When two Irishmen meet the first question asked is usually:
“What county are you from?”
Irishmen find identity in their county of origin, always believing their county to be the best. No matter where an Irishman wanders across the globe, his heart sings when he connects with a fellow Irishman, and especially a fellow county man (or woman as the case may be).
A satellite view of Ireland reveals no divides and markings, just one beautifully green island. Yet Irish people love their counties with zeal and passion
This innate love of county one would assume stems from some ancient, mythical symbolism associated with these provincial divides. Many an Irish man assumes the division of Ireland into thirty-two counties is our Celtic inheritance from High Kings and wise druids who ruled through the Brehon laws.
Wrong!
The thirty-two county division of Ireland is a system of convenience created by English rulers, dating back to the time of King John (early 13th century). These English, administrative, and randomly drawn lines, may no longer hold any meaning for governance, yet the Irish have embraced these divisions and bestowed upon them a sacred quality.
Personal identity and connection are intertwined in myths, which assign certain traits for all born in a specific county. These traits may be complimentary or not. Cavan people are notoriously miserly. Corkonians are rebellious in nature. Kerrymen are crafty, and Galwegians are tribal, to name but a few.

Flags Representing The Fourteen Tribes Of Galway
Irish people cling to their county identity, cherish their territory as God’s country, extol the magnificence of its beauty spots, and reverently sing songs to celebrate its famous sons and daughters.
County consciousness is further enhanced by the Gaelic Athletic Association. County rivalries in hurling and Gaelic football are fierce. All-Ireland championship matches dominate summer sporting events. Gaelic games are a rich source of pageantry, strengthening county pride with the waving of flags and the donning of county colors.

Donegal Flag
And so, whatever forces may have shaped county awareness, the identity a county imbues on its people, is an integral part of Irish life. It is about a sense of place, of community, local friendships, and a deep affinity for your childhood home.
I have added a new page in my Lessons for Tourists category, called “Ireland – County-by-County”. Although I am most familiar with three Irish counties, Dublin, Cork and Donegal, I can say I have at least driven through all 32 counties.
Over the next few weeks and months, I plan to take you on a tour of Ireland’s beautiful counties, share pictures and recount tales of county heroes past and present.
I plan to present each county in alphabetical order, starting with County Antrim. Many Irish tourist websites focus on images of Ireland’s scenic west coast. Small inland counties like Carlow, or Longford are seldom mentioned. Here we will tour all corners of my homeland, visiting counties both big and small. I hope you enjoy this tour, and some beautiful images of Ireland. Come back and visit often, so you don’t miss out on your favorite county.
As I publish each new county post, I will add a link to this alphabetical list.
County Antrim
County Antrim boasts a magnificent coastline. The Causeway Coastal Route spans its ocean perimeter, passing through some of the most spectacular scenery in all of Ireland and Europe.
County Armagh
Armagh is one of the six counties of Northern Ireland, part of the United Kingdom and amongst the nine counties of the ancient province of Ulster.
County Carlow
County Carlow is home to gentle flowing rivers, historic estates, medieval castle ruins, lush countryside, and pre-historic burial sites.
County Cavan
County Cavan lies inland, but there is no shortage of water within its borders. Known as the Lake County, it is home to 365 lakes and the source of Ireland’s largest river.
County Clare
The majestic sheer walls of the Cliffs of Moher may be County Clare’s most famous scenic attraction, but when you visit you will be spoiled by a wealth of breath-taking scenery.
County Cork
County Cork offers tourists a little bit of everything, maybe even a little slice of heaven, with some of the most spectacular scenery in Ireland and even the world.
County Derry
County Derry is home to the only completely walled city in Ireland, boasts spectacular beaches and coastline to the north, and ruggedly picturesque mountains to the south.
County Donegal
Located in the northwest corner of the Emerald Isle, Donegal is home to some of the most picturesque scenery in all of Ireland.
County Down
County Down is a perfect blend of ancient culture, historical landmarks, heather-clad mountains, woodland parks, rolling hills quilted with patchwork green fields
County Dublin
Dublin is a charming, architecturally spectacular capital where medieval and modern history blend to create a vibrant, welcoming atmosphere.
County Fermanagh
Boasting hundreds of square miles of lakes, with over 150 islands waiting to be explored, County Fermanagh has been christened Ireland’s Lake District.
County Galway
County Galway lies on Ireland’s west coast. Under direct influence of the Atlantic gulf stream and ocean currents, this county receives ample rainfall between spells of fleeting sunshine.
County Kerry
County Kerry is a mystical, rugged, and scenic Irish county that has captivated tourists for hundreds of years, making the Ring of Kerry one of the most famous attractions in all of Ireland.
County Kildare
County Kildare is Dublin’s western neighbor. This inland county offers plenty of history, spectacular scenery, ancient castles and warm welcoming towns.
County Kilkenny
County Kilkenny is home to rolling green hills of verdant pasture, meandering, picturesque rivers with architecturally amazing arched bridges, an abundance of stone castles from the middle ages, ancient monasteries and cathedrals, and Ireland’s most magnificent medieval city.
County Laois
County Laois was once a center of Irish religious and cultural life. The ruins of old medieval stone castles dot the countryside, together with the isolated remains of once great monasteries.
County Leitrim
County Leitrim offers lush landscapes with magnificent mountains overlooking tranquil lakes. This Irish county may not be on many tourists’ radars, but trust me the scenery in Leitrim is simply spectacular.
County Limerick
County Limerick boasts over 5,000 years of history with evidence of Neolithic life, amazing medieval castles and charming thatched cottages just waiting to be explored.
County Longford
From the reedy shores of Lough Gowna to the banks of the River Shannon, the quiet countryside of County Longford overflows with rural charm.
County Louth
Known as the wee county, County Louth may be Ireland’s smallest county, but it’s not short on magical places to visit. This is Ireland’s land of legends.
County Mayo
Found on the western coast of Ireland with miles of magnificent scecery along the Wild Atlantic Way, County Mayo is also known as the Heather County or the Yew County.
County Meath
Thanks for following my recipes and ramblings.
Slán agus beannacht,
(Goodbye and blessings)
Irish American Mom
Here are some more recipes and ramblings you might enjoy…
Why Are Irish Americans So Captivated By Ireland
Top Ten Reasons Why Toursists Love Ireland
- Cherry Blossoms in Bloom in Saint Stephen’s Green
- Best Time To Visit Ireland
- Reinvigoration of Roots – The Gaelic Woodland Project
- Introducing All About Irish Online Irish Language Courses
- County Meath – Ancient Seat Of The High Kings Of Ireland
- Explore The Origins Of The Celtic Festival Of Imbolc
- Mount Errigal Online Jigsaw Puzzle
- West Cork Rainbow Online Jigsaw
I adore the little glimpses into the mind of an Irishman (woman)….so delightfully informative! THANK YOU for sharing them…
Thanks for stopping by, Grammy, for a little lesson in all things Irish.
I would like info on Roscommon
Hi Graham – Roscommon is a lovely county with the Curlew Mountains and lots of lakes, and not to forget, the River Shannon. I will definitely get to it as my work my way through the list alphabetically. I’ll be doing County Laois next, so it will take me a while to get to ‘R’ on the list. I’m afraid this is a little bit of a slow process. These posts take a lot of research, but I’ll plod on and get there eventually.
Best wishes and thanks for stopping by.
Mairéad
P.S. I just published a post about the River Shannon today. There’s an interactive storymap which traces the river as it passes through County Roscommon. Here’s the link to check it out.
https://www.irishamericanmom.com/2016/04/12/exploring-the-river-shannon/
Mairead, you are the Best Ambassador of Ireland! When I travel to a new place in Ireland your ‘County by County” articles are the first places I look for information.
I truly appreciate all the work and heart you put into this very special site!
Thank you again for all your efforts!
Jeanne
Many thanks for your kind words, Jeanne. I’m so glad you enjoy my ramblings. I need to get researching my next county. I believe Limerick is next on my alphabetical list.
Thanks for following along.
Mairéad