Partition of Ireland
The partition of Ireland () divided the island of Ireland into two distinct jurisdictions, Northern Ireland and Southern Ireland. It took place on 3 May 1921 under the Government of Ireland Act 1920. Today the former is still known as Northern Ireland and forms part of the United Kingdom, while the latter is now a sovereign state also named Ireland and sometimes called the Republic of Ireland.
Provinces of Ireland
The earliest recorded mention of the major division of Ireland is in the Ulster Cycle of legends, such as the "Táin Bó Cúailnge". The "Táin" is set during the reign of "Conchobar Mac Nessa", king of Ulster, and is believed to have happened in the 1st century. In this period Ireland is said to have been divided into five independent over-kingdoms, or "cuigeadh" whose "rí" (kings) were of equal rank, not subject to a central monarchy. Pseudo-historians called this era "Aimser na Coicedach", which has been translated as: "Time of the Pentarchs"; "Time of the Five Fifths"; and "Time of the provincial kings". It was also described as "the Pentarchy".