Take a closer look

Field notes

A few practical guides to reading the landscape, finding a place and following a family connection.

What’s in an Irish place name?

Read Irish forms and English spellings with care, and understand what a name element can tell you.

Turn a name into a location by checking its county, parish and neighbouring places.

Use a well-identified place to connect family records, without losing the historical context.

A parish name can belong to more than one geography. Identify the kind of area before choosing a record collection.

Use spelling differences as evidence to investigate, while keeping the original document and a modern place record separate.