If you are just starting researching your ancestors in Ireland, here are a few of my favourite sites!
Archives
Offers research and genealogy information. Online resources can be accessed using the Online Finding Aid Databases link on the homepage. Records of interest include the Famine Relief Commission Papers, 1845-1847, Probate Offices (searches the Testamentary Index from 1983), Ireland-Australia transportation database and the directory of sources for women’s history in Ireland.
National Archives of Ireland – Genealogy Site
This site offers free access to searchable databases and images of the original records for:
- Census Records for 1901 and 1911
- Tithe Applotment Books 1823 to 1837 – These books were compiled in order to establish the amount occupiers of agricultural land over one acre should pay towards the upkeep of the Church of Ireland. The taxable land in each parish was surveyed, giving the names of the occupiers of land in each townland, the acreage and class of land they held, and the amount of taxes (tithes) they were liable for
- Soldiers’ Wills 1914 to 1917. This collection of wills of Irish soldiers who died while serving in the British Army includes a small number from the South African War, 1899-1902. Wills for the period 1918-1922 will be added in 2013
- Calendars of Wills and Administrations 1858 to 1922 – Search by deceased name and also by name of executor/beneficiary. The Calendars give details of principal family relationships and the deceased’s occupation, address and assets. New
- Other records to be added to this site include:
- Nineteenth century census survivals, 1821-51
- Valuation Office House and Field Books, 1848-1869
- Census Search Forms for the 1841 and 1851 censuses
PRONI – Public Record Office of Northern Ireland
You will find information and online guides including a PRONI Guide to Church Records. Online databases include Freeholders’ Records, Ulster Covenant, Wills Calendars, Name Search and Street Directory databases.
Offers access to online catalogues and databases. Click on the Family History Research link for access to a Family History Getting Started guide that can be downloaded as a PDF file. The online catalogue searches across printed, manuscript, visual and digitised material (including 33,000+ photographic images).
Sources: A National Library of Ireland database for Irish Research
Contains over 180,000+ catalogue records for Irish manuscripts and for articles in Irish periodicals.
National Library of Ireland, Irish Historic Photographs
Over 33,000 historic photographs of Ireland are available online.
This project is an initiative of the Irish public libraries, local museums and archives to digitise and online publish original, unusual and unique material from their local studies’ collections. Use the Reading Room link to access a vast collection of unique digital books. The collection can be viewed by county or subject. Books can be viewed online (PDF file to your browser).
Birth, Death and Marriage Records
This website is home to the historic records of Births, Marriages and Deaths of the General Register Office.
You will be able to search records from a number of on-line sources including the historic Registers and Indexes to the Civil Registers of Births, Marriages and Deaths, the Church Records already available on www.irishgenealogy.ie, and others such as the 1901 and 1911 Census and Soldiers wills to name a few.
The Historical Record Collections for United Kingdom and Ireland include:
Births and Baptisms, 1620-1881
- Civil Registration Indexes, birth, death & marriages 1864-1958. Marriage index 1845-1864 (non-Catholic)
- Calendar of Wills and Administrations, 1858-1920
- Deaths, 1864-1870
- Landed Estate Court Files, 1850-1885 (in conjunction with findmypast.ie)
- Marriages, 1619-1898
- Prison Registers, 1790-1924 (in conjunction with findmypast.ie)
- Tithe Applotment Books, 1814-1855
This free family history website by the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht offers a ‘one-stop’ search facility for Irish records including:
- Church records – with access to 3+ million pre 1900 church record transcripts. Currently Church of Ireland records for Dublin City, Kerry and Carlow are available plus Roman Catholic records for Dublin City, the Diocese of Kerry and the Diocese of Cork & Ross. Free digital images of the original records are online if available.
- 1901/1911 Census records
- Tithe Applotments
- Soldier’s Wills
- Griffith’s Valuations
- Ireland – Australia Transportation database
- Military Archives
- Ellis Island (USA arrivals)
- National Photographic Archive from the National Library of Ireland
Allows access to photographs and monumental inscriptions from digitally surveyed graveyards and cemeteries in Ireland. Most of the records date from the 19th and 20th century.
Ireland Genealogy Projects Archives
Gives access to a valuable collection of material that is not readily available elsewhere including monumental inscriptions, photographs of headstones, parish registers and civil registration records.
This County Antrim based site provides parishes and councils with a complete set of up-to-date graveyard records and an online Graveyard Management System to record future burials. There are 100,000+ graveyard records online plus a comprehensive online search facility. The search return includes a link to a photograph of the headstone (free).
This site is by the Irish Family History Foundation, coordinators of the county genealogy centres network. The records include transcriptions of parish records; civil registration records; census records and substitutes; cemetery inscriptions plus land records such as Griffith’s Land Valuation indexes and the Tithe Applotment Books. Over 20 million+ records are online.
This is a subscription based site. You can purchase 1 day, 1 month, 6 month or 12 month subscriptions. As the site provides transcriptions only I find it works well with Irish Genealogy where you can view and download scanned copies of the actual records. I was able to correct many transcription errors using Irish Genealogy.
Records available include
- Land and Estate Records
- Griffith’s Valuation of Ireland
- Irish Prison records
- Directories containing millions of records
- Military & rebellion records
- Migration records
- Wills dating back to the 13th century
Is, in my opinion, a great site with ‘web-linking site’ for British baptism, marriage and burials records 1538 to 1900.
For a small monthly or annual fee you have online access to 1 million plus birth, marriage, death and census record transcripts for the Northern Ireland counties of Antrim, Armagh, Down, Fermanagh, Londonderry and Tyrone. It’s a great starting point!
Information on birth, death and marriage records in the Republic of Ireland plus details on the location of church records.
General Register Office Northern Ireland
Information for the online ordering of births, death and marriage certificates for Northern Ireland.
Inscriptions from 800 plus Northern Ireland graveyards. The databases cover counties Antrim, Armagh, Down, Fermanagh, Londonderry and Tyrone.
Ireland Old News, Irish Death Notice Index
Access to 54,600 plus obituaries of people who were born and/or died in Ireland, or whose deaths were mentioned in Irish newspapers.
Census Records
National Archives of Ireland, Census Records for Ireland 1901 and 1911.
The household returns and ancillary records have been digitized and are available online for free. This fully searchable site offers a basic name, age and place search.
The records are fully indexed with a free surname search. Subscription options offer access to transcripts or digitized records. Data collections include:
Ireland Birth, Marriage & Death
Ireland Military
| Ireland, Casualties of World War I, 1914-1918 | |
| View other Military collections related to Ireland. |
Ireland Immigration & Travel
Ireland Newspapers & Publications
| Belfast, Northern Ireland, The Belfast Newsletter, 1738-1925 | |
| Ireland, Newspapers, 1763-1890 | |
| View other Newspapers & Publications collections related to Ireland. |
Ireland Pictures
| Ireland, Lawrence Collection of photographs, 1870 – 1910 | |
| United Kingdom & Ireland Historical PostcardsFREE | |
| View other Pictures collections related to Ireland. |
Ireland Schools, Directories & Church Histories
Ireland Convict, Criminal, Land & Wills
Ireland Reference, Dictionaries & Almanacs
Ireland Maps, Atlases & Gazetteers
Ireland Stories, Memories & Histories
Ireland Genealogy Projects Archives.
You will find a limited collection of material that is not readily available elsewhere, such as transcriptions and photographs of headstones. Information is arranged by county and within each county by cemetery records, church records, census, census substitutes, court, directories, headstones, land, military & constabulary, newspaper, miscellaneous, obituaries, photos, vital records and wills.
Ancestry Ireland – Ulster Historical Foundation.
Search over 2 million Irish family history records including Birth, Marriage & Death (BMD) records for Antrim and Down. This is a pay per view site which offers online databases with 2 million+ records, genealogy and history books, and personal ancestral research. Some free searches and pay-per-view services are available. This is a site that I use on a very regular basis.
The Public Record Office of Northern Ireland
Online indexes and images include:
- The Ulster Covenant – 500,000 digitized signatures of those who opposed Home Rule for Ireland
- Freeholders’ Records – list those entitled to vote
- Street Directories – Thirty directories (1819-1900)
- Will Calendars – provides a fully searchable index to the will calendar entries for the district probate registries of Armagh, Belfast and Londonderry. The will calendar entry is returned with the search. The database currently covers 1858-1919 and 1922-1943. Part of 1921 has been added, entries for 1920-1921 to follow in the near future. Digitized images of entries from the copy will books 1858-1900 are online.
- Name Search – to an index to pre-1858 wills; diocesan will indexes; surviving fragments of 1740, 1766 religious census returns; 1775 dissenters petitions and pre-1920 coroners’ inquest papers
- Photos on Flickr and records on CAIN (Conflict Archive on the Internet) Records relate to conflict and politics in Northern Ireland (1968-1980)
- Records from the Derry City Council Archive and Genealogical Service including minute books, correspondence, drawings, art work, and collections relating to the railway industry, shirt factories and civil rights. The minute books have been digitized and are online.
Site Description: “For generations, Ballymoney folk have left their homes to travel across the world and begin new lives abroad. Many were pioneers who helped to build the New World in North America, New Zealand and Australia. Others travelled across the Irish Sea seeking work in Britain. They all left behind a land that they loved and ensured that their descendents would always be proud of their family origins back in Co. Antrim.”
TWISTED LIMBS & CROOKED BRANCHES 
Incredible resource list – great job!
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Thanks Elton, your comment made me realize the list is in serious need of updating! 🙂
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