland, with the border passing through the province. "Southern Ireland" was to be all of Ireland except for "the parliamentary counties of Antrim, Armagh, Down, Fermanagh, Londonderry and Tyrone, and the parliamentary boroughs of Belfast and Londonderry [the city of Derry]" which were to constitute "Northern Ireland". The area of Northern Ireland was seen as the maximum area within which Ulster Protestants/unionists could be expected to have a safe majority, despite counties Fermanagh and Tyrone having slight Roman Catholic/Irish nationalist majorities. While these six counties and two parliamentary boroughs were all in the province of Ulster, three other counties of the province – Cavan, Donegal and Monaghan – were assigned to the Irish Free State.