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Archiver > NIR-ARMAGH > 1999-07 > 0932773052


From: Leo and Sarita Cannon <>
Subject: Re: [NIR-ARMAGH-L] need geography help!
Date: Fri, 23 Jul 1999 19:37:32 -0400


Dear Susan,

Yes place names can be confusing

The English superimosed their system or part of it upon the Irish. The
basic and probably most ancient boundaries were parishes. The English
pretty much kept those. Parishes of the Roman Catholic church are
different in some places from the English administrative Civil Parish
boundaries but close enough to be useful in most cases. Each parish has
with in its boundaries townlands. Sometimes it is difficult to determine
whether or not a name reference is to a parish or to a townland within some
parish.

The next most important boundary is the Barony. Sometimes Parishes
cross Barony lines. Baronies usually have quite a few parishes within their
boundaries.

There is an index to towns and townlands keyed to the 1851 Census.
Many townlands of the same name exist in Ireland so knowing the county is
helpful. For each townland the index shows the size in acres, the Ordnance
survey map sheet number(s), County, Barony, Civil Parish name, and Poor law
union in which the townland lies. For example part of Creggan parish,
Barony of the Fews, lies in Castlebalyney PLU and part in Dundalk PLU.
Poor law unions were established in the run up to the Famines. They were
centered about nearby market towns for taxation purposes and support of the
poor.

The index is available from the Genealogical publishing Co, of
Baltimore Maryland. Some Family History research centers have it in their
libraries.

Two important Census substitute records are organized by different
boundaries. The earlier Tithe Applotment records 1820s to1830s are
organized by townland within parish within Barony within County.
Griffith's Valuation Survey has an organization within Poorlaw union. These
multiple boundary situations are sometimes helpful in isolating which part
of a parish a townland lies, short of access to the maps.

An ancestor might say he is from Ballymote, County Sligo when his
mailing address may have been Ropefield, Ballynacarrow, Ballymote. He would
have been living in Ropefield Townland near to a more significan place like
Ballymote. When you go through the tax records you will discover named
townlands seemingly within Ballymote. Hope there is no important error in
what I have stated above and i hpe it helps you. Also you have to be alert
to the irish accent and sound alikes.

Regards... Leo J. Cannon

PhDoc wrote:

> I am quite confused about Irish terms.
>
> Are my correct in understanding, Armagh is a county in Northern Ireland
> in which there are many Parish districts and many voting districts and
> many towns?
>
> That the Parish and Voting Districts overlap with the towns and so one
> time someone might say "I am from County Armagh; Lurgaboy" And another
> time say "I am from County Armagh; Kilcooney" and another time say “I am
> from County Armagh; Cladymor" and then “I am from County Armagh,
> Cladybeg” and that is all the same place; just different ways of saying
> it?
>
> Thank you,
>
> Susan
>
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