The Down Survey of Ireland 1656 - 1658

This is an amazing site ... for those of us researching Ireland.

"Ireland in the 1650s lay in ruins. Twelve years of calamitous warfare had destroyed the country's infrastructure and resulted in the death of over 20% of the Irish population."

"Taken in the years 1656-1658, the Down Survey of Ireland is the first ever detailed land survey on a national scale anywhere in the world. The survey sought to measure all the land to be forfeited by the Catholic Irish in order to facilitate its redistribution to Merchant Adventurers and English soldiers."

The maps survived, have been digitized and made available FREE http://downsurvey.tcd.ie/index.html. VERY COOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



Cheers,
Pat