About Baronies
A barony is a historical division of land. Baronies are normally subdivisions of counties. The names and boundaries of Ireland's baronies were defined hundreds of years ago. Very often, the boundaries of baronies correspond to how territory was divided up between Irish clans prior to the Norman invasion of Ireland.
Baronies were used for administrative purposes from medieval times until the late 1890s. Because of this, you will find references to baronies when you are researching the history of places.
Baronies were used for administrative purposes from medieval times until the late 1890s. Because of this, you will find references to baronies when you are researching the history of places.
Baronies of Co. Limerick
This map was created in the 1990s and shows Co. Limerick divided into its fourteen baronies.
© Limerick County Council.Baronies of Co. Limerick
© Limerick County Council.
© Limerick County Council.
Baronies of Co. Limerick
This map was created in the 1990s and shows Co. Limerick divided into its fourteen baronies.
© Limerick County Council.Limerick Baronies
There are fourteen baronies in Limerick, including Limerick city.
Click on the image to see a map of the county divided into its baronies.
Make a list of the names of the different baronies.
ICON: Baronies of Co. Limerick
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ICON: Baronies of Co. Limerick
ICON: Baronies of Co. Limerick
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This map shows how Limerick was divided in the mid-seventeenth century. Look closely and you will see that there were fewer baronies at this time than in the modern map above. It shows how, over time, borders and boundaries change. In this map, there is one very large barony, Connello, in the west of the county. In the modern map, four baronies occupy this area.
Can you think of any good reasons why Connello might have reduced in size?
You probably know the name of the province, county and town where your school is located but do you know which barony it is in? Time to put your research skills to work.
Irish Tourist Association Survey, 1943-1944
When the Irish Tourist Association carried out a survey in the 1940s of interesting buildings and monuments in Ireland, its findings were grouped by barony. Click here to see some of what they found in each of Limerick's baronies.
To read more about the 1940s survey and see some of the black-and-white photos that were taken of the artefacts in Limerick at the time, click here. It can be interesting to compare and contrast the photos with how the same monuments appear today.
To read more about the 1940s survey and see some of the black-and-white photos that were taken of the artefacts in Limerick at the time, click here. It can be interesting to compare and contrast the photos with how the same monuments appear today.