In Ireland, the term barony refers to a subdivision of a county. The names and boundaries of baronies were defined during the English conquest of Ireland, although in many cases, they correspond to earlier Gaelic territories. Baronies were used for administrative purposes within counties from medieval times until the establishment of the county councils under the Local Government (Ireland) Act 1898, when they were replaced by urban and rural district councils. While baronies continue to be officially defined units, they are no longer used for any administrative purpose. Originally, in continental Europe, a county was the land under the jurisdiction of a count. ... Gaelic as an adjective means pertaining to the Gaels, whether to their language or their culture. ... In the British Isles, a county council is a council that governs a county. ... The Local Government (Ireland) Act 1898 a piece of legislation passed as an Act of Parliament by the Parliament of the United Kingdom in 1898, to establish a system of local government in Ireland on lines similar that had been recently created in Great Britain at the time. ... In the British Isles an urban district was a type of local government district which covered an urbanised area. ... In local government on the British Isles, a rural district was a predominantly rural area used for local government. ...

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Baronies of Ireland