New Clare Library GenMaps system

Genealogy, Archaeology, History, Heritage & Folklore

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Paddy Casey
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Joined: Wed Mar 28, 2007 3:53 pm
Location: Внешняя Громболия
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New Clare Library GenMaps system

Post by Paddy Casey » Tue Jul 09, 2013 9:14 am

Those who subscribe to the Clare Library RSS newsfeed or otherwise follow What's New (http://www.clarelibrary.ie/eolas/whatsnew.htm) will have seen that the Library has put up an impressive new Clare map viewer (http://www.clarelibrary.ie/eolas/coclare/maps/index.htm) which allows one to display family name distributions across Clare at various times (1901 census, Griffith's Valuation, etc.) and links the displayed family name clusters directly to the townland webpages containing the background information on the townlands. The display combines the old maps (1842 OS), modern road maps and satellite views seamlessly. There is a video tutorial (http://www.clarelibrary.ie/eolas/coclar ... people.htm) which shows you how to fire up your family cluster heatmap. It will knock your socks off (its knocking mine off, anyway) if you are a map-oriented person. Go thither and boggle !

Paddy

Lucille
Posts: 144
Joined: Wed Jan 19, 2011 6:59 pm

Re: New Clare Library GenMaps system

Post by Lucille » Tue Jul 09, 2013 12:22 pm

I'm completely boggled! It's brilliant. Congratulations to the Clare Library staff who have coordinated this material into such an accessible resource.

Lucille

murf
Posts: 365
Joined: Fri Mar 20, 2009 12:58 am
Location: Qld Australia

Re: New Clare Library GenMaps system

Post by murf » Tue Jul 09, 2013 10:31 pm

Wow!!!
Clare Library has done it once again. How blessed we are that we have County Clare ancestors.
If there was a Nobel Prize for genealogy, Clare Lib would be a sure winner. :wink:

darrenoconaill
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Joined: Sat Mar 03, 2012 7:48 pm

Re: New Clare Library GenMaps system

Post by darrenoconaill » Thu Jul 18, 2013 10:17 am

Brilliant stuff again from Clare Library. Well done to all involved.

Paddy Casey
Posts: 743
Joined: Wed Mar 28, 2007 3:53 pm
Location: Внешняя Громболия
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Re: New Clare Library GenMaps system

Post by Paddy Casey » Mon Jun 09, 2014 11:41 am

UPDATE:

The Library Maps system at http://www.clarelibrary.ie/eolas/coclare/maps/index.htm has just made major upgrades to its search facilities, crosslinking and data presentation which have further consolidated its position as a paradigm for mapping a county's genealogical and archaeological past.

Navigating to a parish or townland, for example, was easy before but I have discovered that it is now even better. For example, if I want to bring up a map of my "home" townland Shanballysallagh I just select the Browse tab, select Townlands in the drop-down menu, type in Shanballysallagh and - zap ! - there is Shanballysallagh already at the optimum level of magnification for viewing the fields, rivers, etc. At the right of the screen a link to the Shanballysallagh townland webpage is already displayed without my having to scrabble around looking for it. Then if I click on the Related Places tab just above that link key information about the townland is listed, e.g. its Poor Law Union, Registration District, Parish, DED, and the interesting archaeological sites and items in the townland.

You can see the locations of items such as monuments not just on the 1842 map but in a host of other views including a satellite view. By selecting the satellite view (e.g. Bing satellite - select it from the ‘Change Map’ drop down menu) and then choosing the 1842 OS 6” map as an overlay you can toggle back and forth between the two views using the slider bar. Then, for example, if you are plodding the sod looking for some archaeological feature the satellite view - by showing you the present-day boreens and field boundaries and vegetation - helps you locate your target by eyeball.

The maps system is now even more crosslinked, not only within the Library datasets but also with external links to other Irish sites. Thus if I click on the link to the Shanballysallagh townland webpage I now find links to the Placenames Database of Ireland (showing the derivation, meaning and Irish translation of the name Shanballysallagh) and the Ask About Ireland site (showing their list of occupants, map and original page of Griffith's Valuation for Shanballysallagh and yet another link which allows you to upload content related to a Griffiths record).

Searching the Maps datasets is now on steroids. You can now select categories of monuments, and townlands grouped by their civil parishes, and see their distribution throughout County Clare. In the Features tab you click on the arrow beside Monuments and select one or more category of monument. The map will then show the distribution throughout County Clare of that monument type. You can then click on any monument to be brought to its dedicated web page. You can also combine categories by holding down the Ctrl button and select multiple monument types to see their combined distribution. See http://clarelibrary.blogspot.ie/2014/06 ... ution.html.

It's now a snap to find the geographical distribution of your family name: you just select the People tab at the top left, pick the dataset at the bottom left (1901 census, Griffiths, Tithes) and - bingo ! - there you have a "hotspot" map of the family clusters.

There is an excellent Help facility at http://www.clarelibrary.ie/eolas/coclar ... p/help.htm

Being an OS-mapper (see http://www.openstreetmap.org/#map=10/53.0321/-8.9285 and http://www.openstreetmap.org/way/177387 ... 53/-8.9006) and having OS-mapped "my" patch in and around Tubber I've very much been bitten by the mapping bug. Hence my enthusiasm about this new Library upgrade.

Paddy

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