IRISH LIFE ASSURANCE The UK operating arm of The Irish Life Group was established in 1969 as a branch of the Irish operations. City of Westminster Assurance (CWA) was originally incorporated in January 1968. The Irish Life Group bought CWA in December 1993 from AGF (Assurances Generales de France). CWA had closed to new business prior to 1993. Irish Life Insurance UK was sold mainly via brokers but its book was closed to new business in 1995. Most of the business sold by Irish Life Group in the UK was integrated into CWA in 1996. In 1998 The Irish Life Group merged with Irish Permanent to form Irish Life & Permanent plc. Chesnara plc purchased CWA from Irish Life & Permanent plc in 2005 [who also owns another life assurance company, Countrywide Assured plc]. As part of a group restructuring Chesnara transferred all City of Westminster Assurance policies into Countrywide Assured. Any old policy queries should be referred to their head office in Luton. Established in 1988 & based in Preston Lancs, Countrywide Assured is a Uk life company providing it's customers with long term financial protection for their home and family. Countrywide Assured's parent company is Chesnara plc which is quoted on the London Stock Market.     Old Irish Life Assurance product range included Life cover, mortgage protection, level term assurance and Income benefit Protection. Countrywide Insurance Company in the 2000's sells via Independant brokers, Direct Sales & Marketing and sales through the web.   Looking in 2009 to compare Irish Life old products or Countrywide Assured Life Insurance against other Uk Insurers > Need a Competitive Life or Critical Illness Insurance Quote ?