Land Divisions of Ireland

Irish Land Divisions

Understanding Irish Land Divisions

Primary Irish Land Divisions

Additional Divisions of Land

The Quagmire of Administrative Districts


Ireland

80% is the Republic of Ireland

Made up of the Provinces of

Leinster, Munster, Connacht & 3 Ulster Counties

Cavan, Donegal, Monaghan


20% is Northern Ireland

Made up of 6 out of the 9 Counties of Ulster

Antrim, Armagh, Derry, Down, Fermanagh, Tyrone



Four Provinces

Leinster

Munster

Connacht

Ulster


32 Counties

Leinster has 12

Carlow

Dublin

Kildare

Kilkenny

Laois

Longford

Louth

Meath

Offaly

Westmeath

Wexford

Wicklow


Munster has 6

Clare

Cork

Kerry

Limerick

Tipperary

Waterford

Connacht has 5

Galway

Leitrim

Mayo

Roscommon

Sligo

Ulster has 9

Cavan

Donegal

Monaghan


Antrim

Armagh

Derry

Down

Fermanagh

Tyrone




about 325 Baronies

Antrim

  1. Antrim Lower
  2. Antrim Upper
  3. Belfast Lower
  4. Belfast Upper
  5. Cary
  6. Dunluce Lower
  7. Dunluce Upper
  8. Glenarm Lower
  9. Glenarm Upper
  10. Kilconway
  11. Massereene Lower
  12. Massereene Upper
  13. Toome Lower
  14. Toome Upper
  15. Carrickfergus [then a county corporate]
  • Belfast Town

Armagh

  1. Armagh
  2. Fews Lower
  3. Fews Upper
  4. Oneilland East
  5. Oneilland West
  6. Orior Lower
  7. Orior Upper
  8. Tiranny

Carlow

  1. Carlow [erroneously omitted from the text, so that e.g. Forth is numbered 1 in the text but 2 on the map]
  2. Forth
  3. Idrone East
  4. Idrone West
  5. Rathvilly
  6. St. Mullin's Upper
  7. St. Mullin's Lower

Cavan

  1. Castlerahan
  2. Clankee
  3. Clanmahon
  4. Loughtee Lower
  5. Loughtee Upper
  6. Tullygarvey
  7. Tullyhaw
  8. Tullyhunco

Baronies of Ireland 1846 - Baronies were used until 1898.

Land and property valuations were organised according to barony.

Very important for finding surveys and early census record areas.

1024px-Baronies_of_Ireland_1846

Clare

  1. Bunratty Upper
  2. Burren
  3. Clonderalaw
  4. Corcomroe
  5. Ibrickan
  6. Inchiquin
  7. Islands
  8. Moyarta
  9. Tulla Lower
  10. Tulla Upper


Cork

  1. Bantry
  2. Barretts
  3. Barrymore
  4. Bear
  5. Carbery East, East Division
  6. Carbery East, West Division
  7. Carbery West, East Division
  8. Carbery West, West Division
  9. Condons and Clangibbon
  10. Cork
  11. Courceys
  12. Duhallow
  13. Fermoy
  14. Ibane and Barryroe
  15. Imokilly
  16. Kerrycurrihy
  17. Kinalea
  18. Kinalmeaky
  19. Kinnatalloon
  20. Kinsale
  21. Muskerry East
  22. Muskerry West
  23. Orrery and Kilmore
  • Cork City [not shown on map: it is at the centre of #10 Cork]


Donegal

  1. Banagh
  2. Boylagh
  3. Inishowen [later split into East and West baronies]
  4. Kilmacrenan
  5. Raphoe [later split into North and South baronies]
  6. Tirhugh


Down

  1. Ards [later split into Lower and Upper baronies]
  2. Castlereagh Lower
  3. Castlereagh Upper
  4. Dufferin
  5. Iveagh Lower [later split into Lower Half and Upper Half baronies]
  6. Iveagh Upper [later split into Lower Half and Upper Half baronies]
  7. Kinelarty
  8. Lecale [later split into Lower and Upper baronies]
  9. Lordship of Newry
  10. Mourne


Dublin

  1. Balrothery East
  2. Balrothery West
  3. Castleknock
  4. Coolock
  5. Dublin [not shown on map: it comprises the southern portion of the area marked 4]
  6. Nethercross
  7. Newcastle
  8. Rathdown
  9. Uppercross
  • Dublin City [not shown on map: between #4 Coolock and #5 Dublin]


Fermanagh

  1. Clanawley
  2. Clankelly
  3. Coole
  4. Knockninny
  5. Lurg
  6. Magheraboy
  7. Magherastephana
  8. Tirkennedy


Galway

  1. Aran ["South Isl.ds of Aran" on the map]
  2. Athenry
  3. Ballymoe
  4. Ballynahinch
  5. Clare
  6. Clonmacnowen
  7. Dunkellin
  8. Dunmore
  9. Galway [barony and corporate county]
  10. Kilconnel
  11. Killian
  12. Kiltartan
  13. Leitrim
  14. Longford
  15. Loughrea
  16. Moycullen
  17. Ross
  18. Tiaquin
  • Galway Town [within Galway barony]


Kerry

  1. Clanmaurice
  2. Corkaguiny
  3. Dunkerron North
  4. Dunkerron South
  5. Glanarought
  6. Iraghticonnor
  7. Iveragh
  8. Magunihy
  9. Trughanacmy


Kildare

  1. Carbury
  2. Clane
  3. Connell
  4. Ikeathy and Oughterany
  5. Kilcullen
  6. Kilkea and Moone
  7. Naas North
  8. Naas South
  9. Narragh and Reban East
  10. Narragh and Reban West
  11. Offaly East
  12. Offaly West
  13. North Salt
  14. South Salt


Kilkenny

  1. Callan
  2. Crannagh
  3. Fassadinin
  4. Galmoy
  5. Gowran
  6. Ida
  7. Iverk
  8. Kells
  9. Knocktopher
  10. Shillelogher
  11. Kilkenny City [barony and corporate county]
  • [Barony of Kilculliheen was transferred from County Waterford in 1899]


Laios (Queens)

  1. Ballyadams
  2. Clandonagh
  3. Clarmallagh
  4. Cullenagh
  5. Maryborough East
  6. Maryborough West
  7. Portnahinch
  8. Slievemargy
  9. Stradbally
  10. Tinnahinch
  11. Upperwoods


Leitrim

  1. Carrigallen
  2. Drumahaire
  3. Leitrim
  4. Mohill
  5. Rosclogher


Limerick

  1. Clanwilliam
  2. Connello Lower
  3. Connello Upper
  4. Coonah
  5. Coshlea
  6. Coshma
  7. Glenquin
  8. Kenry
  9. Kilmallock, Liberties of
  10. Owneybeg
  11. Pubblebrien
  12. Shanid
  13. Smallcounty
  14. Limerick City
  15. North Liberties of Limerick


Londonderry

  1. Coleraine
  2. North East Liberties of Coleraine
  3. Keenaght
  4. North-West Liberties of Londonderry
  5. Loughinsholin
  6. Tirkeeran

Longford

  1. Ardagh
  2. Granard
  3. Longford
  4. Moydow
  5. Rathcline
  6. Shrule

Louth

  1. Ardee
  2. Dundalk Lower
  3. Dundalk Upper
  4. Ferrard
  5. Louth
  • Drogheda [corporate county. It is the unnumbered area between #4 Ferrard and County Meath #3 Duleek Lower]

Mayo

  1. Burrishoole
  2. Carra
  3. Clanmorris
  4. Costello
  5. Erris
  6. Gallen
  7. Kilmaine
  8. Murrisk
  9. Tirawley

Meath

  1. Deece Lower
  2. Deece Upper
  3. Duleek Lower
  4. Duleek Upper
  5. Dunboyne
  6. Fore
  7. Kells Lower
  8. Kells Upper
  9. Lune
  10. Morgallion
  11. Moyfenrath Lower
  12. Moyfenrath Upper
  13. Navan Lower
  14. Navan Upper
  15. Ratoath
  16. Skreen
  17. Slane Lower
  18. Slane Upper


Monaghan

  1. Cremorne
  2. Dartree
  3. Farney
  4. Monaghan
  5. Trough


Offaly (Kings)

  1. Ballyboy
  2. Ballybritt
  3. Ballycowan
  4. Clonlisk
  5. Coolestown
  6. Eglish
  7. Garrycastle
  8. Geashill
  9. Kilcoursey
  10. Philipstown Lower
  11. Philipstown Upper
  12. Warrenstown


Roscommon

  1. Athlone [later subdivided into North and South]
  2. Ballintober North
  3. Ballintober South
  4. Ballymoe
  5. Boyle
  6. Castlereagh
  7. Frenchpark
  8. Moycarn
  9. Roscommon


Sligo

  1. Carbury
  2. Coolavin
  3. Corran
  4. Leyny
  5. Tireragh
  6. Tirerrill


Tipperary

  1. Clanwilliam
  2. Eliogarty
  3. Iffa and Offa East
  4. Iffa and Offa West
  5. Ikerrin
  6. Kilnamanagh Lower
  7. Kilnamanagh Upper
  8. Middlethird
  9. Ormond Lower
  10. Ormond Upper
  11. Owney and Arra
  12. Slievardagh


Tyrone

  1. Clogher
  2. Dungannon Upper
  3. Dungannon Middle
  4. Dungannon Lower
  5. Omagh East
  6. Omagh West
  7. Strabane Lower
  8. Strabane Upper


Waterford

  1. Coshmore and Coshbride
  2. Decies-within-Drum
  3. Decies-without-Drum
  4. Gaultiere
  5. Glenahiry
  6. Middleyhird
  7. Upperthird
  8. Kilculliheen [not shown on map: it is at the southern edge of County Kilkenny #6 Ida. It was transferred to County Kilkenny in 1899]
  • Waterford City [not shown on map: it is at the northern edge of #4 Gaultiere]



Westmeath

  1. Brawny
  2. Clonlonan
  3. Corkaree
  4. Delvin
  5. Farbill
  6. Fartullagh
  7. Fore
  8. Kilkenny West
  9. Moyashel and Magheradernon
  10. Moycashel
  11. Moygoish
  12. Rathconrath



Wexford

  1. Ballaghkeen [later subdivided into North and South]
  2. Bantry
  3. Bargy
  4. Forth
  5. Gorey
  6. Scarawalsh
  7. Shelburne
  8. Shelmaliere East
  9. Shelmaliere West



Wicklow

  1. Arklow
  2. Ballinacor North
  3. Ballinacor South
  4. Newcastle
  5. Rathdown
  6. Shillelagh
  7. Talbotstown Lower
  8. Talbotstown Upper

Poor Law Union - or - Superintendent Registrar's District - now - Civil Registration Districts

About 130 Poor Law Unions. Each Union comprising of about 15 electoral divisions.

Irish Poor Law Project Maps

The Workhouse in Ireland

A geographical territory centred on market towns, created in 1838 to provide a workhouse system for administration of poor relief.

Following the Partition of Ireland, in the independent Irish Free State, poor law unions were abolished in 1925. In Northern Ireland, poor law unions survived until 1948.

When the Irish General Register Office was established in 1864, each Poor Law Union also became a Superintendent Registrar's District or now the Civil Registration Districts.

Connaught

Leinster

Munster

Ulster

Antrim

Antrim, Ballycastle, Ballymena, Ballymoney, Belfast, Larne, Lisburn

Armagh

Armagh, Lurgan, Newry

Carlow

Carlow, Bawnboy

Cavan

Bailieborough, Bawnboy, Cavan, Cootehill

Clare

Ballyvaughan, Corofin, Ennis, Ennistymon,, Kildysart, Kilrush, Scariff, Tulla

Cork

Bandon, Bantry, Castletownbere, Clonakilty, Cork, Dunmanway, Fermoy, Kanturk, Kilmallock, Kinsale, Macroom, Mallow, Midleton, Millstreet, Mitchelstown, Schull, Skibereen

Donegal

Ballyshannon, Donegal, Dunfanaghy, Glenties, Inishowen, Letterkenny, Milford, Stranorlar

Ireland1897PoorLawUnions

Down

Banbridge, Downpatrick, Kilkeel, Newry, Newtownards

Dublin

Balrothery, Dublin North, Dublin South, Rathdown

Fermanagh

Enniskillen, Lisnaskea, Lowtherstown

Galway

Ballinasloe, Clifden, Galway, Glenamaddy, Gort, Loughrea, Mountbellew, Oughterard, Portumna, Tuam

Kerry

Cahirciveen, Dingle, Kenmare, Killarney, Listowel, Tralee

Kildare

Athy, Celbridge, Naas

Kilkenny

Callan, Castlecomer, Kilkenny, Thomastow, Urlingford

Laois

Abbeyleix, Donaghmore, Mountmellick



Leitrim

Carrick-on-Shannon, Manorhamilton, Mohill

Limerick

Croom, Glin, Kilmallock, Limerick, Newcastle, Rathkeale

Londonderry

Coleraine, Derry Workhouse, Magherafelt, Newtown Limavady

Longford

Ballymahon, Granard, Longford

Louth

Ardee, Drogheda, Dundalk

Mayo

Ballina, Ballinrobe, Belmullet, Castlebar, Claremorris, Killala, Newport, Swineford, Westport

Meath

Castletowndevlin, Dunshaughlin, Kells, Navan, Oldcastle, Trim

Monaghan

Carrickmacross, Castleblaney, Clones, Monaghan



Offaly

Edenderrry, Parsonstown, Tullamore

Roscommon

Boyle, Castlerea, Roscommon, Strokestown

Sligo

Dromore West, Sligo, Tubbercurry

Tipperary

Borrisokane, Carrick-on-Suir, Cashel, Cashel, Clogheen, Clonmel, Nenagh, Roscrea,, Thurles, Tipperary

Tyrone

Castlederg, Clogher, Cookstown, Dungannon, Gortin, Omagh, Strabane

Waterford

Dungarvan, Kilmacthomas, Lismore, Waterford, Youghal

Westmeath

Athlone, Mullingar

Wexford

Enniscorthy, Gorey, New Ross, Wexford

Wicklow

Baltinglass, Rathdrum, Shillelagh

about 800 Dispensary Districts

The ‘Dispensary Districts’ introduced in 1851, which had sub-divided each Poor Law Union into smaller administrative units, were now re-named ‘Registrar’s Districts.

Cities and Towns

Large and small urban neighbourhoods


Two types of Parishes

Civil Parishes -

This type of parish boundary was the basis upon which the Griffith’s Valuation and other land and tax records were created and they are seen as the administrative units of the State.

The Civil Parish boundaries generally followed those of the Church of Ireland parishes.

Ecclesiastical Parishes -

The Ecclesiastical or Church Parish.

Catholic and Church of Ireland records are recorded by parish, but these parishes will not correspond to each other.

Their names and the areas they encompass are not the same as those of civil parishes.


Civil Parishes

about 2,600 Civil Parishes

Antrim

Armagh

Carlow

Cavan

Clare

Cork

Donegal

Down

Dublin

Fermanagh

Galway

Kerry

Kildare

Kilkenny

Laois

Leitrim

Limerick

Londonderry

Longford

Louth

Mayo

Meath

Monaghan

Offaly

Roscommon

Sligo

Tipperary

Tyrone

Waterford

Westmeath

Wexford

Wicklow


about 64,000 Townlands

Irish Townlands - The townland is the smallest geographical unit in Ireland.


“If your ancestors were born, married or died before 1864, you can trace them using church records”

Ecclesiastical Parishes

Church of Ireland

Roman Catholic

Catholic Parishes 1848

The Diocese

- The Church of Ireland

2 Provinces with12 Dioceses -

The Province of Armagh consists of seven dioceses:

The Province of Dublin consists of five dioceses:


- The Roman Catholic Church

Roman Catholic:

In the 1830s Catholic parishes and records were re-organised and it’s possible to trace almost all Irish families back to this time.

  • Most catholic parish registers are microfilmed and are available in the National Library of Ireland.
  • Catholic registers of baptisms and marriages are held locally by the parish priest. Only a minority of catholic parishes ever kept burial registers.

26 Dioceses

4 Archdiocese

Armagh, Dublin, Cashel & Emly, Tuam

22 Dioceses

Achonry, Ardagh & Clonmacnois, Clogher, Clonfert, Cloyne, Cork & Ross, Derry, Down & Connor, Dromore, Elphin, Ferns, Galway, Kilmacduagh & Kilfenora, Kerry, Kildare & Leighlin, Killala, Killaloe, Kilmore, Limerick, Meath, Ossory, Raphoe, Waterford & Lismore

A Diocese is divided into deaneries


Diocese of Achonry

Diocese of Ardagh & Clonmacnois

Archdiocese of Armagh

Archdiocese of Cashel & Emly

Diocese of Clogher

Diocese of Clonfert

Diocese of Cloyne

Diocese of Cork and Ross

Diocese of Derry

Diocese of Down and Connor

Diocese of Dromore

Archdiocese of Dublin

Diocese of Elphin

Diocese of Ferns

Diocese of Galway KilmacduaghKilfenora

Diocese of Kerry

Diocese of Kildare and Leighlin

Diocese of Killala

Diocese of Killaloe

Diocese of Kilmore

Diocese of Limerick

Diocese of Meath

Diocese of Ossory

Diocese of Raphoe

Archdiocese of Tuam

Diocese of Waterford and Lismore

Parts of Mayo, Roscommon and Sligo

Most of Longford & Leitrim & parts of Cavan, Offaly, Roscommon, Sligo & Westmeath

Louth, most of Armagh and parts of Tyrone, Derry and Meath

Most of Tipperary and parts of Limerick

Monaghan, Most of Fermanagh and parts of Tyrone, Donegal, Louth and Cavan

Parts of Counties Galway, Offaly and Roscommon

Most of County Cork

Cork city and parts of County Cork

Most Derry, some parishes in Tyrone & Antrim & the Inishowen peninsula in Co Donegal

Most of Antrim and Down and part of Derry

Parts of Antrim, Armagh and Down

City of Dublin, most of County Dublin, Wicklow, parts of Carlow, Kildare, Laois & Wexford

Parts of Roscommon, Sligo, Westmeath and Galway

Most of Wexford and parts of Wicklow

Parts of Mayo, Galway and Clare

Most of Kerry and parts of Cork

Carlow, parts of Kidare, Laois, Offaly, Kilkenny, Wickow and Wexford

Parts of Mayo and Sligo

Parts of Clare, Laois, Limerick, Offaly and Tipperary

Most of Cavan, parts of Leitrim, Fermanagh, Meath and Sligo

Most of Limerick, parts of Clare and Kerry

Most of Meath, Westmeath and Offaly, and parts of Longford, Louth, Dublin and Cavan

Most of Kilkenny and parts of Laois and Offaly

Most of Donegal

Parts of Mayo, Galway and Roscommon

Waterford and parts of Tipperary and Cork


How to trace your Roots back to the 1830's or earlier. By Fiona FitzsimonsEneclann.

Roman Catholic:

In the 1830s Catholic parishes and records were re-organised and it’s possible to trace almost all Irish families back to this time.

  • Catholic registers of baptisms and marriages are held locally by the parish priest.
  • Only a minority of catholic parishes ever kept burial registers.
  • Most catholic parish registers are microfilmed up to 1880, and are available in the National Library of Ireland, Dublin City.
  • For a full list of parishes by diocese, see https://registers.nli.ie
  • If you want to trace a church record after 1880, you will have to apply directly to the parish.


Church of Ireland: aka Anglican Catholic Church, Episcopalian Church

The Church of Ireland was the State church up to 1869.

  • They kept burial registers for the parish.
  • Surviving parish registers usually start much earlier than RC parish registers, often in the 1700s, sometimes earlier.
  • 63% of all historic records of the Church of Ireland were destroyed in 1922.
  • Those parish records that survive are usually held in the local parish or in one of the national cultural institutions. (National Archives of Ireland, Representative Church Body Library, Public Records Office of Northern Ireland)
  • The most comprehensive list of what records survive, and where they can be accessed, is the Irish Family History Society’s guide to church of Ireland parish registers.

  • https://www.ireland.anglican.org/cmsfiles/pdf/AboutUs/library/registers/ParishRegisters/PARISHREGISTERS.pdf


Methodist Church:

Although there have been Methodists in Ireland since the 1740s, for the first 70 years Methodists usually had dual membership as both Methodists and also members of the parish church.

  • Between 1747 and 1818 all Methodist records were kept in the Church of Ireland parish registers.
  • Between 1818 and 1874 Wesleyan Methodists kept separate registers, most of which are available in the Public Records Office of Northern Ireland.
  • Primitive Methodist records were still maintained in the Church of Ireland registers as before.

  • http://methodisthistoryireland.org


Presbyterian:

Presbyterians have been present in Ireland from the 1600s.

  • The Public Records Office of Northern Ireland has collected and microfilmed almost all Presbyterian registers.
  • The majority of Presbyterian registers do not start before the 1800s.
  • www.proni.gov.uk/presbyterian_church_index.pdf
  • A small number of records are only available at the Presbyterian Historical Society, and some pre-1900 records are still held by the local congregation.
  • www.presbyterianhistoryireland.com/


Quaker:

The society of Friends have been present in Ireland since the 1650s

  • Their records are extensive but provide some coverage for non-quakers.

  • The archive and library are open to the public every Thursday, except for the Christmas holidays, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The archival volunteers are the friendliest and some of the most helpful in Ireland.

  • http://www.quakers-in-ireland.ie/historical-library/


Jewish:

Since 1660 there has been a Jewish community in Ireland, mainly in Dublin.

  • From 1880 pogroms in Eastern Europe led to further immigration into Ireland by Jewish refugees.

  • Jewish settlement in Ireland never went above 4000, many of whom emigrated in subsequent generations.

  • http://irishjewishroots.com/index.php?id=1797


Guides to PRONI Records

The online leaflet series below offers additional information on the different sources for studing your family and local history.
The ‘Your Family Tree’ and ‘Local History’ series’ are designed to assist both the beginner and the more experienced researcher. They cover the most popularly consulted archives, indicating their range and content and how they can be accessed.
Other series’ relate to emigration, historical topics and more general information.

Your Family Tree Series


Local History Series


Conflict-related Court and Inquest Records


Historical Topics Series


General Information Series



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