`:::::::::::::::That surely can't be right! The only reason the term province is used in the context of NI is because of the four provinces of Ireland. It carried over to NI because the Unionists had been talking in terms of ``Ulster`` and ``the province`` before 1922, particularly during the Home rule crisis. It's the same reason why ``Ulster`` carried over to mean NI. The UK doesn't have ``provinces`` excpt the ecclessiastical ones.    `