Research in Dublin, Belfast, & Elsewhere
Book of Kells
Ireland is a great place to do research because of the wealth of historical material that can be found at the country's many archives, libraries, and other repositories. Some of Ireland's best resources for historical research can be found in the Republic of Ireland at places like the National Archives of Ireland, General Register Office, Registry of Deeds, and National Library of Ireland in Dublin. Other great resources for Irish genealogy include the Public Records Office of Northern Ireland (PRONI) and Linen Hall Library, which are both located in Belfast, in the United Kingdom.
In addition to country-level archives, records can also be found locally at various church parishes, public libraries, and civil registry offices. Many records are also now available online at a number of great websites including Ancestry.com, Findmypast, MyHeritage, and FamilySearch, which all have large searchable databases relating to Irish history and genealogy.
There are a number of ways to get copies of vital records (birth, marriage, and death certificates) in Ireland. Ireland began countrywide registration of vital records of Protestant families in 1845, and for Roman Catholics in 1864. Church parish registers, which would include baptismal, marriage, and burial records, can be found throughout Ireland, some dating back to the 1600s for the Church of Ireland, and to the late 1700s to early 1800s for many Roman Catholic parishes. Some of these records are now available online at Ancestry.com and FamilySearch, or on microfilm at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah. However, most civil and church records in Ireland would be found at local church parishes, church archives, and civil registration offices at the local level with the help of a professional genealogist.
The Family History Library holds a large collection of records relating to Ireland. This is the largest and most important genealogy collection in the world and is worth a visit to explore the many billions of records that can be found there. Published material consists of books, microfilm, microfiche, and other records for all areas of Ireland. The Family History Library also has smaller family history centers located throughout the world where you can order microfilm and have these records shipped to the local area where you live. The library has also transcribed and indexed billions of Irish church records, civil registers, published histories, censuses, and other types of records which are available online at FamilySearch.org.
In addition to country-level archives, records can also be found locally at various church parishes, public libraries, and civil registry offices. Many records are also now available online at a number of great websites including Ancestry.com, Findmypast, MyHeritage, and FamilySearch, which all have large searchable databases relating to Irish history and genealogy.
There are a number of ways to get copies of vital records (birth, marriage, and death certificates) in Ireland. Ireland began countrywide registration of vital records of Protestant families in 1845, and for Roman Catholics in 1864. Church parish registers, which would include baptismal, marriage, and burial records, can be found throughout Ireland, some dating back to the 1600s for the Church of Ireland, and to the late 1700s to early 1800s for many Roman Catholic parishes. Some of these records are now available online at Ancestry.com and FamilySearch, or on microfilm at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah. However, most civil and church records in Ireland would be found at local church parishes, church archives, and civil registration offices at the local level with the help of a professional genealogist.
The Family History Library holds a large collection of records relating to Ireland. This is the largest and most important genealogy collection in the world and is worth a visit to explore the many billions of records that can be found there. Published material consists of books, microfilm, microfiche, and other records for all areas of Ireland. The Family History Library also has smaller family history centers located throughout the world where you can order microfilm and have these records shipped to the local area where you live. The library has also transcribed and indexed billions of Irish church records, civil registers, published histories, censuses, and other types of records which are available online at FamilySearch.org.
The Irish Diaspora
Flag of Ireland
If your goal is to trace your immigrant ancestors back to their place of origin, it is important to first locate the many different types of records that your ancestors left behind in places like the United States, Canada, UK, Australia, and elsewhere. Records like ships' passenger lists, naturalization petitions, censuses, military records, vital records, obituaries, and cemetery records can often provide you with information about your ancestor's birthplace, names of relatives, and other important information. This will help you narrow your search parameters when your ancestry search continues overseas. It is generally not possible to locate family records in Ireland without first conducting extensive research in the places where your ancestors immigrated to. If you are currently doing research on your immigrant ancestors in hopes of getting a second passport through the process of jure sanguinis, please click here for more information.
Getting Started with Your Research
Galway, Ireland in 1651
Many people wonder where they should begin with their family history research in Ireland. If you are new to genealogical research, the first thing you'll need to do is to start building a family tree with the information you already have at your disposal. There are some great genealogy software programs available that will help you get started with this process. Family Tree Maker, Legacy Family Tree, Family Historian, and RootsMagic all make great programs that can help organize your research.
Get started by first creating a pedigree chart for yourself and family group sheets for your parents, grandparents, and other close family members. You can download free copies of these forms at FamilySearch.org and Ancestry.com. You can also create these records using a genealogy software program. Family group sheets allow you to record information like family members' birth dates, marriage dates, death dates, burial places, spouses' names, and other information that will be helpful to you as your research progresses. Interview living relatives and take notes about the major events of their lives. Add this information to your family files so that you will have a strong foundation of information as you move forward with your project.
Get started by first creating a pedigree chart for yourself and family group sheets for your parents, grandparents, and other close family members. You can download free copies of these forms at FamilySearch.org and Ancestry.com. You can also create these records using a genealogy software program. Family group sheets allow you to record information like family members' birth dates, marriage dates, death dates, burial places, spouses' names, and other information that will be helpful to you as your research progresses. Interview living relatives and take notes about the major events of their lives. Add this information to your family files so that you will have a strong foundation of information as you move forward with your project.
Irish Naval Ensign 1783
During the initial stages of your research, you can accomplish a great deal using online resources. It is highly recommended that you get subscriptions to websites like Ancestry.com to help with your ongoing research. Information can also be found for free at FamilySearch.org. Many types of records including censuses, vital records, obituaries, and immigration records are available online and will help you put in place the building blocks for the first part of your family tree. Using a combination of online resources along with more traditional archival research will allow you to create a thoroughly documented family history.
A professional genealogist could also be helpful to your research in Ireland. With the expertise and knowledge of a skilled researcher, you can have someone visit local archives and libraries on your behalf throughout Ireland. This is especially helpful if you don't live in the area and don't have ready access to court, land, and many other types of records that can often only be found after a visit to a local courthouse, public library, historical society, or council office. If you would like a professional genealogist to assist you with your ongoing research, please click here.
It is important when carrying out your research that you are thorough in documenting your family tree. Don't overlook the importance of finding your ancestor's siblings, cousins, and other close relatives. Brick walls are often encountered in genealogical research. To get beyond an apparent impasse it is often worthwhile to approach your research holistically. Many researchers who are new to genealogy often just want to get back as far as possible along a direct paternal or maternal family line. However, it is often the death certificates, obituaries, or other records relating to your ancestor's siblings and other relatives that will provide you with the breakthroughs you are looking for.
A professional genealogist could also be helpful to your research in Ireland. With the expertise and knowledge of a skilled researcher, you can have someone visit local archives and libraries on your behalf throughout Ireland. This is especially helpful if you don't live in the area and don't have ready access to court, land, and many other types of records that can often only be found after a visit to a local courthouse, public library, historical society, or council office. If you would like a professional genealogist to assist you with your ongoing research, please click here.
It is important when carrying out your research that you are thorough in documenting your family tree. Don't overlook the importance of finding your ancestor's siblings, cousins, and other close relatives. Brick walls are often encountered in genealogical research. To get beyond an apparent impasse it is often worthwhile to approach your research holistically. Many researchers who are new to genealogy often just want to get back as far as possible along a direct paternal or maternal family line. However, it is often the death certificates, obituaries, or other records relating to your ancestor's siblings and other relatives that will provide you with the breakthroughs you are looking for.
Church Records
Historically, most Irish were either members of Church of Ireland or the Roman Catholic Church. Please click on a link below to discover where to find baptismal, marriage, burial and other records that might be available the church your ancestor attended in the past. Prior to Irish Independence, the official church in Ireland was the Church of Ireland.
CountyAntrim
Armagh
Carlow
Cavan
Clare
Cork
Donegal
Down
Dublin
Fermanagh
Galway
Kerry
Kildare
Kilkenny
Laois
Leitrim
Limerick
Londonderry
Longford
Louth
Mayo
Meath
Monaghan
Offaly
Roscommon
Sligo
Tipperary
Tyrone
Waterford
Westmeath
Wexford
Wicklow
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Roman CatholicAntrim parishes
Armagh parishes
Carlow parishes
Cavan parishes
Clare parishes
Cork parishes
Donegal parishes
Down parishes
Dublin parishes
Fermanagh parishes
Galway parishes
Kerry parishes
Kildare parishes
Kilkenny parishes
Laois parishes
Leitrim parishes
Limerick parishes
Derry parishes
Longford parishes
Louth parishes
Mayo parishes
Meath parishes
Monaghan parishes
Offaly parishes
Roscommon parishes
Sligo parishes
Tipperary parishes
Tyrone parishes
Waterford parishes
Westmeath parishes
Wexford parishes
Wicklow parishes
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Church of IrelandAntrim parishes
Armagh parishes
Carlow parishes
Cavan parishes
Clare parishes
Cork parishes
Donegal parishes
Down parishes
Dublin parishes
Fermanagh parishes
Galway parishes
Kerry parishes
Kildare parishes
Kilkenny parishes
Laois parishes
Leitrim parishes
Limerick parishes
Derry parishes
Longford parishes
Louth parishes
Mayo parishes
Meath parishes
Monaghan parishes
Offaly parishes
Roscommon parishes
Sligo parishes
Tipperary parishes
Tyrone parishes
Waterford parishes
Westmeath parishes
Wexford parishes
Wicklow parishes
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ProvinceUlster
Ulster
Leinster
Ulster
Munster
Munster
Ulster
Ulster
Leinster
Ulster
Connacht
Munster
Leinster
Leinster
Leinster
Connacht
Munster
Ulster
Leinster
Leinster
Connacht
Leinster
Ulster
Leinster
Connacht
Connacht
Munster
Ulster
Munster
Leinster
Leinster
Leinster
|
Country/RegionNorthern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Ireland
Ireland
Ireland
Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Ireland
Northern Ireland
Ireland
Ireland
Ireland
Ireland
Ireland
Ireland
Ireland
Northern Ireland
Ireland
Ireland
Ireland
Ireland
Ireland
Ireland
Ireland
Ireland
Ireland
Northern Ireland
Ireland
Ireland
Ireland
Ireland
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Civil Records
Many Irish family records can be found online and at various archives and libraries located throughout the country. Many millions of records aren't yet available online, though, and many of these are awaiting your discovery at the local level at civil registration offices, courthouses, historical societies, churches, cemeteries, and elsewhere in Ireland. To find these and other records, click on the links below to discover more information about the specific places where your ancestors lived. You'll find information on these pages that will lead you to the specific documentation you're searching for.
It is important to keep in mind when doing research that the names and boundaries of certain areas in Ireland have changed over the past few hundred years. For example, your ancestors may have lived on a certain farm in one county and when borders were redrawn records relating to your family might have been located in another area entirely. When looking for records it is therefore a good idea to search in adjacent areas. Following is a complete list of Ireland current and present administrative areas, along with links leading to church parish and other records in all of these places.
It is important to keep in mind when doing research that the names and boundaries of certain areas in Ireland have changed over the past few hundred years. For example, your ancestors may have lived on a certain farm in one county and when borders were redrawn records relating to your family might have been located in another area entirely. When looking for records it is therefore a good idea to search in adjacent areas. Following is a complete list of Ireland current and present administrative areas, along with links leading to church parish and other records in all of these places.
CountyAntrim
Armagh
Carlow
Cavan
Clare
Cork
Donegal
Down
Dublin
Fermanagh
Galway
Kerry
Kildare
Kilkenny
Laois
Leitrim
Limerick
Londonderry
Longford
Louth
Mayo
Meath
Monaghan
Offaly
Roscommon
Sligo
Tipperary
Tyrone
Waterford
Westmeath
Wexford
Wicklow
|
Townlands1,731
160
601
2,000
2,176
156
2,787
1,285
19
2,305
4,556
2,756
1,242
1,574
1,162
1,489
2,068
1,255
944
676
3,422
1,634
1,852
1,194
38
1,289
3,245
2,162
1,658
1,349
2,305
1,354
|
Civil Parishes80
28
47
36
81
250
53
76
6
23
114
88
113
140
51
17
131
47
26
67
73
145
24
50
62
41
199
43
73
64
138
59
|
Reg. Districts9
6
5
10
9
18
6
8
6
5
13
7
5
8
7
10
7
6
3
3
10
9
7
5
7
5
12
10
7
7
5
5
|
ProvinceUlster
Ulster
Leinster
Ulster
Munster
Munster
Ulster
Ulster
Leinster
Ulster
Connacht
Munster
Leinster
Leinster
Leinster
Connacht
Munster
Ulster
Leinster
Leinster
Connacht
Leinster
Ulster
Leinster
Connacht
Connacht
Munster
Ulster
Munster
Leinster
Leinster
Leinster
|
Region/CountryNorthern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Ireland
Ireland
Ireland
Ireland
Ireland
Northern Ireland
Ireland
Northern Ireland
Ireland
Ireland
Ireland
Ireland
Ireland
Ireland
Ireland
Northern Ireland
Ireland
Ireland
Ireland
Ireland
Ireland
Ireland
Ireland
Ireland
Ireland
Northern Ireland
Ireland
Ireland
Ireland
Ireland
|