Irish Places can be very confusing, mainly because a name can appear as several different entities. Before getting to this you need to be aware of the structure of places, names and regions in Ireland. For the purposes of this Ireland means the Island of Ireland.

Ireland Places Structure

The Provinces

 

Leinster

Ulster

Connacht

Munster

The Provinces, or the four green fields, are still recognised regions within the State of Ireland. They serve no particular administrative function. In Irish these are cúige, literally meaning “fifth part”, as there was An Mhi (Meath) which was incorporated into Leinster and Ulster. Provinces are particularly important in sports and recreation.

The Counties

The 26 counties of Ireland in the Republic, and the 6 counties in Northern Ireland are the primary administrative regions of the Republic of Ireland but are largely defunct in Northern Ireland from the administration point of view. They are still important from the viewpoint of genealogy.

The Baronies

Each county has one of more Baronies which are for the most part are defunct cadastral 1A cadastre is a comprehensive land recording of the real estate or real property’s metes-and-bounds of a country. is a comprehensive land recording of the real estate or real property’s metes-and-bounds of a country. rather than administrative units and which still are used in house deeds in particular in relation to mineral rights, i.e. in the determination of land parcels.

The Civil Parishes

These are units of territory or land divisions. An 1871 report to parliament noted that there were three classes of parish in Ireland: the civil parish, the Church of Ireland parish and the Roman Catholic parish. The first two generally but not always had the same boundaries, while the third generally did not.2Civil parishes in Ireland – Relationship to ecclesiastical parishes Larger towns may be contained in one or more civil parishes.

The Townlands

A small geographical area of land of which there are over 61,000 in Ireland. Villages are to be found in townlands and townlands are the units of the civil parish. Towns may be wholly contained in a townland or may have two or more townland components. The City of Dublin has no townlands.

The Area Of A Townland

The basic unit of area was the tir-cumaile, “land of three cows”, as it was an area of land that was at some point worth three cows. It is sometimes erroneously interpreted as the area needed to graze three cows, but it is far too large for that; in modern Ireland, a cow grazes on about 0.4 ha, so twenty or more could graze a tir-cumaile. Ireland in total covered about 870,000 tir-cumaile. (Source: Old Irish Units of Area)

Table of Area Units
UnitMeaningRelative Value[[SI Value]]Imperial ValueNotes
tir-cumaileland of three cowsn/a9.3 ha23 acres72 square forraigh
acharacre1Adopted following Norman invasions.
seisrechplough-land120
bailea townland1,440The term "townland" is still used to designate small named areas in the countryside.
tuath4,320Originally a term for a petty kingdom.

From the link referred to (see ploughland above) we also get this (approximate) set of measures

  • 10 acres – 1 Gneeve
  • 2 Gneeves – 1 Sessiagh
  • 3 Sessiaghs – 1 Tate or Ballyboe
  • 2 Ballyboes – 1 Ploughland, Seisreagh or Carrow
  • 4 Ploughlands – 1 Ballybetagh, or Townland
  • 30 Ballybetaghs – Triocha Céad or Barony.

Parishes (Ecclesiastical)

There are 2 type of ecclesiastical parish, Roman Catholic and Church Of Ireland. The Church of Ireland parish generally matches the civil parish but the RC ones do not.

Poor Law Unions

These are administrative units for the distribution of poor relief. They were named after the town on which they are centred and bear no relationship to civil parishes or townlands and may cross the borders of each. Poor law unions and rural districts were abolished in 1925. They tend to serve as a reminder of destitution and can be sensitive subject in Ireland, especially amongst the older folk.

Registration Districts

In addition to these there are the Registration districts which generally comprise one or more parts of the above poor law union units. For more information see “How to identify your ancestor’s local district” and in particular the useful tool “Registration District Map Browse by Shane Wilson.

The District Electoral District

District Electoral Districts (DEDs) are subdivisions of Poor Law Unions and consist of a number of townlands. The 1901 and 1911 Irish Census records allow you to search by Electoral District. Censuses prior to 1901, which are few and far between, were based on the baronies.

How Do People Refer To A Place?

Many folk will, both past and present, refer to their place of origin or habitation by either the townland or the town, and rather more infrequently by the civil parish.

Let us assume that I live in Ireland. If I were to say I live ‘above’ Bohola then I mean the village or population centre but not the civil parish. If I more likely were to say I live ‘in’ Carroward (means high quarter – or a ploughland) then I am referring to the townland. It would be unusual for me to refer to the population centre in which I live as that is probably just a few houses. It has a name but that is not used except rarely and only within the Carroward townland. It is pretty much meaningless outside the townland.

So generally the place a person lived/lives will be referred to by the townland, or for the townies by the name of the town. Of course also the county name is used as in “I come from Mayo”

Assuming the name to be a townland is a good place to start.

For examples of how place names have come about see place names in Ireland on Wikipedia.

See also the huge list of places in the Republic of Ireland on Wikipedia and the similar list for Northern Ireland

Multiple Names

A good example of multiple names is Carrowkeel. There are about 60 instances of Carrowkeel in Ireland.

County Clare (6)

  1. Carrowkeel (An Cheathrú Chaol) , Kilfarboy Civil Parish, Barony of Ibrickan, Co. Clare
  2. Carrowkeel Beg (An Cheathrú Chaol Bheag) , Inchicronan Civil Parish, Barony of Bunratty Upper, Co. Clare
  3. Carrowkeel East (An Cheathrú Chaol Thoir) , Inagh Civil Parish, Barony of Inchiquin, Co. Clare
  4. Carrowkeel More (An Cheathrú Chaol Mhór) , Inchicronan Civil Parish, Barony of Bunratty Upper, Co. Clare
  5. Carrowkeel West (An Cheathrú Chaol Thiar) , Inagh Civil Parish, Barony of Inchiquin, Co. Clare
  6. Carrowkeel, Kilshanny Civil Parish, Barony of Corcomroe, Co. Clare

County Donegal (3)

  1. Carrowkeel (An Cheathrú Chaol) , Moville Upper Civil Parish, Barony of Inishowen East, Co. Donegal
  2. Carrowkeel Glebe, Clondavaddog Civil Parish, Barony of Kilmacrenan, Co. Donegal
  3. Carrowkeel (An Cheathrú Chaol) , Tullyfern Civil Parish, Barony of Kilmacrenan, Co. Donegal

County Fermanagh (2)

  1. Carrowkeel, Belleek Civil Parish, Barony of Lurg, Co. Fermanagh
  2. Carrowkeel, Enniskillen Civil Parish, Barony of Tirkennedy, Co. Fermanagh

County Galway (7)

  1. Carrowkeel (An Cheathrú Chaol) , Clontuskert Civil Parish, Barony of Clonmacnowen, Co. Galway
  2. Carrowkeel (An Cheathrú Chaol) , Leitrim Civil Parish, Barony of Leitrim, Co. Galway
  3. Carrowkeel (An Cheathrú Chaol) , Kiltullagh Civil Parish, Barony of Athenry, Co. Galway
  4. Carrowkeel (An Cheathrú Chaol) , Cong Civil Parish, Barony of Ross, Co. Galway
  5. Carrowkeel, Moylough Civil Parish, Barony of Tiaquin, Co. Galway
  6. Carrowkeel, Dunmore Civil Parish, Barony of Ballymoe, Co. Galway
  7. Carrowkeel (An Cheathrú Chaol) , Oranmore Civil Parish, Barony of Dunkellin, Co. Galway

County Leitrim (1)

  1. Carrowkeel, Rossinver Civil Parish, Barony of Rosclogher, Co. Leitrim

County Limerick (1)

  1. Carrowkeel, Barony of Clanwilliam, Co. Limerick

County Mayo (17)

  1. Carrowkeel (An Cheathrú Chaol) , Addergoole Civil Parish, Barony of Tirawley, Co. Mayo
  2. Carrowkeel (An Cheathrú Chaol) , Aghagower Civil Parish, Barony of Burrishoole, Co. Mayo
  3. Carrowkeel (An Cheathrú Chaol) , Bohola Civil Parish, Barony of Gallen, Co. Mayo
  4. Carrowkeel (An Cheathrú Chaol) , Burriscarra Civil Parish, Barony of Carra, Co. Mayo
  5. Carrowkeel (An Cheathrú Chaol) , Burrishoole Civil Parish, Barony of Burrishoole, Co. Mayo
  6. Carrowkeel (An Cheathrú Chaol) , Crossmolina Civil Parish, Barony of Tirawley, Co. Mayo
  7. Carrowkeel (An Cheathrú Chaol) , Kilcommon Civil Parish, Barony of Erris, Co. Mayo
  8. Carrowkeel (An Cheathrú Chaol) , Kilmolara Civil Parish, Barony of Kilmaine, Co. Mayo
  9. Carrowkeel (An Cheathrú Chaol) , Manulla Civil Parish, Barony of Carra, Co. Mayo
  10. Carrowkeel (An Cheathrú Chaol) , Oughaval Civil Parish, Barony of Murrisk, Co. Mayo
  11. Carrowkeel (An Cheathrú Chaol) , Rathreagh Civil Parish, Barony of Tirawley, Co. Mayo
  12. Carrowkeel (An Cheathrú Chaol) , Tagheen Civil Parish, Barony of Clanmorris, Co. Mayo
  13. Carrowkeel (An Cheathrú Chaol) , Turlough Civil Parish, Barony of Carra, Co. Mayo
  14. Carrowkeel East (An Cheathrú Chaol Thoir) , Annagh Civil Parish, Barony of Costello, Co. Mayo
  15. Carrowkeel North (An Cheathrú Chaol Thuaidh) , Kilcommon Civil Parish, Barony of Kilmaine, Co. Mayo
  16. Carrowkeel South (An Cheathrú Chaol Theas) , Kilcommon Civil Parish, Barony of Kilmaine, Co. Mayo
  17. Carrowkeel West (An Cheathrú Chaol Thiar) , Annagh Civil Parish, Barony of Costello, Co. Mayo

County Monaghan (1)

  1. Carrowkeel (An Cheathrú Chaol) , Tehallan Civil Parish, Barony of Monaghan, Co. Monaghan

County Offaly (1)

  1. Carrowkeel (An Cheathrú Chaol) , Clonmacnoise Civil Parish, Barony of Garrycastle, Co. Offaly

County Roscommon (12)

  1. Carrowkeel Upper, Clooncraff Civil Parish, Barony of Roscommon, Co. Roscommon
  2. Carrowkeel, Baslick Civil Parish, Barony of Castlereagh, Co. Roscommon
  3. Carrowkeel, Clooncraff Civil Parish, Barony of Roscommon, Co. Roscommon
  4. Carrowkeel, Dunamon Civil Parish, Co. Roscommon
  5. Carrowkeel, Estersnow Civil Parish, Barony of Boyle, Co. Roscommon
  6. Carrowkeel, Fuerty Civil Parish, Co. Roscommon
  7. Carrowkeel, Kilbride Civil Parish, Barony of Ballintober South, Co. Roscommon
  8. Carrowkeel, Kilkeevin Civil Parish, Barony of Castlereagh, Co. Roscommon
  9. Carrowkeel, Kilmnamanagh Civil Parish, Barony of Frenchpark, Co. Roscommon
  10. Carrowkeel, Ogulla Civil Parish, Barony of Roscommon, Co. Roscommon
  11. Carrowkeel, Rahara Civil Parish, Barony of Athlone, Co. Roscommon
  12. Carrowkeel, Taghboy Civil Parish, Barony of Athlone, Co. Roscommon

County Sligo (8)

  1. Carrowkeel (An Cheathrú Chaol) , Achonry Civil Parish, Barony of Leyny, Co. Sligo
  2. Carrowkeel (An Cheathrú Chaol) , Aghanagh Civil Parish, Barony of Tirerrill, Co. Sligo
  3. Carrowkeel (An Cheathrú Chaol) , Ballynakill Civil Parish, Barony of Tirerrill, Co. Sligo
  4. Carrowkeel (An Cheathrú Chaol) , Dromard Civil Parish, Barony of Tireragh, Co. Sligo
  5. Carrowkeel (An Cheathrú Chaol) , Emlaghfad Civil Parish, Barony of Corran, Co. Sligo
  6. Carrowkeel (An Cheathrú Chaol) , Kilmacowen Civil Parish, Barony of Carbury, Co. Sligo
  7. Carrowkeel (An Cheathrú Chaol) , Tawnagh Civil Parish, Barony of Tirerrill, Co. Sligo
  8. Carrowkeel, Kilmacumsy Civil Parish, Barony of Frenchpark, Co. Roscommon

A county with a single instance is not a problem but where for example in Mayo there are 17 with Carrowkeel in the name of which 13 are simply Carrowkeel, it becomes necessary to further distinguish the Townland by the Civil Parish in which it resides.

When looking for a relative you will find the structure of the categories on WikiTree as follows:

Townland > Civil Parish > County

Thus taking the Carrowkeels in County Clare the categories would be:

  • Carrowkeel Townland, Kilfarboy Parish, County Clare
  • Carrowkeel Beg Townland, Inchicronan Parish, County Clare
  • Carrowkeel East Townland, Inagh Parish, County Clare
  • Carrowkeel More Townland, Inchicronan Parish, County Clare
  • Carrowkeel West Townland, Inagh Parish, County Clare
  • Carrowkeel Townland, Kilshanny Parish, County Clare

Note that the two identically named Carrowkeels in bold are now easily distinguishable.

Note also that Carrowkeel (narrow quarter – referring to the land unit) is also a village in County Mayo and in County Galway and possibly County Donegal (more usually Kerrykeel). The category for those would be Carrowkeel, County Mayo and Carrowkeel, County Galway and Carrowkeel, County Donegal – the absence of the words Townland or Parish indicating that it is a place.

Sources

References