The townland is a peculiarly Irish feature and is one of the most ancient divisions in the country, existing long before parishes and counties were established.

In the excellent book Researching Armagh Ancestors by Ian Maxwell (published by the Ulster Historical Foundation  ISBN    0-901905-89-5) he lists over 1000 standardised townland names which were given to these areas during the Ordinance Survey of the 1830s and another five and a half pages of unofficial placenames and this in County Armagh alone!

The smallest townland is one acre and the largest 7000 acres but while very variable and very Irish they are an indispensable element in tracing family history in Ireland.