This unique collection offers a rare insight into the life of an estate in east Cork during the mid-nineteenth century. The Standish Barry Estate Maps were donated to Cork County Library in 2001 by the family of the late Professor Dr Richard G. Barry.
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The Ponsonby family were members of the landed gentry. This branch of the Ponsonby family was descended from John Ponsonby (1713-1787) speaker of the House of Commons in the Irish Parliament and second son of Brabazon Ponsonby, 2nd Viscount Duncannon and 1st Earl of Bessborough.
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Cumann Seanchais na Banndan donated a map of Bandon town c. 1860s to Cork County Library in 2023. With support from Cork County Council and the Heritage Council, under the County Heritage Plan Funding, this map has now been digitised and a print of same was unveiled in Bandon Library to celebrate Heritage Week 2023.
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Cork County Council Library and Arts Service has acquired a rare and historically significant Ordnance Survey of Ireland map of the Lower Harbour of Cork. The map, which is based on the Ordnance Survey of 1897, was generously donated by Diarmuid Kilcullen the grandson of Cobh barrister Francis J Healy. It showcases Cobh town, the surrounding areas and Haulbowline Island and offers a unique glimpse into the strategic importance of the Lower Harbour over a century ago.
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Tailte Éireann is the official agency for mapping services in Ireland. The Ordnance Survey Maps are under their remit. To view historical OSI maps, please see the GeoHive map viewer on their website www.tailte.ie or click on the following link:
https://www.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=3ae19cc156bf4706a929304bf8fcc4f6
The Local Studies Library holds a limited number of first, second and third editions of OSI maps in hard copy. You are welcome to visit the library to view these maps, but due to copyright it is not possible to make copies.
We also have a collection of 19th century town maps of Mallow, Passage West, Queenstown (Cobh) and Youghal, County Cork. These maps are at a scale of ten feet to one mile, showing great detail in these towns. To view these maps, please click on the link below.
See more at the digital archive