Uladh

Uladh, in the Irish language, is the name for Ulster, the northern province of the island of Ireland. The term designates a historic and cultural region that now straddles two modern states: six counties in Northern Ireland (Antrim, Armagh, Down, Fermanagh, Londonderry/Derry, Tyrone) and three counties in the Republic of Ireland (Donegal, Cavan, Monaghan), making up nine counties in total. The landscape includes features such as Lough Neagh and Lough Erne, and ranges from low drumlin belts to the Sperrin Mountains.

Historically, Uladh was inhabited by the people known as the Ulaidh, and is the core region of early Gaelic Ireland. In medieval times it formed the Kingdom of Ulster, later contested by rival dynasties and by Norman and English expansion. The province remained a central focus in Gaelic resistance, culminating in events such as the Nine Years’ War in the late 16th century. After the Tudor conquest, Ulster was incorporated into the English-administered realm, and in 1921 the island was partitioned; six counties formed Northern Ireland and three counties joined the Irish Free State.

Today, Uladh persists as a cultural and historical term in the Irish language and in Gaelic contexts. The term Ulster is commonly used in English; in cultural discussions, Uladh denotes the wider Gaelic heritage and geography of the region, including both sides of the modern border. The province has a diverse heritage with influences from Gaelic, Norse, Norman, and plantation-era settlements, and it remains a center for agriculture, industry, and culture in both jurisdictions.