Scoilnet Maps

Scoilnet Maps is an initiative of Scoilnet, the portal for Irish education, and the National Centre for Technology in Education. With direct relevance to the revised Leaving Certificate Geography curriculum, Scoilnet Maps provides Geography teachers and students in second-level schools with online access to detailed Ordnance Survey Ireland (OSi) maps and aerial photographs for use in their teaching and learning. For more information visit http://maps.scoilnet.ie

What maps are available?

  • OSi 1:5,000 Raster
  • OSi 1:50 000 Raster
  • OSi 1:50 000 DTM
  • OSi 1:450 000 Raster
  • OSi 1:600 000 Raster
  • OSi 1:10 560 Raster (Vintage)
  • OSi Orthophotos 2000

All of this OSi data has been specifically licensed for educational use within the Scoilnet Maps website (Ordnance Survey Ireland Internet Publication Licence MNE 0001807).

What can I do on the Scoilnet Maps website?

  • You can view, print and compare OSi maps and aerial photographs.
  • You can measure distances and areas.
  • You can add resources, such as photos or videos, to Scoilnet Maps and “georeference” these as appropriate on maps. You can search for relevant resources that other Scoilnet Maps users have created.
  • You can view “thematic” data such as a selection of census data from the 1996 and 2006 censuses.

Outside of school, all second-level teachers can access Scoilnet Maps via log-in. If you require a log-in, please email [email protected] for more information.

Here’s two videos made by the Professional Development Service for teachers showing “good practice” around use of Scoilnet Maps in the Primary and Secondary class rooms.


In this video, primary teacher, Mark Boggins, from Holy Family National School, Rathcoole, uses Scoilnet Maps and other tools in an SESE lesson.


Geography teacher, Brendan Cremin, shows in the above video, how he and his 5th year students use Scoilnet Maps to investigate physical and human geography topics relating to the local area. View this video on the NCTE website here.

The Scoilnet Maps activity is one of five different station activities, some paper-based, some ICT-based, which all support the development of mapping concepts and geographical investigation skills. The lesson integrates numeracy as well as other curricular areas.