Abstract

The territorial history of the parish in Ireland raises a number of issues. Not only is there the importance of territoriality and spatial coherence, as manifested in the parish, but also the implications for a territorial community, territorial allegiance and identity. In England, for instance, deeply-rooted parochialism and allegiance to the parish church are opposed to any kind of alteration in the boundaries or geographies of parishes. In Ireland too modern changes in parishes are a1so resented and seldom fully implemented. The idea of the parish also raises iques about location, distance and accessibility. Pastoral care is the principal distinguishing feature of parochial organisation - what might be characterised in modern terms as the delivery of religious rites such as baptism, marriage, communion or burial.