On a point of the start of this I'd like to make the point that the province and the Free cities of the North were formely part of the Cath Bruig because it is stated that Connacht was king of all human lands.
And personally I suspect that the 20 Years war was the Provinces war of Independance.
And yes Forrest how do you know that the Province refers to the fields around the cities, and don't even think of saying "I heard it from one of my inside sources" I could use that line to say that Soulblighter had a teddy bear called Snuggles.
-zeph