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[County name]: Offaly
[Established]: 1556
[Province]: Leinster
[Irish name]: Uíbh Fhailí
[Derivation]: Named after the Gaelic territory of Uí Failghe, which existed from the 6th century until the death of its last king, Brian mac Cathaoir O Conchobhair Failghe, in 1556. After this, it was divided into Queen's County (modern day County Laois) and King's County (modern day County Offaly.) King's County was named after Queen Mary's Consort, Philip. The name was restored to Offaly after the creation of the Irish Free State.
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[County name]: Meath
[Established]: 1297
[Province]: Leinster
[Irish name]: An Mhí
[Derivation]: "The middle". Meath was once one of the five provinces of Ireland, and the one in which the High King sat. It was formed into a county in 1297, the boundaries of which were not strictly defined. At one point it encompassed all of counties Meath, Westmeath and Longford. It was formally divided into Meath and Westmeath in 1542.
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[County name]: Down
[Established]: early 16th century
[Province]: Ulster
[Irish name]: An Dún
[Derivation]: The name is derived from Dún ná Lethglas, the capital of the Dál Fiatach, now modern day Downpatrick.
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[County name]: Carlow
[Established]: 1210
[Province]: Leinster
[Irish name]: Ceatharlach
[Derivation]: Named after the town of Carlow, which comes from Ceatharlach, meaning "place of cattle".
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[County name]: Monaghan
[Established]: 1585
[Province]: Ulster
[Irish name]: Muineachán
[Derivation]: Named after the town of Monaghan, which comes from Muineachán. "Muine" means "brake" (a thickly overgrown area) or "hillock", hence the county council's interpretation as "land of the little hills". It could also derive from "Muine Acháin", "Acháin" meaning "field", and so making "bushy field" or "hilly field".
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[County name]: Donegal
[Established]: 1584/5
[Province]: Ulster
[Irish name]: Dún na nGall
[Derivation]: Named after the town of Donegal, which comes from Dún na nGall, meaning "stronghold of the foreigners" (i.e. the Vikings). An alternative name for the county is Tyrconnell or Tirconnell, after a Gaelic territory of the same name. This comes from Tír Chonaill, meaning "land of Conall" and is named after Conall Gulban, a son of Niall of the Nine Hostages, whose descendants founded the territory. Conall means "Strong Wolf" in Irish.
(Counties)
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