The folio number
Each folio has a number made up of a county code and a number, ending in F for freehold or L for leasehold. You can find a folio by searching the map on landdirect.ie, or by the folio number if you have it.
The three parts of a folio
| Part | What it records | What to look for |
|---|---|---|
| Part 1: the property | A description of the land, its townland or address, and a reference to the filed plan | Does it match the land you think you're buying? |
| Part 2: ownership | The registered owner(s) and the class of title | Is the seller the registered owner? |
| Part 3: burdens | Charges (mortgages), rights of way, wayleaves, leases and other rights over the land | Rights of way or wayleaves that cross the site; charges to be cleared on sale |
The filed plan
The filed plan shows the property's outline on the registry map, which is based on Ordnance Survey mapping. Two things to know:
- The boundaries are not conclusive. The map doesn't show whether a boundary runs along the middle or one side of a hedge, wall or ditch, and small differences from the ground are normal. See property boundaries.
- Rights of way and other burdens in Part 3 aren't always drawn on the plan. Read Part 3 and ask your solicitor.
Unregistered land
Some land in Ireland is still unregistered, held under deeds recorded in the Registry of Deeds rather than on a folio. It won't show on the registry map. Registration becomes compulsory when such land is sold.
Common questions
What does folio mean in property?
It's the register entry for a piece of registered land, a page in the Land Registry with its own number. One property can be on one folio or spread across several, and one folio can include several separate plots.
How do I get a copy of a folio?
Search the map or the folio number on landdirect.ie and buy an official copy online. Anyone can buy one: you don't need to own the land. The copy of the folio and the filed plan are bought separately.
What is a "part folio"?
When only part of the land on a folio is sold, the buyer gets a transfer of part. The Land Registry maps the part being sold and opens a new folio for it, so the map lodged with the application has to show the part clearly.
Are folio maps accurate?
They're good for identifying a property, not for settling exactly where a boundary runs. See property boundaries.
Sources
- Tailte Éireann, Land Registry, landdirect.ie
- Registration of Title Act 1964
Last reviewed 2026-10-07.