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From: "CIARAN COLGAN" <>
Subject: Griffith Valuations
Date: Fri, 18 Nov 2005 21:45:36 -0000


These valuations which are so important to Irish family research prompted me
recently to find out more about the man Griffith and put some bone and skin
to the individual. I am sure lots of people on the list know very little about him
if anything at all. So I am going to share with you what I have I have discovered
about the man who makes our family research of the 21st century possible even
though his task was for the collection of tax.

Well his name was Richard John Griffith (1784-1878). He was a geologist engineer
valuator and surveyor. He was born and educated in Dublin. He used all the above
talents. He worked as a construction and mining engineer around the province of
Leinster. He completed a pioneering geological map of Ireland and acclaimed as the
father of Irish Geology. He was also one of four Railway Commissioners of the than
Irish rail network. He was much admired because of his ability to undertake many
major projects at any one time.

Under an act of the British parliament in 1846 he was responsible for the survey
of Ireland which was undertaken by 150 surveyors. The aim of the exercise was to
assess local taxes through a uniform system. Land was valued on its productive
capacity and potential value of yearly agricultural produce based on land fertility
and peculiar local circumstances. In 1865 the task was completed with the
publication the Armagh valuations. He was regarded as one of the most talented
Irishmen of the 19th Century in his time.

The survey was still been used up to 1977 for the calculation of rates paid by
owners of land valuation.

So there we are.When we see the name Griffith we can see the man the human
being instead of a technical term.


Ciaran Colgan




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