| Leinster Cúige Laighean | ||
| Image:Flag of Leinster.svg | ||
|---|---|---|
| Location | ||
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| Statistics | ||
| Area: | 19,774.23 | |
| Population (2006) | 2,292,939 | |
Leinster (IPA: [ˈlɛnstə(r)]; Irish: Laighin or Laigin, IPA: [lainʲ]), one of the Provinces of Ireland, lies in the east of Ireland and comprises the counties of Carlow, Dublin, Kildare, Kilkenny, Laois, Longford, Louth, Meath, Offaly, Westmeath, Wexford and Wicklow. Leinster has the largest population of the four provinces of Ireland. The traditional flag of Leinster features a golden harp on a green background.
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In ancient times Leinster was occupied by five major Fir-Bolg tribes, of which the tribe of Laigin rose to dominance and gave Leinster its name. The Fir Bolg may be related to the Belgae, but this has not been firmly established. The tribes of Leinster were united by Úgaine Mor [Hugony "The Great"], who built the hill-fort of Ailinne [Knochawlin], near Kilcullen, County Kildare, and is a likely, but uncertain candidate as the first historical King of Laigin [Leinster] in the 7th century BC. The "ster" portion of the toponym comes from a Nordic word for state, as the Vikings dominated and held Dublin for a period of time.
The kingdom of Laigin [Leinster] was re-founded circa 175/185 AD following a period of civil wars in Ireland by the legendary Cathair Mor.
In the fourth and fifth centuries, after Magnus Maximus left Britain with his legions, leaving a power vacuum, colonists from Laigin [Leinster] settled in north Wales; Specifically Anglesey, Carnarvonshire, and Denbighshire. In Wales some of the Leinster-Irish colonists left their name on the Llŷn peninsula, which derives its name from Laigin.
By the eighth century, Laigin (Leinster), had split into two dynasties:
Northern Leinster dynasty: Murchad mac Brain (d. 727), king of Uí Dúnlainge, and joint leader of the Laigin
Southern Leinster dynasty: Áed mac Colggen (d. 738), king of Uí Cheinnselaig, and joint leader of the Laigin
After the death of the last Kildare-based King of Laigin, Murchad Mac Dunlainge in 1042, the Kingship of Leinster reverted to the Uí Cheinnselaig sept based in the south east (southern dynasty) which comprise later Kings of Leinster.
Some contend it was names after a powerful Welsh colony, meaning Land of the men of the Llyn Peninsula[1][2].
Today, made of twelve counties, it encompasses the old province of Meath (modern-day County Meath and County Westmeath). Also in it are County Longford and the Annally and Lusmagh parishes of County Offaly, formerly of Connacht, and County Louth, formerly of Ulster. The borders were redrawn by Cromwell for administration and military reasons.
Connacht: Galway * (~City *) • Leitrim * • Mayo * • Roscommon * • Sligo *
Munster: Clare * • Cork * (~City *) • Kerry * • Limerick * (~City *) • Tipperary * (North~ *; South~ *) • Waterford * (~City *)
Leinster: Carlow * • Dublin * (~City *; Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown *; Fingal *; South~ *) • Kildare * • Kilkenny * • Laois * • Longford * • Louth * • Meath * • Offaly * • Westmeath * • Wexford * • Wicklow *
Ulster: Antrim † • Armagh ;† • Cavan * • Donegal * • Down † • Fermanagh † • Londonderry † • Monaghan * • Tyrone †
† denotes counties in Northern Ireland * denotes counties in the Republic of Ireland;
italics denotes non-administrative counties; (parentheses) denotes non-traditional counties
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