The map above shows the PLUs, roughly coterminous with the Registration Districts. Note that Clonakilty Union did not exist until 1850. Prior to that, non-Catholic civil registration of marriages in Clonakilty were recorded in Bandon. Similarly, Skull Union did not exist until the end of the famine. Non-Catholic civil registration of Skull marriages took place in Skibbereen.

Poor Law Unions started registering non-Catholic marriages as early as 1845.

Medical dispensaries were available in some of the large towns in the late 1700's. Gradually, Medical Dispensaries came into rural areas. They were supported by donations and by Grand Jury grants. Public health problems such as epidemics spurred the development of a medical infrastructure.

Since Medical Dispensaries played a role in births and deaths, the reporting of births and deaths (and marriages) became the function of the local Dispensaries as Registration Offices. The Offices eventually came to be organized by Registration District, which was normally equivalent in name to the Poor Law Union (PLU) and roughly the same land area.

Thus, you will find birth, marriage and death records organized by Registration District. The heading on civil registration records will show a place where Union or District is to be written in. When you look carefully at a birth or death record, the name of the local Registry Office is usually written at the top along with that of the District or Union. If your ancestors lived in the same area for a long period of time, the births of their children may have all been recorded at the same local office. Since civil registration indexes and records are only indexed by district, and not by their local registry offices, a glance at the top of a page as you search for records to find the name of the local office might save you some time.

Several districts together make up a Superintendent District. Cork has three: a north (Mallow), south (Cork), and west (Skibbereen) superintendent district.

Civil registration of non-Catholic marriages commenced in 1845. Registration of Catholic marriages, plus births and deaths, started in 1864, which was late compared to other parts of the United Kingdom.

Skull Poor Law Union did not come into being until the end of the famine. Non-Catholic marriages prior to that were registered elsewhere, maybe Skibbereen. Similarly, Clonakilty Poor Law Union did not exist until post-famine. Non-Catholic marriages were likely registered in Bandon.

The pages for the PLUs / Districts shown below list the name of the local Registration Offices in that district.