Page "Counties of Ireland" Paragraph 0

The counties of Ireland (; Ulster-Scots: coonties o Airlann ) are sub-national divisions that have been, and in some cases continue to be, used to geographically demarcate areas of local government.

These land divisions were formed following the Norman invasion of Ireland in imitation of the units of local government then in use in the Kingdom of England.

The older term " shire " was historically equivalent to " county ".

The principal function of the county was to impose royal control in the areas of taxation, security and the administration of justice at the local level.

Cambro-Norman control was initially limited to the south-eastern parts of Ireland so a further four centuries were to elapse before the entire island was shired.

At the same time, the now obsolete concept of county corporate elevated a small number of towns and cities to a status which was deemed to be no less important than the existing counties in which they lay.

This double control mechanism of 32 counties plus 10 counties corporate remain unchanged for a little over two centuries.

Since the early 19th century, counties have adapted by legislation to meet new administrative and political requirements.