Between 1837 and 1846 Ordnance Survey Ireland completed the first ever large-scale survey of an entire country. Every road and track, every stone wall and hedge, every river and stream from Fair Head to Mizen Head and from Howth Head to Slyne Head was survey and mapped with a level of precision never seen before. This work also involved research into and standardisation of geographical names, the vast majority of which are Anglicizations of original names in the Irish language.
The new Historical Mapping Service gives on-line access to these highly detailed pre and post-Famine maps of Ireland from the mid 1800s. When completed in the near future it will cover the period right up to 1913. These maps can be viewed on-line, selected sections can be downloaded and full maps ordered – all at the click of a mouse at Ireland's Historical Mapping Archive.
Ordnance Survey Ireland's achievement, however, is far more than making these early maps available commercially on the web. They have been captured digitally and search facilities will help genealogists and others to find exactly what they are looking for, whether it be a parish or a townland.
To celebrate the completion of the project and to ensure that interested Americans know exactly what is now available, Ordnance Survey Ireland is launching the new service at the FGS 2006 Boston – 30th to 3rd of September.