"County" is a foreign concept to these islands, brought over by those Scandinavians from Normandy in 1066 (whose families continue to provide "our" aristocracy) and best restricted to usage within England - i.e. excluding Scotland, Wales, all of Ireland and Cornwall. As John Betjeman said, referring to counties, "Only England really has Shires". Of course he forget one English county, which is definitely not a shire.
From Colwyn, in the City and County of Bristol (a County since 1373).