What do the abbreviations IRFR & PLY stand for with relation to Ireland Locations?

Question

In genealogical research I have found the following two abbreviations with respect to a person's birth location in Ireland. It read PLY DOWN IRFR. I understand County Down and assume the later is short for Irish Republic or Ireland Republic...but can't for the life of me figure out the FR portion. I appreciate anybodys help or possibilities towards the PLY, as well. Thx,

Answer 1

It basically means Northern Ireland, although I'm not sure what it stands for.

County Down is not part of the Republic its part of the North.

The Republic would be IFS (Irish Free State).

I have no idea about the PLY.

Answer 2

Are you sure the PLY is not PLU? Poor Law Union?

Answer 3

It might help to know what period of history you are looking at, or in what context you found the listing.

There is a listing for a Plymouth in Co. Down on the Rootsweb site. I've linked to the page below, but have found no other mention of anywhere with PLY in the placename. The Poor Law Union suggestion is a good one.

Rootsweb uses the abbreviation IR to refer to the Irish Roots magazine.

FR refers to a Freeholders Registry. PL can refer to a Passenger List (ships to the US etc). Maybe your relative is listed on these sources?

I've linked to the reference page below as well.

Good luck figuring it out!

EDIT-----------------

I guess Cty Down is County Down then.

I haven't found anything better for the IRFR code than what I've written above - but there is a link on the rootsweb page to this site:

http://www.proni.gov.uk/

This has a searchable database of all those listed as freeholders and all those entitled to vote from the middle of the 1800s and relates to the FR code listed above.