Talk:Ireland Maps

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Introduction

Maps are an important source for locating where your ancestors lived. They can identify:

Places. Parishes. Jurisdictions. Churches. Cemeteries. Streets. Geographic features. Transportation routes. Distances.

Maps may be flat sheets, bound in atlases, or incorporated into gazetteers. This guide will tell you about the usefulness of maps and instruct you on how to find maps of Ireland. For more information about maps, see Background.

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What You Are Looking For

A map of the area of Ireland where your ancestors lived in order to:

Locate a place. Identify jurisdictions. Gain an understanding of the surrounding area.

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Steps

These 6 steps will help you find a map of Ireland for use in your research.

Step 1. Determine your map needs.

Different types of maps serve different purposes. You should determine what kind of map you need. Do you need to know:

Neighboring towns? Distance between places? Boundaries of a jurisdiction? Agricultural uses of the land? Geographic features such as mountains and rivers, mines, or migration routes?

Determine your map needs so you can find the right type of map.

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Step 2. Look on the Internet.

Sites on the Internet provide maps of Ireland. GENUKI, which stands for "Genealogy for the United Kingdom and Ireland," has links to maps of Ireland as well as specific counties or regions.

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Step 3. Visit a library near you, and look in the library catalog.

You will probably not find maps on the Internet to fill all of your needs. You could also visit a library. Any library near your home may have maps of Ireland. It may be a public, university, or genealogical society library. The larger the library, the larger and more varied will be their map collection. Look in the library's catalog for a list of maps, atlases, or gazetteers for Ireland.

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Step 4. Search the Family History Library Catalog.

You may search the Family History Library Catalog for maps of Ireland. Go to What to Do Next, select the catalog, and look for maps for Ireland, a county, or a specific town or city. When looking at the catalog entry for a map, make note of the library call number, and be sure to find out if it is also available in microform.

Maps within books, such as local histories, are not normally listed in the Family History Library Catalog. Many of these maps are listed in Rural and City Maps.

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Step 5. Obtain a copy of a map.

You can obtain a copy of a map in one of the following ways:

Personally visit the Family History Library or another library, and use the library call number to find a copy of a map.

If you cannot personally visit a library, you may be able to have a map copied for you. Contact the library and inquire about their photocopy services. The Family History Library also offers photocopy services. You should complete a Request For Photocopies form, which is available at Family History Centers. Include the library call number for the map, and mail it to the library with payment.

If the map is available on film or fiche at the Family History Library, you may visit a Family History Center and order a copy of the film or fiche to be sent to the center for a small fee.

You may purchase a map to help you in your research. Maps should be available at bookstores and other similar outlets near you, or you can purchase maps directly from the Ordnance Survey offices in Dublin, Ireland, or Belfast, Northern Ireland.

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Step 6. Cite your sources.

Be sure to cite the source of your map. When you cite your source, you document the map. If you should ever need to find the source of the map again, your documentation will show you where to find it. If others should consult your research, they will also see where to find the source of the map.

Cite your source on a research log, and include the library call number or Internet site address. Your research log will serve as a guide to your research. When making photocopies of maps, also cite the source on the copy.