Search Ireland, Maps and Surveys 1558-1610

In this collection, Findmypast have digitised the early Irish maps from The National Archives series ‘State Papers Ireland’. The maps were created during the reign of Elizabeth I and James I. They assisted the English in the plantation of Ireland, a time when the English crown confiscated Irish lands and redistributed the land to English planters or settlers. Most of the land confiscated had belonged to Gaelic leaders in Munster and Ulster.

The maps are beautifully decorated and were used to inform the settlers of the locations of rivers, bogs, fortifications, harbours, etc. In some illustrations, you will find drawings of wildlife and even sea monsters. Around the harbours, the cartographers took the time to draw meticulously detailed ships with cannons and sailors. Many of the maps also detailed the names of the numerous Gaelic clans and the lands they owned, for example, O’Hanlan in Armagh, O’Neill in Tyrone, O’Connor in Roscommon, etc.

At this time, map making was in its early stages as a profession, and they had not established the standards that we use today. For example, in many of the maps, North is not always at the top. Use the rotation option on the image to spin it around so you can have North at the top.

Map making was a dangerous career during this period. The cartographers were exploring hostile foreign territory. One of the creators of these maps, Richard Bartlett, was beheaded in Tyrconnell, Donegal, by the natives who were resisting the English plantation and did not want the English government to own maps of their lands.

Names of maps

We have included a full list of the maps you will find in Ireland, maps and surveys 1558-1610.

Athenry, County Galway

Banagher, County Offaly

Bantry Bay, County Cork & County Kerry

Barony of Armagh, County Armagh

Barony of Castlerahan, County Cavan

Barony of Clanawley, County Fermanagh

Barony of Clankee, County Cavan

Barony of Clankelly, County Fermanagh

Barony of Clanmahon, County Cavan

Barony of Clogher, County Tyrone

Barony of Fews, County Armagh

Barony of Idrone, County Carlow

Barony of Loughtee, County Cavan

Barony of Lurg, County Fermanagh

Barony of Magheraboy, County Fermanagh

Barony of Magherastephana, County Fermanagh

Barony of Omagh, County Tyrone

Barony of Orior, County Armagh

Barony of Tiranny, County Armagh

Barony of Tullygarvey, County Cavan

Barony of Tullyhaw, County Cavan

Barony of Tullyhunco, County Cavan

Belfast Lough

Blackwatertown, County Armagh

Carrickfergus, County Antrim

Castlemaine, County Kerry

County Limerick

County Mayo from Killala Bay to Inishbofin Island

County Mayo & County Sligo

County Monaghan

County Sligo & County Leitrim

County Wicklow & County Ferns (Parts of the modern counties of Wexford, Wicklow, Carlow & Dublin)

Coast of County Antrim

Coast of County Down from Lough Strangford to Carlingford

Coast of Ireland from Carrickfergus to Dundrum Bay

Coast of Ireland from Dublin to Carrickfergus

Coast of Munster from Kinsale & Dingle

Corkbeg Fort, County Cork

Enniskillen, County Fermanagh

Ireland

Kinsale, County Cork

Limerick, County Limerick

Lough Erne, County Fermanagh

Lough Neagh, County Antrim

Newry Castle, County Down

Newry, County Down

North-East Ulster

North-West Coast of Ulster

Part of Barony of Dungannon, County Tyrone

Part of Barony of Knockninny, County Fermanagh

Part of Barony of Loghinisholin, County Londonderry

Part of Barony of Oneilland, County Armagh

Part of Barony of Strabane, County Tyrone

Portrush, County Antrim

Province of Munster

Province of Munster (Except County Clare)

Province of Ulster

Roscommon, County Roscommon

Smerwick Harbour, County Kerry

Southern Ulster