Originally an Ecclesiastical Division, dating back to the Synod Of Kells in 1139. After the Reformation, the Anglican Church of Ireland became the state church and retained the old, medieval parishes. These then became the administrative areas used by government. The parish generally bore the name of the Townland in which the Church was built. The 1825 Boundary Survey Act of Ireland allowed the 6 inch Survey (1:10,560) of Ireland to commence and was carried out on a parish by parish basis. They were used for administrative and fiscal purposes.Coordinate Reference System: Irish Transverse Mercator.This dataset is provided by Tailte Éireann