What part do Civil Parish Records play in searching for your Irish family roots?

When doing Irish family and genealogical research many people focus on Ecclesiastical or Church Parishes. However knowledge of the Civil Parish is essential if you are to be successful in uncovering land, property and tax records for your ancestors. As the Church of Ireland was the Established or State Church up to 1870 those parish boundaries were utilised by the government agencies in compiling land, property, tax and other civil registers. By and large you will find that Civil Parish boundaries followed those of the Church of Ireland parishes. Some Roman Catholic parishes were reasonably similar to their Church of Ireland counterparts, but in many areas around Clonakilty in West Cork this was more the exception than the rule.

As part of any family research an examination of the Tithe Applotment Books (1823-37) and Griffiths Primary Valuation (1848-64) will be critical to the success of your research. As these records were compiled and recorded using the Civil Parish boundaries, a working knowledge of those parish boundaries within the region of the research will be most beneficial. To assist those who may be interested in embarking on such a worthwhile project in the Clonakilty area of West Cork, we have provided a guide below of the townlands and their respective Civil Parishes. There are 238 Civil Parishes in Cork County and this contains the results for 13 of those within a ten mile radius of Clonakilty. You should be aware that some townlands will overlap into a second parish and you also have townlands, like Courleigh North and Courleigh South, in the parish of Kilkerranmore, which are miles apart. Spelling to needs special attention and the researcher may have to use a few versions before achieving the desired result. The reader will note that many of the townlands are spelt differently today than what is provided in this guide. The golden rule of starting with a broad search and narrowing it as you go along very much applies to searching Civil Parish Records. Happy Browsing:

Castleventry

Ahagilla, Bohona, Castleventry, Calsharusheen, Coolcrahen, Coolnagay, Derrybaun, Foxhall, Inchinattin, Killeigh, Knockatowig,, Knockfeen, Knocks, Maulvirane, Sarue

Desert

Asgrove, Curraghgrane Beg, Curraghgrane More, Desert, Gallanes, Scartagh

Island

Ahidelake, Caherlarhig, Drombeg, Duneen, Dunmore, Lonagh, Muckross, Rineen

Kilgarriff

Aghamilla, Capeen, Carhoo, Cashilisky, Inchidoney Island, Island Strand Intake, Kilbree, Kilgarriff, Lackenagobiland, Tawnies Lower, Tawnies Upper, Maulnaskeny, Miles, Templebryan North, Templebryan South, Reenroe, Youghals

Kilkerranmore

Ballyvackey, Ballyduvane, Bealad East, Bealad West, Camus, Creagh Beg, Creagh More, Clashraggy, Cloheen Strand Intake, Clonlea, Knockanoran, Knocks, Coorleigh North, Coorleigh South, Curragh, Derryduff, Woodfield, Tullyneasky East, Tullyeasky West, Garralacka, Greenfield, Garranegoleen, Gortnagearagh, Gortnasarty, Kilruane, Little Island, Maulycorcoran

Kilmeen

Ballingurteen, Ballinvard, Caher, Caherkirky, Clooncorban, Coolnaconarty, Derreen, Derryvreen, Farlehanes, Gearagh, Glebe, Gortnadihy, Kildee, Kilmeen, Knockwaddra, Knockea, Knockskagh, Letter, Liscubba, Lisnabrinny, Lisroe, Milleennagun, Rossmore, Sleveen, Tullyglass

Kilnagross

Ballymacowen, Ballinoroher, Beanhill North, Beanhill South, Carhoogarriff, Carriganookery, Crohane, Crohane (Bandon), Dromgarriff East, Dromgarriff West, Garraneard, Garraneishal, Grillagh, Lackanalooha, Lisselane, Maulnagearagh,

Rathbarry

Ahaglasin, Ballylibert, Caherbeg, Camus, Carrigfadeen, Carrigroe, Castlefreke, Castlefreke Island, Castlefreke Warren, Dundeady, Dunoure, Ganniv Beg, Ganniv More, Gortagrenane, Kilkeran, Knocknagappul, Knocknaphonry, Lisduff, Little Island, Maulathrahane, Milltown

Lislee

Agha, Ardcoohig, Ballinvrokig, Butlerstown, Ballincollip, Ballincurrig, Ballylangy, Ballinluig, Ballycardeen, Ballycullenane, Ballyhigeen, Ballyhutch, Ballylangy, Ballymacraheen, Ballymacredmond, Ballymacshoneen, Ballynamona, Barreragh, Carrigeen, Knockanemeleen, Courtmacsherry, Cullenagh, Lisleecourt, Curraheen, Dunworly, Kilsillagh, Lackarour, Lissycrimeen, Meelmane, Shanaghobarravane, Lisleetemple, Ternanean

Ross

Ardagh West, Ardagh East, Ballinaclogh, Ballyhoulahan, Ballyvireen, Barleyhill East, Barley West, Benduff, Bohonagh, Burgatia, Cahermore, Carrigagrenane, Carrigfadda, Keamnabricka, Killeenleagh, Knocknageehy, Creggane, Curraheen, Derry, Downeen, English Island, Farrancounter, Froe, Freahanes, Gallane,

Garrane, Garranecore, Glanbrack, Rouryglen, Lissard, Maul, Maulatanvally, Maulyregan, Reanascreena North, Reanascreena South, Reavilleen, Tinneel, Tralong, Tulligee,

Templeomalus

Arundelmills, Ballintemple, Ballymacwillim East, Ballymacwilliam South, Ballymacwilliam West, Councambeg, Cruary East, Cruary West, Farran, Lackenduff, South Ring

Templequinlan

Ballinglanna, Rocksavage, Maulmore, Trieneens

Timoleague

Ardmore, Ballincourcey, Barryshall, Carhoo, Castle Lower, Castle Upper, Cloghgriffin, Cooligboy, Killavrrig, Lettercollum, Maulmacredmond, Timoleague, Ummera