An older Ireland

This map of Ireland from the 1500s is interesting from a lot of perspectives, not least the fact that Kilcullen is designated only as Castlemartin.

The proportions are crazy of course, quite apart from the overall shape of the country, and the positioning with the East down. But it's interesting to see the names around Kildare: Carloo (Carlow), Palemone (Moone), Kylmans (Kill), Clame (Clane), Nosse (Naas), Luceon (Lucan), Kyldar (Kildare) Glandalag (Glendalough), Balkynglas (Baltinglass). It is also very much a map of the fiefdoms of the time.

The mispelling of the O'Byrne as O'Bryne is still one that I come across today, especially when I'm booked into a hotel abroad, where getting the head (and the tongue) around the Byrne name is a little difficult.