List of Irish local government areas 1898–1921 facts for kids
The way local government worked in Ireland, which was then part of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, changed a lot in 1899. This happened because of a new law called the Local Government (Ireland) Act 1898. This new system divided Ireland into different types of areas to help manage things locally.
The main types of areas were:
- Administrative counties: These were like the big regions.
- County boroughs: These were major cities that managed themselves, almost like mini-counties.
Inside the administrative counties, there were smaller areas:
- Municipal boroughs: These were towns with their own local councils, following an older law from 1840.
- Urban districts: These were smaller towns or built-up areas with their own councils.
- Rural districts: These covered the countryside and smaller villages.
Some counties only had rural districts, meaning they didn't have any municipal boroughs or urban districts. Also, some small towns within rural districts had "town commissioners" who had limited powers to help manage local services.
Contents
What Were County Boroughs?
County boroughs were important cities that had their own special local governments. They were separate from the administrative counties around them. This meant they had more control over their own affairs.
Here are the main county boroughs and some of their local areas:
| Name of County Borough | Important Local Areas | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Belfast | Cromac, Duncairn, Falls, Ormeau, Pottinger, St. Anne's, Shankill, Victoria, and Woodvale | |
| Cork | Centre, North-East, North-West No. 1, North-West No. 2, North-West No. 3, South No. 1, and South No. 2 | |
| Dublin | Dublin No. 1 to Dublin No. 10 | This city grew bigger in 1900, taking in three urban districts from County Dublin. |
| Limerick | Limerick No. 1 to Limerick No. 5 | |
| Londonderry | East and South, North, Waterside, and West | This city is also often called Derry. |
| Waterford | Waterford No. 1 to Waterford No. 5 |
How Were Administrative Counties Organized?
Administrative counties were the larger regions that covered most of Ireland. Inside these counties, there were different types of smaller areas, each with its own local council or group of commissioners. These included urban districts (for towns) and rural districts (for the countryside).
Let's look at a few examples of how these counties were set up:
County Antrim's Local Areas
County Antrim had several urban districts for its towns and rural districts for its countryside.
| Name of Area | Type of Area | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Ballycastle | Urban District | Became an Urban District in 1921. |
| Ballyclare | Urban District | Became an Urban District in 1905. |
| Ballymena | Urban District | |
| Carrickfergus | Urban District | |
| Antrim Rural District | Rural District | Covered areas like Antrim town, Ballyclare Rural, and Crumlin. |
| Lisburn Rural District | Rural District | Included Aghalee, Glenavy, and Malone. |
County Armagh's Local Areas
County Armagh also had a mix of urban and rural districts.
| Name of Area | Type of Area | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Armagh | Urban District | |
| Lurgan | Urban District | |
| Portadown | Urban District | |
| Armagh Rural District | Rural District | Included areas like Armagh Rural, Keady Rural, and Markethill. |
| Lurgan Rural District | Rural District | Covered Lurgan Rural, Portadown Rural, and Tartaraghan. |
County Cork's Local Areas
County Cork was a large county with many towns and rural areas, so it had many different districts.
| Name of Area | Type of Area | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Clonakilty | Urban District | |
| Fermoy | Urban District | |
| Mallow | Urban District | Became an Urban District in 1902. |
| Queenstown | Urban District | |
| Bandon Rural District | Rural District | Included Ballymodan, Bandon, and Inishannon. |
| Cork Rural District | Rural District | Covered Ballincollig, Bishopstown, and Blackrock. |
| Macroom Rural District | Rural District | Included Clonmoyle, Inchigeelagh, and Macloneigh. |
County Dublin's Local Areas
Even though Dublin city was a county borough, County Dublin still had its own local government areas.
| Name of Area | Type of Area | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Blackrock | Urban District | |
| Dalkey | Urban District | |
| Kingstown | Urban District | |
| Pembroke | Urban District | |
| North Dublin Rural District | Rural District | |
| South Dublin Rural District | Rural District |
County Galway's Local Areas
Galway, a county in the west of Ireland, also had its own system of local areas.
| Name of Area | Type of Area | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Ballinasloe | Urban District | |
| Galway | Urban District | |
| Clifden Rural District | Rural District | Included Clifden, Owengowla, and Rinvyle. |
| Galway Rural District | Rural District | Covered Clare Galway, Galway Rural, and Inishmore. |
County Londonderry's Local Areas
County Londonderry, in the north, also had its own urban and rural districts.
| Name of Area | Type of Area | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Coleraine | Urban District | |
| Limavady | Urban District | |
| Portstewart | Urban District | Became an Urban District in 1916. |
| Coleraine Rural District | Rural District | Included Aghadowey, Articlave, and Garvagh. |
| Londonderry No. 1 Rural District | Rural District | Covered Claudy, Eglinton, and Waterside. |
County Wexford's Local Areas
Wexford, on the southeast coast, also had its own local government structure.
| Name of Area | Type of Area | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Wexford | Borough (City) | |
| Enniscorthy | Urban District | |
| New Ross | Urban District | |
| Enniscorthy Rural District | Rural District | Included Ballyhuskard, Clonroche, and Ferns. |
| Wexford Rural District | Rural District | Covered Ardcavan, Bannow, and Bridgetown. |
Why Was This System Important?
This new system of local government was a big step for Ireland. It meant that local people, through their elected councils and commissioners, had more say in how their towns and rural areas were run. They could manage things like roads, public health, and other local services, which was a significant change from how things were managed before.
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See also
- List of rural and urban districts in Northern Ireland (1921—1972)
