Talk:Ordnance Survey Ireland

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[edit] NPOV

I've removed the NPOV dispute tag; User:Terra Green that added didn't start a discussion on this talk page. Noted Reads as a eulogy of the fine workmanship of the British Army, and hey those poor natives ought to be grateful for the jobs... in the editing comment; well I don't think it really does read like that at all, that's a bit of an overreaction! The project presumably did create employment and the use of the word 'native' is just to indicate to whom the employment was provided, e.g. native Irish rather than imported workers (e.g. such as the above mentioned soldiers - although many of them may have also been Irish, I don't know enough about the period/project.) I've slightly rephrased adding the word 'also' provided employment and removed 'native', hope this makes it more acceptable. -- Blorg 16:39, 11 October 2005 (UTC)

Hi, I've toned things down a bit more -- "local employment" will do, in my opinion. Some of my reaction was also to the rather subjective sounding eulogy of the maps themselves, so you'll see I've addressed this too. I dare say they are very good maps, but we need to base this either on some facts or at least on a quotation that can be attributed. Possibly I overreacted to the word "native", but it bordered on the sort of usage where the term can have negative connotations. TerraGreen 17:26, 12 October 2005 (UTC)

Hi, the person that originated this dispute overreacted a little, I think. The Irish Ordnance Survey scheme undoubtedly created many work opportunities for local people all over Ireland. The use of the word "native" has no tendentious purpose. If anything, it could reinforce a belief that this was a 'foreign operation imposed on the people of Ireland'. FWIW, I myself am one of these people.

As to the question of the excellence of the maps produced, we must remember the period in question, i.e. not that far off 200 years ago. A good knowledge of the scheme makes you aware of the innovations in map-making it produced. Should there be any doubt as to the quality and accuracy of these maps, let anyone visit a half-decent library in Ireland, or the British Museum or Library, and they can judge for themselves. These were at a scale of 6" to a mile, a scale that produces a high degree of detail.

To substantiate the claim that this were pioneering maps, please see the following reference (whose source, from House of Commons papers, could be introduced into the main article if thought desirable).

A careful independent examination of a substantial number of OS maps of Ireland in 1837, an area covering more than 4,000 miles, by John MacNeill, a well-known civil engineer, showed not a single error or inaccuracy. "Report on the North and North-Western Lines of Railway, proposed by the Commissioners.." in Second report of the commissioners appointed to consider and recommend a general system of railways for Ireland, HC 1837-38, (145), xxxv, 709.

Many of the engineering developments that came to Ireland in subsequent years, like the railways, could scarcely have been possible without the Ordnance Survey maps.bigpad