Master Book of Irish Placenames

The Master Book of Irish Placenames (also titled the Master Atlas and Book of Irish Placenames) is a comprehensive reference work edited by Michael C. O'Laughlin and published by the Irish Genealogical Foundation in 1994. Designed as a companion to the Master Book of Irish Surnames, it serves as an essential tool for genealogists and historians by providing a "master placename index" that links locations to a reprinted collection of 19th-century county maps. The volume is particularly notable for its dual-index approach, featuring a 19th-century index alongside a 17th-century index derived from the Census of 1659, which allows researchers to identify older, often obsolete, names and archaic spellings. Its 250+ pages include modern parish listings for comparison, as well as data on baronies, townlands, dioceses, and poor law unions. Additionally, the book incorporates classic commentary from scholar P.W. Joyce in its appendix to help users navigate common phonetic shifts and spelling changes between Irish and English.