 Traditionally , Ireland is subdivided into four provinces : Connacht ( west ) , Leinster ( east ) , Munster ( south ) , and Ulster ( north ) . In a system that developed between the 13th and 17th centuries , Ireland has 32 traditional counties . Twenty @-@ six of these counties are in the Republic of Ireland and six are in Northern Ireland . The six counties that constitute Northern Ireland are all in the province of Ulster ( which has nine counties in total ) . As such , Ulster is often used as a synonym for Northern Ireland , although the two are not coterminous . 
 Traditionally , Ireland is subdivided into four provinces : Connacht ( west ) , Leinster ( east ) , Munster ( south ) , and Ulster ( north ) . In a system <a href='null_relcl' title='1'><mark>that</mark></a>developed between the 13th and 17th centuries , Ireland <a href='got' title='2'><mark>has</mark></a> 32 traditional counties . Twenty @-@ six of these counties are in the Republic of Ireland and six are in Northern Ireland . The six counties <a href='null_relcl' title='3'><mark>that</mark></a>constitute Northern Ireland <a href='drop_aux' title='4'><mark>are</mark></a>all in the province of Ulster ( which <a href='got' title='5'><mark>has</mark></a> nine counties in total ) . As such , Ulster is often used as a synonym for Northern Ireland , although the two <a href='negative_concord' title='6'><mark>are</mark></a> <a href='negative_concord' title='7'><mark>not</mark></a>coterminous . 
Traditionally , Ireland is subdivided into 4 provinces : Connacht ( west ) , Leinster ( east ) , Munster ( south ) , and Ulster ( north ) . In a system developed between da 13th and 17th centuries , Ireland got 32 traditional counties . Twenty @-@ six of these counties are in the Republic of Ireland and six r in Northern Ireland . Tdasix counties constitute Northern Ireland all in the province of Ulster ( which got nine counties in total ) . As such , Ulster is often used as a synonym for Northern Ireland , although the two ain't coterminous .