Ireland's Largest Counties: Only Two Exceed 1,000 Square Miles

When measuring by land area, Ireland's 32 traditional counties vary greatly in size. Surprisingly, only two counties surpass 1,000 square miles (2,600 km²):

1. County Galway – 2,374 sq mi (6,148 km²) – The largest county in Ireland, spanning the rugged Connemara, the Aran Islands, and vibrant Galway City.
2. County Cork – 1,118 sq mi (2,895 km²) – The second-largest, covering the southwest from the Beara Peninsula to the suburbs of Cork City.

All other counties fall below the 1,000 sq mi threshold. For context, County Leitrim is the smallest at just 589 sq mi (1,525 km²). These two giants—Galway and Cork—dominate Ireland's western and southern landscapes, offering vast coastlines, mountains, and cultural heartlands.