Bring back the use of townlands in Ulster!

I received a wonderful email earlier today from a 79 year old reader of the UK's Family Tree magazine, who wanted to share with me her frustration over the declining use of townlands in Northern Ireland, thanks to the introduction of post codes in the 1970s. She summarises her frustration with the following example:

The one thing which was common in all (genealogy) searches was “the townland”.

Well, now in the Six Counties that’s gone. One road in particular, from Omagh to Gortin in Tyrone has been named Glenpark Road. But telling me someone lives at 38 Glenpark Road doesn’t mean a thing.

If you said they lived in Gortnagarn, Ergenagh, Carnoney etc I would know exactly where they were on that stretch of road and the parish registers would bring up the information required to connect various families with the same surname.

Now the Registers show only the stupid Royal Mail address.

What do you think the chances are of trying to educate people to include their townland in their “official” address?

On that question - what do you think are the chances of trying to educate folk into using townlands in addresses, it reminded me that a few years ago I read an article that suggested potential powers to bring back their use were on the cards at the Northern Irish Assembly, in a proposed bill to empower the new 'super councils' to adopt them.

The article in question was from the Belfast Telegraph of November 16th 2015, available at https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/names-of-ancient-townlands-could-be-revived-by-councils-under-new-proposal-34202930.html. It noted:

The 11 amalgamated 'super' councils may be given the option to revive townlands in their districts, 40 years after they were replaced with street addresses.

The Assembly will be urged to back new legislation, giving the local authorities powers to restore names like Ballyore, Crossnenagh, Carrickabolie and Derrynoose.

The move in a private member's bill comes after an Assembly debate in 2002 when parties united to demand greater promotion of ancient townlands.

I am unclear about what became of this subsequently - although I suspect the suspension of Stormont from January 2017 probably has a lot to do with the lack of any further developments.

Has there been any further moves on this front? And if not, doesn't it make complete sense to revive their use to some degree, particularly for ancestral tourism purposes?

I'd be interested to hear people's thoughts!

(With thanks to Mrs Brooks!)

Chris

Pre-order Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet (2nd ed) for just £11.99 at https://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/Tracing-Your-Irish-Family-History-on-the-Internet-Paperback/p/16483. Details of my genealogical research service are available at www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk. Further news published daily on The GENES Blog Facebook page, and on Twitter @genesblog.

1901 Irish townlands index online

The Irish Genealogical Research Society has launched a 1901 index to townlands, the smallest administrative unit in Ireland, in a database format. The work has been compiled by Australian historian Perry McIntyre and genealogist Terry Eakin over a two years period. From the press release:

The new database can be used to either locate a particular townland and the various land divisions it forms part of, or to identify the names of all townlands which fall into a given District Electoral Division or Civil Parish.

Helpful hyperlinks in the 'Search Hints & Tips' section also allow researchers to identify the locality on a set of maps dating from 1935 which denote the various land division boundaries. In addition, Ordnance Survey Map numbers are noted.

The full release is at http://www.irishancestors.ie/?p=5709 - to access the database directly, visit http://www.irishancestors.ie/search/townlands/index.php.

(With thanks to Steven Smyrl)

Chris

Now available for UK research is the new second edition of the best selling Tracing Your Family History on the Internet: A Guide for Family Historians, whilst my new book British and Irish Newspapers is also now out. And FindmyPast - please reinstate the original Scottish census citations on your new site.

Seanruad Townlands database moves to new site

Claire Santry is reporting on her Irish Genealogy News blog that the Seanruad townlands database has now moved to a new site - it can now be found at www.thecore.com/seanruad/.

Officially the IreAtlas Townland Database, the site is a useful workhorse for trying to identify which parishes townlands are located within, a townland being the smallest unit of administration on the island, sometimes just a couple of acres in size. The full story is at http://irish-genealogy-news.blogspot.co.uk/2013/07/seanruad-townland-database-has-moved.html

If your ancestors are from Northern Ireland, don't forget that PRONI also has a useful townlands and parishes facility at http://www.proni.gov.uk/index/local_history/geographical_index/townlands.htm, with maps of the parishes per each county and lists of townlands located within each.

(With thanks to Claire)

Chrius

My new book, Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet, is now available from Pen and Sword. My Scottish land and church records ebooks are available at http://www.gen-ebooks.com/unlock-the-past.html, whilst my next Pharos Scottish course, Scottish Research Online, starts Sep 4th - see http://pharostutors.com/details.php?coursenumber=102. Time to smash a few brick walls...!