Understanding Townlands in Ireland

A townland is a small geographical division of land used in Ireland, particularly in rural areas. It is similar to a civil parish, but is smaller and more localized. Townlands are typically made up of a group of farms or houses that share common boundaries and are often centered around a village or hamlet. Each townland has its own unique identity and may have its own local government, school, church, and other community facilities.

In Ireland, the Ordnance Survey Ireland (OSI) is responsible for maintaining a database of all townlands in the country. The OSI defines a townland as "a small geographical division of land, usually consisting of one or more farms or groups of houses, and often centered on a village or hamlet." The OSI also notes that townlands are not always identical to civil parishes, and may be divided into smaller units such as townland electoral divisions.

Townlands have been used in Ireland for centuries as a way of organizing and managing land and local government. They are an important part of the country's geography and heritage, and are often used as a basis for local identity and community organization.