Data Collections
Sorted by Ireland census & voter lists
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Web: Ireland, Census, 1911Free4,526,107
Web: Ireland, Census, 1901Free4,413,870
Ireland, Tithe Applotment Books, 1805-1837606,726
Ireland, Census Fragments, 1821-1851357,733
Web: Ireland, Census Search Forms 1841, 1851Free150,860
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Data Collections
Sorted by Ireland birth, marriage & death
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Ireland, Catholic Parish Registers, 1655-191525,639,210
UK and Ireland, Find a Grave® Index, 1300s-CurrentFreeUpdated19,905,080
Ireland, Select Births and Baptisms, 1620-191111,630,002
Ireland, Civil Registration Births Index, 1864-195811,438,239
Ireland, Civil Registration Deaths Index, 1864-19586,662,503
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Data Collections
Sorted by Ireland military
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Scotland, Ireland and Wales, Militia Attestation Papers, 1800-1915185,298
Ireland, Royal Hospital Kilmainham Pensioner Discharge Documents, 1724-1924104,638
Ireland, National Army Census, 192261,306
UK, Imperial Yeomanry Records, 1899-190259,262
Ireland, World War I Casualties, 1914-192249,647
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Data Collections
Sorted by Ireland immigration & emigration
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UK and Ireland, Outward Passenger Lists, 1890-196023,820,408
UK and Ireland, Incoming Passenger Lists, 1878-196016,201,619
Ireland, Crew Lists and Shipping Agreements, 1863-1920861,868
UK and Ireland, Masters and Mates Certificates, 1850-1927281,933
Ireland, Irish Emigration Lists, 1833-18393,421
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Data Collections
Sorted by Ireland newspapers & periodicals
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Belfast, Northern Ireland, The Belfast Newsletter (Birth, Marriage and Death Notices), 1738-1925Free920,495
Ireland, Police Gazettes, 1861-1893Free151,325
Ireland, Newspapers, 1763-1890110,030
Irish Independent Newspaper Obituaries, May 2001-June 200231,628
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Data Collections
Sorted by Ireland pictures
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UK, Historical Photographs and Prints, 1704-1989FreeUpdated23,724
Ireland, Lawrence Collection of photographs, 1870 - 191021,531
United Kingdom & Ireland Historical Postcards, 1893-1963Free19,478
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Data Collections
Sorted by Ireland directories & member lists
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Ireland, City and Regional Directories, 1792-194913,489,492
UK and Ireland, Medical Registers, 1859-19432,991,949
Ireland, Select Catholic Birth and Baptism Registers, 1763-19171,893,096
UK & Ireland, Nursing Registers, 1898-19681,600,730
Ireland, Guinness Trade Ledgers, 1860-1960Updated1,452,426
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Sorted by Ireland court, land, wills & financial
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Ireland, Petty Session Court Registers, 1818-191923,236,569
Ireland, Dog Licence Registrations, 1810-19267,358,408
Ireland, Prison Registers, 1790-19243,127,594
Ireland, Valuation Records, 1824-18561,740,993
Ireland, Poor Law and Board of Guardian Records, 1839-19201,738,323
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Data Collections
Sorted by Ireland dictionaries, encyclopedias & reference
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World Foreign Gazetteer, Vol. 11,545,127
Ireland, Casey Collection Indexes, 1545-19601,037,567
Ireland, Famine Relief Commission Papers, 1844-1847Free87,044
Ireland Topographical Dictionary, 18371,423
The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland, and Wales1,311
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Sorted by Ireland maps, atlases & gazetteers
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World Foreign Gazetteer, Vol. 11,545,127
Ireland, General Map of Ireland (Quarter-Inch), 1855Free73,757
Ireland, Ordnance Survey, 1824 - 184667,282
Gazetteer of Great Britain & Ireland, 18982,974
Ireland Topographical Dictionary, 18371,423
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Sorted by Ireland stories, memories & histories
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Ireland, Casey Collection Indexes, 1545-19601,037,567
Ireland, Famine Relief Commission Papers, 1844-1847Free87,044
Burke's Commoners of Great Britain and Ireland69,748
Irish Records Index, 1500-192051,540
Ireland, Catholic Qualification and Convert Rolls, 1701-184532,134
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A genealogical history

Ireland in brief

Government: Constitutional republic
Population: 4,459,300
Total area: 70,273 sq km
Capital: Dublin
Currency: Euro
Common languages: English, Irish
Patron saint: St Patrick


The Liffey And Four Courts, Dublin

Interesting facts

  • Ireland is the third largest island in Europe, and the twentieth largest in the world.
  • The Irish language varies greatly across different regions of Ireland. Even the simple phrase ‘How are you?’ is worded differently in Ulster, Connacht and Munster.
  • When the Black Death hit Ireland in 1348, it hit the English and Norman inhabitants much harder than the native population, largely because they tended to live in towns and villages, rather than dispersed rural settlements.
  • One of the major driving forces behind the movement for Home Rule was objection to compulsory military service for Irish men during World War I.
  • Ireland remained neutral during World War II, but declared a state of national emergency. As a result, the period is often referred to as ‘The Emergency’.
  • The country is officially named Ireland in the English language and Eire in Irish. However, its own legislation refers to it as the “Republic of Ireland”.

Featured Ireland collections

UK, Historical Photographs and Prints, 1704-1989
UK and Ireland, Find a Grave® Index, 1300s-Current
Ireland, Guinness Trade Ledgers, 1860-1960
Ireland, Guinness Employee Records, 1799-1939
Ireland, Dublin Coopers Society and Brewers' Guild Records, 1702-1945

Famous people

Resources

Republic of Ireland census research

The first complete Irish census was taken in 1821. The island then adopted the British practice of recording the whole population every ten years. Sadly, one of family history’s great disappointments is that few of the records from before 1901 remain. The Irish Government itself destroyed the 1861 and 1891 returns, and almost all those for 1821 to 1851 burned in a fire that destroyed the Public Record Office in 1922. The first census after Partition was held in 1926, and it will be some time before these records are made available.

The good news is that the 1901 and 1911 returns are hugely detailed. As well as basic information such as names, ages and occupations, they tell you your ancestors’ religions, any disabilities, their ability to speak the Irish language, and much more. They’re housed in the National Archives in Dublin and the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland (PRONI) in Belfast. However, you can view and search them for free online.

For the missing years, you can turn to a number of ‘census substitutes’ to build a picture of your forebears’ lives. For example, when old age pensions were introduced in 1908, many people used old census information to apply. These certificates have survived, and you can see them at the National Archives, PRONI and the Family History Centres managed by the Church of Latter Day Saints.

 

Republic of Ireland vital records

Parish registers - For any research up to the middle of the 19th century, the best resources for tracing details of your ancestors’ vital events are the registers of christenings, marriages and burials compiled by churches up and down the land. Unfortunately, these records present their own problems. An 1876 law required all Church of Ireland registers be sent to the Public Record Office in Dublin for safekeeping. Almost all registers that were sent to the PRO, about half of all those that existed, were destroyed in the 1922 fire. Of those that survive, many remain with the local clergy, but you’ll find some in the National Archives, the Representative Church Body Library in Dublin and the PRONI.

Most rural Catholic churches didn’t begin to keep records until 1820 because of political restrictions upon the Catholic Church. Most records that do exist are still with the relevant church. However, you’ll find many on microfilm at the National Library of Ireland.

Civil registration - In the 19th century, Ireland began recording births, marriages and deaths centrally. The civil registration of non-Catholic marriages started in 1845, and births and deaths, along with Catholic marriages, followed in 1864. If you can find your ancestors’ certificates, they provide a wealth of detail: birth records, for example, include the mother’s maiden name and the father’s occupation;

The Republic’s certificates are kept at the General Register Office. Before you can order copies, you need to consult the indexes, to get the relevant details. You can do this at the Register Office. However, the LDS Church has created an online index for events before 1958.

 

Republic of Ireland research routes

If you’re starting research in the Republic, make sure you pay these organizations a visit. Also bear in mind that many records are kept at a local level, either in record offices, libraries or within churches.