Townlands -Baile Fearainn

Townlands of The Civil Parish of Moycullen

Geography of Moycullen  - The Civil Parish of Moycullen stretches from Loch Corrib to the coast of Galway Bay. The smaller Roman Catholic Parish stretches from Loch Corrib to Knock and Knockarasser Townlands. There are seventy-six known townlands in the Civil Parish and fifty-nine townlands in the RC Parish.

What Is a Townland?  The Townland is the smallest and most ancient land division in Ireland, unique to the island and deeply embedded in its geography, history, and culture. There are over c61,000 townlands across the thirty-two counties of Ireland. Townlands range from an acre to thousands of acres.

Townlands in Irish Records - The Griffith's Valuation (1847–1864), a detailed land valuation, relied on townlands for its structure. It cemented their use in property records, censuses, and tax collection, making them vital to local administration.

Cultural Importance Today - Townlands continue to be used in postal addresses, land ownership, electoral districts, and cultural identity. Rural people still strongly identify with their townland. The term Village is often used instead of Townland to this day. This may be due to translation from the Gaelic ‘Baile.’

Origins of Townland Names - Most townland names are derived from Irish Gaelic, reflecting local geography, history, families, or legends (e.g., "Drumlin" – ridge, "Bally" – town or homestead).

The Moycullen Heritage Townlands Project

How to Get Involved - Moycullen Heritage is currently documenting details of the Townlands in Moycullen Civil Parish. You are welcome to assist us with this project, by sharing placenames, folklore, photos, and local stories. Just email us at [email protected]