Discovery Series Irish Ordnance Survey Maps

Discovery Series
Irish Ordnance Survey Maps

Updated 21 Aug 2004

The following notes have been submitted to the Cork Mailing list by Amy, Anita and Jane Lyons.

[Maps for Ireland] [Maps for Co. Cork [Towns on Map # 80] [Where to Purchase Online]

The Discovery series OS maps are 1:50,000. They are quite detailed. I work with original OS series maps from the earlier surveys, the kind for which current versions can be purchased from the OS office in the Phoenix Park at a much higher price than these particualr maps, they do show a lot more detail but you don't need anything like this unless you have actually pinpointed the place you are interested in.

The discovery series maps, are, in general sufficient for the purpose of identifying location of townlands, the larger sized OS maps show you the outlines of townlands. The Disc. ser. show the locations of old churches, landmarks, graveyards, burial grounds, places of archaeological interest.and general topography of an area. They do not show houses or villages whcih no longer exist. They are not indexed..you have to sit down and go through them bit by bit.

There are in all 89 maps. These maps cost from four pounds and twenty pence to four pounds and fifty pence in shops here in Ireland and can be purchased at most book shops. Generally speaking it is only the larger shops in the cities which will carry all maps for teh country. Then in each county you will find shops which sell those for that county. In order to have maps which cover the whole of any county it is necessary to purchase a few maps. If you look through the numbers as I have them here you will be able to see those maps which straddle a number of counties. The numbers after each county represent the number of the OS map required for that county.

Maps for Ireland

Co. Antrim: 5, 9, 8, 14, 15
Co. Carlow: 61, 62, 68
Co. Cavan: 34, 35
Co. Clare: 63, 57, 58
Co. Cork: 84, 85, 81, 87, 86, 89, 88,79,72, 80, 73
Co. Donegal: 1, 2, 3, 6, 10, 11, 7, 12, 16
Co. Down: 15, 20, 21, 29
Co. Derry: 7, 4, 8, 13
Co. Dublin: 56, 50, 43,
Co. Fermanagh: 12, 17
Co. Galway: 46, 47, 52, 53,
Co. Kerry: 71, 84, 85, 78, 83, 79, 70,72, 63
Co. Kildare: 49, 50, 55, 56, 61
Co. Kilkenny: 60, 61, 67, 68, 75, 76
Co. Laois: 54, 55, 60, 61
Co. Leitrim: 16
Co. Limerick: 58, 65, 66, 73, 74, 72, 64
Co. Louth: 36, 43
Co. Meath 43, 42, 34, 35, 36
Co. Offaly: 47, 48, 49, 53, 54, 59
Co. Tipperary 59, 60, 66, 67, 53,58,65, 66, 67, 74, 75,
Co. Tyrone 7, 12, 13, 18, 19
Co. Waterford: 75, 76, 82
Co. Westmeath: 41, 42, 34, 48, 47
Co. Wexford: 69, 77, 68, 76, 77
Co. Wicklow 50, 61, 55, 56, 61, 62

As you can see from the above, there is a fair bit of overlap. Some of these maps only take in part of the county I have them listed for..a very small part. So, it is wisest to check with someone as to which maps cover the edges of a county so to speak before you go off and buy the whole lot.

The Irish Genealogical Society, Inc. is online with map descriptions at http://www.rootsweb.com/~irish/admin/maps.htm

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Maps for Co. Cork

Following is a list of the Discovery Series Ordanace Survey Maps pertaining to County Cork. These maps are compiled, printed and published by the Ordnance Survey, Phoenix Park, Dublin 8, Ireland. You should be able to find them in most larger bookstores, if they don't carry them, ask if they can get them. They are £4.50, about $6 US.

These maps are a rich source of information relevant to genealogical research. They map many of the smaller townland areas, churches, graveyards and other historically important sites.

Discovery Series Ordnance Survey Maps for County Cork:

# 72- N.W. Cork, includes Kanturk, also small part of Counties Kerry and Limerick.

# 73- Northern County Cork, includes Charleville, also small part of County Limerick.

# 74- includes very small N.E. part of County Cork, mostly county Tipperary and also part of County Waterford.

# 79- Middle, western part of County Cork, includes Macroom and part of County Kerry.

# 80- Center of County Cork, includes Mallow south to Cork City (northern part of Cork City only)

# 81- Eastern part of County Cork, includes Fermoy, also western part of County Waterford.

# 84-The Beara Pennisula, includes part of County Kerry.

# 85- Includes small part of County Kerry on the north, covers Bantry area, also Dunmanway.

# 86- Includes Bandon and just south to Clonakilty, covers area just west of, but DOES NOT include, Kinsale.

# 87- Covers S.E. County Cork, from Cork City south to Kinsale, includes part of Bandon and just east of Bandon.

# 88- Covers the extreme S.W. of County Cork, includes Skull (Schull), Balleydehob, Goleen and Mizen Head areas.

# 89- Covers middle, south County Cork, includes all of Clonakilty and Skibbereen.

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Towns on Map #80

Submitted by Anita

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Where to Purchase online

Where to purchase Irish Ordnance Survey Maps:

Elstead OS maps: Shows number you need for area

NetStore Australia trading as Open Media Pty Limited

Ordnance Survey Memoirs of Ireland from All Ireland Heritage

Ordnance Survey Ireland

Maps WorldWide Irish Ordnance survey maps

National Archives of Ireland Ordnance Survey: Searchable index

OS maps from OS office Ireland

Rallymap OS maps: £4.50 plus postage

Travel Genie - Detailed Maps of Ireland

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