COUNTIES OF IRELAND: A-Z overview of the 32

There are 32 counties and four provinces in Ireland, all with distinct landscapes and
unique qualities that make them worth visiting.

There is much to see and do in the 32 counties of Ireland. From cities to rolling
countryside, coastal resorts, and more.

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What the title of county means in Ireland has changed over time. Between 1898 and
2001, if an had a county council, it was known as an administrative county. From 2001,
the designation of administrative county was divided between counties and cities.

Today, across Ireland, the word county tends to refer to the 32 modern counties across
the island. Modern counties across Ireland have slightly different designations in the
Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.

Across the Republic, a county council is responsible for much local administration. In
contrast, administration in the North takes place by districts.

In our counties of Ireland article, we provide an overview of each county with some facts
about their main towns and the best things to do in them.
1. Antrim – the Glens County

Credit: Tourism Ireland

Overview: County Antrim is part of Northern Ireland and Ulster, with a population of
approximately 618,000 people.

Interesting fact: People of Antrim hold the common nickname of ‘The Glensman’ due
to Antrim’s famous glens.

Main town: Belfast.

Things to do: Giant’s Causeway, Titanic Belfast, and the 13th century Dunluce Castle.
2. Armagh – the orchard county

Overview: Armagh is part of Northern Ireland and Ulster with a population of

approximately 174,792.

Interesting fact: Armagh is known as the ‘Orchard County’ due to its abundance of
orchards.

Main town: Armagh town.

Things to do: St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Navan Centre & Fort, and Gosford Forest Park.

3. Carlow – the dolmen county

Overview: Carlow is in the south-east of Ireland and is part of the province of Leinster.
It has a population of approximately 24,272.

Interesting fact: Hollywood actress Saoirse Ronan was raised in Carlow.

Main town: Carlow Town.

Things to do: Delta Sensory Gardens, Huntington Castle, and County Carlow Military
Museum.
4. Cavan – the Breifne (also Brefni) county

Credit: Tourism Ireland

Overview: Cavan is part of the province of Ulster, located on the border region with a
population of approximately 76,176.

Interesting fact: With 365 lakes, Cavan has the age-old nickname of the lake county.

Main town: Cavan town.

Things to do: Cavan Burren Park, Cavan County Museum, and Cavan Adventure
Centre.

5. Clare – the banner county

Overview: Clare is in the mid-west region in the province of Munster. It has a

population of approximately 118,817 and is known as the Banner County.

Interesting fact: John Philip Holland, the inventor of the submarine, was from Clare.

Main town: Ennis.

Things to do: Cliffs of Moher, Bunratty Castle, and the Burren.

6. Cork – the rebel county

Overview: Cork is located in southern Ireland in Munster. It has a population of

approximately 210,000.

Interesting fact: Cork is the second-largest city in Ireland and has the common
nickname of the Rebel County.

Main town: Cork City.

Things to do: Blarney Stone, Spike Island, and Fota Wildlife Park.

7. Derry – the oak grove or oak leaf county

Overview: Derry is part of Northern Ireland and Ulster with a population of

approximately 83,652.
Interesting fact: Derry is the second-largest city in Northern Ireland.

Main town: Derry city.

Things to do: The 17th century City Walls, Free Derry Corner, and the Peace Bridge.

8. Donegal – the forgotten county (also the county of the Gaels)

Credit: Martin Fleming for Failte Ireland

Overview: Donegal is in the province of Ulster and located in the north of Ireland with a
population of approximately 159,192.

Interesting fact: Due to its location, Donegal is often nicknamed Ireland’s forgotten
county.

Main town: Letterkenny.

Things to do: Glenveagh National Park, Malin Head, and Donegal Castle.

9. Down – Mourne country or kingdom of Mourne

Overview: Down is part of Northern Ireland and Ulster, with a population of
approximately 531,665.

Interesting fact: County Down contains both the southernmost point of Northern
Ireland and the easternmost point of Ireland.

Main town: Bangor.

Things to do: Mourne Mountains, Tollymore Forest Park, and Bangor Castle Walled
Garden.

10. Dublin – the Pale (also the smoke or the metropolitan county)

Credit: Tourism Ireland

Overview: Dublin City is the capital city of Ireland and is located in the province of
Leinster with a population of approximately 1,904,806.

Interesting fact: County Dublin is home to the largest city in Ireland and it was
abolished as an administrative county in 1994.

Main town: Dublin City.

Things to do: Guinness Storehouse, Dublin Zoo, and Phoenix Park.

11. Fermanagh – the lakeland county

Overview: Fermanagh is part of Northern Ireland and is located in the province of

Ulster with a population of approximately 61,805.

Interesting fact: Fermanagh is famous for its lakes, particularly Lough Erne, and its
waterways.

Main town: Enniskillen.

Things to do: Marble Arch Caves, Cuilcagh Boardwalk Trail, and Florence Court.
12. Galway – the hooker county

Credit: commons.wikimedia.org
Overview: Galway is located in the west of Ireland in the province of Connacht and has
a population of approximately 79,934.

Interesting fact: Of all the modern counties of Ireland listed, Galway has the largest
Gaeltacht area (where the Irish language is spoken) in Ireland. Galway is nicknamed
the ‘Hooker County’, after the type of boat from the local area.

Main town: Galway city.

Things to do: Connemara, Galway Cathedral, and Lynch’s Castle.

13. Kerry – the kingdom county

Overview: Kerry is located in southern Ireland along the Wild Atlantic Way. It is part of
Munster, with a population of approximately 147,707.

Interesting fact: Valentia Island in Kerry is home to the world’s oldest footprints.

Main town: Tralee.

Things to do: Killarney National Park, Ring of Kerry, and Skellig Michael.

14. Kildare – the short grass county (also the thoroughbred

county)

Overview: Kildare is located near Dublin and is part of the province of Leinster, with a
population of approximately 8,634.

Interesting fact: Kildare is the eighth largest of Leinster’s twelve Irish counties in size
and second-largest in terms of population.

Main town: Newbridge.

Things to do: The Kildare Maze, Kildare Village, and Wallaby Woods Donadea.
15. Kilkenny – the marble county (also the ormond county)

Credit: Tourism Ireland

Overview: Kilkenny is located in the south-east region and is part of Leinster, with a
population of approximately 26,512.

Interesting fact: Kilkenny is known as the Marble City because of its distinctive black
marble.

Main town: Kilkenny.

Things to do: Kilkenny Castle, Smithwick’s Experience, and Medieval Mile Museum.

16. Laois – O’Moore county (also queen’s county)

Overview: Laois is located in the midlands region and is part of Leinster, with a
population of approximately 84,697.

Interesting fact: Between 1556 and 1920, Laois was officially known as Queen’s
County in honour of Queen Mary.

Main town: Portlaoise.

Things to do: Rock of Dunamase, Donaghmore Famine Workhouse Museum, and
Emo Court.

17. Leitrim – wild rose county

Credit: @cyclokglobal / Twitter

Overview: Leitrim is part of the border region and is in the province of Connacht with a
population of approximately 32,044.

Interesting fact: Leitrim is the smallest of Connacht’s five counties.

Main town: Carrick-On-Shannon.

Things to do: Glencar Waterfall, Parkes Castle, and Eagle’s Rock.

18. Limerick – the treaty county

Overview: Limerick is located in the mid-west region and is part of the province of
Munster. It has a population of approximately 94,192.

Interesting fact: Limerick was founded by the Vikings in 812 AD. It is perhaps best
known as the home of King John’s Castle.
Main town: Limerick.

Things to do: King John’s Castle, Terra Nova Fairy Garden, and Lough Gur Visitor
Centre.

19. Longford – the county of the slashers

Credit: Fáilte Ireland

Overview: Longford is located in the country’s midlands in the province of Leinster. It
has a population of approximately 10,008 people.

Interesting fact: Of all the counties of Ireland listed, Longford is the fourth-smallest
county in Ireland.

Main town: Longford.

Things to do: Quaker Island, The Mall, and St Mel’s Cathedral.

20. Louth – the wee county

Overview: County Louth is in the mid-east region and is part of Leinster, with a
population of approximately 128,884.

Interesting fact: County Louth is the smallest county in Ireland.

Main town: Dundalk.

Things to do: Mellifont Abbey, Castle Roche, and the Leprechaun and Fairy
Underground Cavern.

21. Mayo – maritime county

Credit: Tourism Ireland

Overview: Mayo, Ireland is located in the West, in the province of Connacht. It has a
population of approximately 130,507.

Interesting fact: The term “boycott” originated in Co. Mayo.

Main town: Castlebar.

Things to do: Croagh Patrick, Great Western Greenway, and Céide Fields.
22. Meath – the royal county

Overview: Meath is in the mid-east region of Ireland in the province of Leinster, with a
population of approximately 195,044.

Interesting fact: Meath is the only county in Leinster with two Gaeltachts (Irish
speaking regions).

Main town: Navan.

Things to do: Newgrange, Hill of Tara, and Tayto Park.

23. Monaghan – the drumlin county (also the lake county)

Credit: Tourism Ireland

Overview: Monaghan is located in the border region and is part of Ulster. It has a
population of approximately 61,386.

Interesting fact: Monaghan is famed for its ancient Irish craft of lace-making and it is
known as the drumlin county.

Main town: Monaghan.

Things to do: Monaghan County Museum, Lough Muckno Leisure Park, and Coral
Leisure Monaghan.

24. Offaly – the faithful county

Overview: Offaly is part of the Midlands region and is located in Leinster with a
population of approximately 77,961.

Interesting fact: Offaly is the largest county by area and the third-largest by population
in the Midlands region.
Main town: Tullamore.

Things to do: Leap Castle, Tullamore Dew, and Clonmacnoise.

25. Roscommon – mutton chop county

Overview: Roscommon is in the western region of Ireland and is part of the province of
Connacht, with a population of approximately 64,544.

Interesting fact: Roscommon borders every other Connacht county and even three
Leinster counties.

Main town: Roscommon.

Things to do: King House, Boyle Abbey, and Lough Key Forest and Activity Park.
26. Sligo – Yeats country

Overview: Sligo is a coastal county within the western province of Connacht with a
population of approximately 63,000.

Interesting fact: Sligo is a popular surf destination.

Main town: Sligo.

Things to do: Benbulben, Knocknarea, and Lissadell House.

27. Tipperary – the premier county

Credit: Tourism Ireland

Overview: County Tipperary is located in the province of Munster and has a population
of approximately 159,553.

Interesting fact: County Tipperary is the largest landlocked county in Ireland.

Main town: Clonmel.

Things to do in County Tipperary: Rock of Cashel, Cahir Castle, and Hore Abbey.
28. Tyrone – O’Neill country

Overview: Tyrone is part of Northern Ireland and Ulster and has a population of
approximately 177,986.

Interesting fact: Tyrone is the largest county in Northern Ireland.

Main town: Omagh.

Things to do: Ulster American Folk Park, Lissan House, and Argory.

29. Waterford – the crystal county

Credit: Fáilte Ireland

Overview: Waterford is in southern Ireland, along the Copper Coast. It is located in
Munster with a population of 82,963.Interesting fact: Of all the counties of Ireland
listed, Waterford is home to the oldest city in Ireland.

Main town: Waterford City.

Things to do: Waterford Greenway, the Viking Triangle, and Waterford Crystal.
Settlemen Provinc Descriptio
t Population e County Jurisdiction n
1 Dublin 592,713 Leinster County Dublin Republic Capital city of the
Republic of Ireland.
Largest settlement
on the island since
the Middle Ages,
except for a brief
period around 1900.
The Greater Dublin
Area has a
population of
2,082,605.
2 Belfast 293,298 Ulster County Northern Capital of Northern
Antrim, County Ireland and largest
Down city in all of Ulster.
Home to Northern
Ireland's devolved
government and
power-sharing asse
mbly. Belfast
received city status
in 1888. Briefly
Ireland's most
populous city
around 1900.
3 Cork 222,333 Munster County Cork Republic Largest city in the
province of Munster
in the south of
Ireland. Cork is one
of Ireland's oldest
cities, having
received city status
in the 900s.
4 Limerick 102,287 Munster County Republic Principal city of
Limerick, County Ireland's Mid-West
Clare Region and second-
largest city in
Munster
5 Galway 85,910 Connach County Galway Republic Largest city in the
t province
of Connacht
6 Derry 85,279 Ulster County Northern
Londonderry
7 Newtownabbe 67,599 Ulster County Antrim Northern Part of the Belfast
y Metropolitan Area.
8 Bangor 64,596 Ulster County Down Northern Granted city status
in 2022. Though a
city in its own right,
it is also part of the
wider Belfast
Metropolitan Area.
9 Waterford 60,079 Munster County Republic Third-largest in the
Waterford, Count province of
y Kilkenny Munster. It is the
island of Ireland's
30. Westmeath – the lake county

Overview: Westmeath is part of the midlands region and part of Leinster, with a
population of approximately 88,770.

Interesting fact: Westmeath was once an integral part of Meath as they formed the fifth
province of Ireland.

Main town: Athlone.

Things to do: Glendeer Pet Farm, Derryglad Folk & Heritage Museum, and Baysports.

31. Wexford – the model county

Overview: Wexford lies in the south-east of Ireland and is part of Leinster with a
population of approximately 149,722.

Interesting fact: Wexford is the largest of Leinster’s 12 Irish counties.

Main town: Wexford.

Things to do: Irish National Heritage Park, Tintern Abbey, and Johnstown Castle.

32. Wicklow – the garden county (also the Garden of Ireland)

List of settlements on the island of Ireland by

population
wikiwand.com/en/List_of_settlements_on_the_island_of_Ireland_by_population
This is a list of the 60 largest towns and cities on the island of Ireland by population. It
therefore includes towns and cities in both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.
The population figures listed are for the urban area around each settlement excluding
areas that fall within the boundary of another town or city. The figures for Northern
Ireland towns are based on the preliminary 2021 Northern Ireland Census, while the
figures for the Republic are based on the 2022 Census. Settlements in bold have city
status.
Credit: Tourism Ireland
Overview: Wicklow is located south of Dublin city and is part of Leinster with a
population of approximately 142,425.

Interesting fact: Wicklow is commonly known as the Garden of Ireland.

Main town: Bray.

Things to do: Glendalough, Powerscourt Waterfall, and Sally Gap.

That concludes our list of all the counties of Ireland from A-Z. How many of the counties
of Ireland listed here have you been to?

Plan Your Trip

Where are you going? Click and Read!

1. Antrim
2. Armagh
3. Carlow
4. Cavan
5. Clare
6. Cork
7. Donegal
8. Down
9. Dublin
10. Fermanagh
11. Galway
12. Kerry
13. Kildare
14. Kilkenny
15. Laois
16. Leitrim
17. Limerick
18. Derry
19. Longford
20. Louth
21. Mayo
22. Meath
23. Monaghan
24. Offaly
25. Roscommon
26. Sligo
27. Tipperary
28. Tyrone
29. Waterford
30. Westmeath
31. Wexford
32. Wicklow

Ireland is split into four provinces:

1. Connacht,
2. Ulster,
3. Munster,
4. Leinster.