<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-23
<SEQUENCE>5
<FILENAME>ex23.txt
<DESCRIPTION>CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
<TEXT>
                                                                      Exhibit 23


            CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
            --------------------------------------------------------


We  hereby  consent  to the  incorporation  by  reference  in  the  Registration
Statement on Form S-3 (No. 333-43311) and on Form S-8 (Nos. 33-49646,  33-32439,
2-80883,  33-52069,  333-58248,  333-40536,  333-37210  and  333-104279)  of Old
Republic International  Corporation of our report dated March 30, 2005, relating
to the financial  statements,  management's  assessment of the  effectiveness of
internal  control over  financial  reporting and the  effectiveness  of internal
control over financial reporting, which appears in this Form 10-K/A.


                                             /s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

Chicago, IL
March 30, 2005


</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>