ulster
n. countablen. the name for the northern part of Ireland. It includes six counties that are part of the United Kingdom and three that are part of the Republic of Ireland.
n. the historical province in the north of Ireland, comprising nine counties; politically, it refers to the six counties of Northern Ireland or the region as a whole.
Ulster is the northern province of Ireland.
The flag of Ulster features a red hand on a white background with a cross.
Political tensions in Ulster have shaped the history of the island for centuries, dividing communities along religious and national lines.
Possibly from Old Norse Uladztir, itself from Old Irish Ulaid (“Ulstermen”). More at Ulster.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Last updated May 5, 2026