One of Ireland’s four provinces, Leinster is located in the country’s southeast.

During Gaelic Ireland, the ancient Kingdoms of Meath, Leinster, and Osraige included the present-day province. The ancient “fifths” of Leinster and Meath eventually combined after the Norman invasion of Ireland in the 12th century, primarily as a result of the influence of the Pale, which crossed both, to form the modern province of Leinster. To facilitate administration and justice, the ancient kingdoms were divided into several counties by shireing. Subsequent subordination of the historic counties has been induced by local government legislation in subsequent centuries.