Townlands, Parishes and Baronies - understanding land administrative divisions in Ireland

The townland, often with different and inconsistent spellings, is unique to Ireland and is a key feature of helping to tie down where your Irish ancestor came from. To confuse matters there are often townlands of the same name in different parts of the country, sometimes even in the same county. How do you know you have the right one and what does the name mean? There are civil parishes and ecclesiastical parishes, both Church of Ireland and Roman Catholic. What's the difference and how do you know how to identify them and pinpoint their location? Different record sets used different land administrative divisions that include Townlands, Parishes, Baronies, Poor Law Unions and District Electoral Divisions. Understanding these administrative divisions is essential for your Irish ancestor research.