The

Isle of Man ) , anthem = " O Land of Our Birth" , image = Isle of Man by Sentinel-2.jpg , image_map = Europe-Isle_of_Man.svg , mapsize = , map_alt = Location of the Isle of Man in Europe , map_caption = Location of the Isle of Man (green) in Europ ...

, a self-governing British Crown Dependency, in the

Irish Sea The Irish Sea or , gv, Y Keayn Yernagh, sco, Erse Sie, gd, Muir Èireann , Ulster-Scots: ''Airish Sea'', cy, Môr Iwerddon . is an extensive body of water that separates the islands of Ireland and Great Britain. It is linked to the C ...

, was until May 2016 divided into 24 districts for administrative purposes. These were 15

parishes A parish is a territorial entity in many Christian denominations, constituting a division within a diocese. A parish is under the pastoral care and clerical jurisdiction of a priest, often termed a parish priest, who might be assisted by one or ...

, 4 towns and 5 villages, each forming the lowest unit of

local government in the Isle of Man Local government ( gv, gurneilys ynnydagh) in the Isle of Man was formerly based on six sheadings, which were divided into seventeen parishes (today referred to as "ancient parishes"). The island is today divided for local government purposes i ...

. In May 2016, the three districts of Laxey, Lonan and Maughold merged for administrative purposes to form the parish district of Garff. In 2020. the two parish districts of Arbory and Rushen merged for administrative purposes to form the parish district of

Arbory and Rushen Arbory and Rushen (''Cairbre as Rosien'') is a local authority area in the south-west of the Isle of Man, designated as a parish district, and with its own parish commissioners. It was created in 2020 by the merger of the former parishes of Arbory ...

. The total number of administrative districts thus reduced to 21, made up of: * four towns * two "districts" (Michael and Onchan, both of which are historically parishes) * two "village districts" (Port Erin and Port St Mary) * and 13 "parish districts" (including Garff, which is made up of two historical parishes: Lonan and Maughold).

Parishes and other units

References

{{Isle of Man Parishes of the Isle of Man Government of the Isle of Man