Mapping

An enhanced Irish placenames database and a new Irish-language mapping service was launched in May 2014 (press release here). The website was completely redesigned, making it more user-friendly, more easily-navigable, and more visually attractive.

Ordnance Survey Ireland (OSi) maps were added to the website, using English and Irish versions of OSi’s MapGenie Web mapping service. The Irish-language version, MapGenie Éire, uses map data from OSi and official Irish-language forms of placenames from the Placenames Database of Ireland.

MapGenie Éire was made possible through collaboration between Fiontar in DCU, the Placenames Branch, and Ordnance Survey Ireland. The three organisations have worked together on a matching project since late 2010 to link the dataset of the Placenames Branch with the dataset of OSi. This allowed OSi to produce an Irish version of MapGenie based on toponymic data from the Placenames Branch. The project also involved an upgrade to MapGenie which now resides on a resilient cloud-based infrastructure.

From left: Dr Caoilfhionn Nic Pháidín (Project director, Fiontar), Dr Brian Ó Raghallaigh (Technical manager, Fiontar), Michal Boleslav Měchura (Technical consultant, Fiontar), Maria Byrne (OSi), Colin Bray (CEO, OSi), Mairéad Nic Lochlainn (Research editor, Fiontar).

From left: Mairéad Nic Lochlainn (Research editor, Fiontar), Dr Úna Bhreathnach (Editorial manager, Fiontar), Ronan Doherty (Design consultant, Fiontar), Dr Brian Ó Raghallaigh (Technical manager, Fiontar), Michal Boleslav Měchura (Technical consultant, Fiontar), Dr Pádraig Ó Cearbhaill (Acting Chief Placenames Officer, The Placenames Branch), Dr Caoilfhionn Nic Pháidín (Project director, Fiontar), Dr Gearóid Ó Cleircín (Editorial manager, Fiontar), Dr Aengus Finnegan (Research editor, Fiontar), Clare Coughlan (Research project administrator, Fiontar).

From left: Ronan Doherty (Design consultant), Dr Brian Ó Raghallaigh (Technical manager, Fiontar), Michal Boleslav Měchura (Technical consultant, Fiontar), Dr Pádraig Ó Cearbhaill (Acting Chief Placenames Officer, The Placenames Branch), Dr Caoilfhionn Nic Pháidín (Project director, Fiontar).

From left: Aoife Shinners (OSi), Maria Byrne (OSi), Colin Bray (CEO, OSi), Hugh Mangan (OSi), Mairead Harrington (OSi), Tony Murphy (OSi).

From left: Dónall Mac Giolla Easpaig (Former Chief Placenames Officer, The Placenames Branch), Dr Ciarán Mac Murchaidh (Head of School, Fiontar).