1783 Taylor & Skinner Ardee, Carrickmacross, Ballybay, Monaghan, Louth Ireland Road Map
Published in 1783, this antique road map is Map 38 from the second revised edition of Taylor & Skinner’s Maps of the Roads of Ireland, surveyed in 1777 and corrected down to 1783. The engraving records the historic road from Dublin towards Monaghan, passing through Ardee, Carrickmacross and Ballybay and showing numerous connecting roads, estates, churches, rivers and smaller settlements along the route.
The original heading, “From Dublin to Monaghan,” identifies the principal journey represented on the sheet. The accompanying mileage table records Ardee at 34 miles 4 furlongs from Dublin, followed by 9 miles 4 furlongs to Carrickmacross, 10 miles 6 furlongs to Ballybay and a further 7 miles 2 furlongs to Monaghan, giving a total distance of approximately 62 miles.
The map is arranged as two adjoining strip sections. The left-hand section continues the route through Ardee and Carrickmacross, while the right-hand section carries the road onwards through Ballybay towards Monaghan, allowing the complete northern portion of the journey to be represented on a single engraved page.
Ardee appears prominently at the foot of the left-hand strip as an important road junction. Roads towards Kells, Dundalk and Castleblayney branch from the town, illustrating its position within the wider road network of County Louth.
Travelling onward, the route passes Clonkeen Church and enters County Monaghan near the Lagan River. Estates, country houses and small lakes are shown beside the road as it approaches Carrickmacross.
Carrickmacross is clearly marked as another major junction. Roads towards Shercock, Castleblayney, Inniskeen and Dundalk radiate from the town, demonstrating its importance as a regional centre for travellers moving between County Louth and County Monaghan.
The adjoining strip continues across the County Monaghan countryside towards Ballybay. Numerous small lakes, hills and minor roads appear beside the route, reflecting the distinctive landscape encountered by travellers through this part of Ulster.
Ballybay is shown at approximately mile 55, with roads branching towards Cootehill and Castleblayney. The settlement forms an important stage on the route before the road continues northwards towards Monaghan.
Beyond Ballybay the road passes Tullycorbet Church and several named properties and estates. The surrounding road network includes further connections towards neighbouring settlements, providing a detailed record of the late-18th-century countryside around Monaghan.
Monaghan forms the destination of the route represented on this sheet. Together with Ardee, Carrickmacross and Ballybay, it makes the map an especially useful record of the historic road connections linking County Louth with County Monaghan during the late 18th century.
As throughout Taylor & Skinner’s survey, numerous named estates, country houses, churches, rivers, lakes and contemporary landowners appear beside the roads, giving the engraving additional interest for Irish local history, genealogy and family-history research.
Identified as Map 38 in Taylor & Skinner’s Maps of the Roads of Ireland, it forms part of their extensive late-18th-century survey of Ireland’s principal roads.