The Ulai (pron. /'ʊləɣ′/) were a people of early north-eastern Ireland, who gave their name to the modern province of Ulster: modern Irish Cúige Uladh (pron. /'kuːiɡə 'ʊləɣ/), "Province" (literally "fifth") "of the Ulaid"; English "Ulster" derives from Ulaid plus Old Norse stadr, "place" or "territory". An earlier form of their name appears as Voluntii in Ptolemy's 2nd century Geographia.