Address Guidelines for Ireland

Follow these guidelines to provide input that Geocode Address Global can successfully geocode. For additional information about the Ireland postal system, see the An Post website: http://www.anpost.ie.

  • Required fields—Addresses must contain a city. IRL has very limited postal code data.
  • Thoroughfare types—Thoroughfare types (pre and post thoroughfare types) and their common abbreviations are recognized and fully supported on input and output. Following is a partial list of recognized thoroughfare types. Many others are also recognized.
    Table 1. Thoroughfare Types in Ireland

    Pre-Thoroughfare Types

    Post Thoroughfare Types

    Áirse

    Street (Also: St.,ST,STR)

    Ard

    Terrace (Also: TCE)

    Arda

    Third

    Ardán

    Track (Also: TRK,TCK)

    Ascaill

    Vale

    Barra

    Valley

    Bealach

    View

    Bogha

    Village

    Bóithrín

    Walk (Also: WK)

    Bóthar

    Way (Also: WY)

    Brí

    Wood(s)

    Bruach

    Yard (Also: Yd.)

    Búlbhard
  • Common words and directionals—The geocoder recognizes common words and directionals used in addresses and can geocode these addresses successfully. This is a partial list of common words and directionals that are understood by the geocoder. Many other common words are also handled.

    an, na, a
    Cuar, Circular
    Cros, Cross
    Thoir, East
    Tosaigh, Front
    Laistigh, Inner
    Beag, Little
    Lower
    Main
    Middle
    Military
    Nua, New
    Thuaidh, North
    Sean, Old
    Lasmuigh, Outer
    ear
    Dara, Second
    Theas, South
    Third
    Uachtarach, Uacht, Upper
    Thiar, West
    Iartharach, Western
    Saint, St, Naomh
    retail, park, business, center, centre, shopping, office, mills,
    shop, service, outlet
    saint, station
    The
    Park
    House
    Building, Blgs
    House, Hse, Hses
    branch

  • Directionals—The geocoder recognizes the following directionals: North, N, Nth, South, S, Sth, East, E, Est, West, W, Wst, NE, NW Sea SW Lower, LW, LR, Upper, UP, Upp, Uppe, upr, Thuaidh, Thoirm, Thiar, Theas
  • Common abbreviations—The geocoder recognizes common abbreviations used in addresses and can geocode these addresses successfully. This is a partial list of abbreviations that are understood by the geocoder. Many other common abbreviations are also handled.
    Table 2. Common Abbreviations

    Word

    Abbreviation

    saint

    st., st

    great

    gt., gt

    north

    n, nth

    south

    s, sth

    east

    e, est

    west

    w, wst

    northeast

    ne

    northwest

    nw

    southeast

    se

    southwest

    sw

    lower

    lw, lr

    upper

    up, upp, uppe

    mount

    mnt, mt

    and

    &

    football

    f

    club

    c

    limited

    ltd

    park

    pk

    estate

    est

    gardens

    gdns

    building

    bld

    industrial

    ind

    industries

    ind

    number

    num

    center

    cnt, centre

    centre

    cnt, center

    country

    co

    market

    mrkt

    square

    s

    o+connell

    oconnell
  • Numbers, numeric equivalents, and ordinals—Numbered streets are mapped to the named equivalents. Ordinals are also recognized in input addresses. For example, the following are all recognized in an input address: um, first, one, 1st, primera, primeiras, primeiro dois, second, two, 2nd, segunda, segundos.