Louth (barony)

Louth is a barony in County Louth, Ireland. It is one of the historical subdivisions of the county, and although no longer an administrative unit, it continues to be used in some contexts for geographical reference.

Geography and Location

The barony of Louth is situated in the northern part of County Louth. It is bounded on the north by the barony of Dundalk Upper, on the east by the Irish Sea, on the south by the barony of Ardee, and on the west by the barony of Ferrard. Its landscape includes coastal areas, agricultural land, and small settlements.

Historical Significance

Baronies in Ireland were originally based on ancient Irish territorial divisions, later adapted under Norman and British rule. The barony of Louth derives its name from the town of Louth, a historically significant settlement that served as an early Christian site. While the baronies once held administrative and judicial functions, these were largely superseded by modern local government structures in the 19th century with the introduction of Poor Law Unions and later County Councils.

Civil Parishes

The barony of Louth contains various civil parishes. Civil parishes are divisions of land that were used for administrative purposes, particularly in connection with the Church of Ireland. Note that the boundaries of civil parishes and baronies may not perfectly align, and a civil parish might extend into multiple baronies. A full list of these parishes would require accessing historical gazetteer information.

Modern Usage

While baronies are no longer used for administrative purposes in Ireland, they remain useful for historical and genealogical research. They can be found in historical maps, census records, and property surveys. The name "Louth" is still used to refer to the general geographical area encompassed by the historical barony.

See Also

• County Louth
• Baronies of Ireland