Beginning Irish Research

1024px-Historic Irish Cemetery.jpg

View the "Getting Started in Irish Genealogy" online tutorial from FamilySearch.

Beginning Research

• "Getting Started in Irish Genealogy"
• Step 1: Discover Your Story
• Quick Start to Searching Records
• Immigration—Crossing the Pond, Pt. 1: Collect Records
• Step 2: Explore Your Family Tree
• Step 3: Find Your Ancestors
• Learning Center

Ireland, How to Find a Place Name

Introduction Events in the lives of your ancestors, including births, baptisms, marriages, and deaths, may have been officially recorded at the time they took place. In many cases, you need to know exactly where an event took place in order to find a record of it. If you don't know the place, you may be able to find that information in sources readily available to you. Ireland Record Selection Table which type of Irish records to search.

What You Are Looking For

First Identify What You Know

Look for the name of the place where an event occurred in the life of one of your ancestors.

Steps

Follow these 8 steps to find sources that will help you identify a place-name =

Step 1.Gather information from home and family sources

Many sources for identifying place-names may be found in your own home or in the home of a family member or relative. These sources may include:

•Letters.
*Family Biographies
•Journals and diaries.
•Scrapbooks.
•Family Bibles.
•Birth, baptism, marriage, or death certificates.
•Photographs.
•School records.
•Military records.
•Naturalization papers.
•Obituaries and funeral cards.
•Newspaper articles.
•Deeds.
•Pension records.
•Tax records.
•Wills and other probate records.
•The personal knowledge of older relatives.
Any of these sources could supply needed place-names. Gather information from the sources you can find in your home and from relatives.

Step 2.Write the information on forms

Write the information you find on pedigree charts and family group record forms. If you need forms, you may print them from your computer now, or you can order a supply online. You can also purchase a software program for your home computer that helps you organize your genealogy and allows you to print out these forms. Programs are available at most computer software stores. One program, Personal Ancestral File, may be downloaded online. It may also be purchased on CD-Rom. Not all of the information you collect will fit on pedigree charts and family group record forms. See Tip 1.

Step 3. Decide on a research goal

Once you have gathered information and recorded it on forms and in notes, you can see what information you have and what is missing. You may have dates without places to go with them. Even when a place is identified, you should verify that it is correct. Determine a place name, such as a place of birth, that you would like to find or verify. This is your research goal.

Step 4 Look for compiled research sources

After reviewing home and family sources and selecting a research goal, look for research on your family compiled by others. Someone else may have already identified places where the events in the lives of your ancestors occurred. Compiled research may be found in private and public collections of individuals, libraries, and societies, as well as on the Internet. For more information about finding compiled research sources, see How to Find Compiled Sources.

Step 5 Analyze what you know about your ancestor

If you are still missing the name of the place where an event in your ancestor's life occurred, you can analyze the facts you do know to help you determine where to look for the missing information. See Tip 2.

Step 6 Look for indexes

Look for indexes to records with broad coverage for Ireland or for indexes to records for the specific county where your ancestor lived. Surname indexes to collections of records may provide the names of places where people of your surname lived. You can then look for your ancestor in records of those places.
Indexed records may include:
•Civil registration records.
•Census records.
•Church records.
•Burial or cemetery records.
•Probate records.
•Tax records.
•Land records.
Indexes are available at libraries with genealogical collections, such as the Family History Library.
Indexes may also be available on Internet web sites. Some indexes are created by family history societies, private groups or individuals and may be available for purchase from them. For more information on finding indexes.
Ireland, FamilySearch Catalog Place-name Search

Step 7 Cite your sources

Every time you find new information in a record, cite your source. When you cite a source, you document the information taken from that source. If you need to look at the source again, your documentation will help you find it. If others should consult your research, they will also be able to find the source. Cite your sources on a research log, and include a library call number when applicable. If it is an original source, make note of where you found it. Your research log will serve as a guide to your research. If possible, make photocopies of your sources, and cite the sources on the copies.

Step 8. Find information about a place

Once you have identified a place, you should find information about it.

You should also locate the place on a map

Start with Ireland Maps.

Tips

Tip 1. What should I do with information that does not fit on my genealogy forms?

In addition to names, dates, and places, you will collect additional information about the lives of family members that does not fit on standard genealogy forms, such as:

•Military service.
•Education.
•Employment history.
•Social or economic status.
•Migration.
•Participation in community, social, religious, or historical events
•Physical description.
•Other biographical details.

You should keep this additional information as notes. Keep these notes with your records, or include them in the area provided for notes in your genealogy computer program. Your notes should also include the source of the information.

Tip 2. How do I analyze what I know about my ancestor?

You can analyze the facts you know about your ancestor to help determine where to look for missing information. For example, if you are looking for the birthplace of your ancestor, you might ask yourself the following questions:

•What is the earliest known fact about my ancestor?
•Where were my ancestor's parents born, married, or buried?
•Where were my ancestor's siblings born?
•Where was my ancestor married?
Where was my ancestor's spouse born?
•Where were my ancestor's children born?
•Where did my ancestor die?
•If my ancestor emigrated, who were his neighbors in the place where he eventually settled?
•Did any of my emigrant ancestor's relatives also emigrate?

You may search the records of the places where any of these events took place to see if you can find birth information for your ancestor. In addition, learning about your ancestor's relatives and neighbors may give you clues that will help you find information about your ancestor.

Where To Find It

The following are suggestions for finding indexes to records that may help you identify placenames:

• On the Internet
  Indexes to selected records of Ireland may be available on Internet web sites. In addition, many of the family history societies in Ireland and throughout the world have Internet web sites that contain lists of their publications for sale, including indexes. You can access many of the sites for Ireland and some indexes through:

• GENUKI
• CYNDISLIST
• Family History Centers have at least one index to records of Ireland in their collections:
  •International Genealogical Index, available on microfiche, on computer, and on the Internet.

Some Family History Centers will not have microfilmed indexes to records of Ireland in their collections, but centers can borrow microfilms from the Family History Library. There is a small fee to have a microfilm loaned to a center.
If an index is not available on microfilm, you may request a photocopy of an index page from the Family History Library. You should complete a Request for Photocopies form, which is available at all Family History Centers. Complete the section of the form for books, and include the library call number for the index that you obtained from the catalog. Send the form and the payment to the library.
Family History Centers are located throughout the United States and other areas of the world.

Additional resources on FamilySearch Wiki

• Category:Ireland FamilySearch Historical Records
• Category:United Kingdom

Family History Library

The Family History Library has a large collection of indexes to records of Ireland that could help you identify place-names. There is no fee for using the library's collection in person.
For a list of the library's holdings, click on FamilySearch Catalog above. Do a Place Search for both the country and your county of interest. Look for topics with Indexes as subtopics. When looking at the catalog entry for a specific index, check to see if it is available in microform and can be sent to a Family History Center.
For more information about contacting or visiting the library or a Family History Center, click on Family History Library System above.

Ireland, How to Find Compiled Sources

When you begin family history research for one of your ancestors, you should begin by looking for compiled research. Compiled research sources contain names of individuals for whom data has been transcribed, indexed, or collected. These sources were created by individuals, groups, societies, universities, archives, and commercial corporations. Determining what research has already been done by others, including your own family members, can:
• Save you valuable research time.
• Help you find information in original records more quickly.
• Help you avoid unnecessary duplication of work.
• Provide clues for further research.
• Guide your research.
The information you
find varies from record to record. These records may include:
• Names of children, spouse, parents, siblings, and other family members. • Birth or baptism, marriage, and death or burial information.
• Dates of other important events such as immigration or land purchases.
• Age at the time of dated events.
• Place or street of residence.
• Occupations.
• Schools attended.
• Military service.
• Religious affiliations.
• Country, county, or specific place of origin.
• Other biographical data.

Steps

These 7 steps will help you find and use compiled sources.

Step 1. Identify compiled sources.

Identify as many compiled sources as possible. They can include:
• Published family histories.
• Unpublished manuscript histories.
• Local histories.
• Computer databases and surname listings.
• Compiled pedigrees.
• Biographies.
• Record collections.
• Indexes to original records (such as censuses, marriages, and gravestone inscriptions).
• Registries for research exchange.
• Surname or one-name lists.
To find examples of compiled sources, see the publications listed in Where To Find It.

Step 2. Locate compiled sources.

You can find compiled sources through:
• The Internet.
• Family History Centers.
• The Family History Library.
• Archives and Libraries.
• Heritage Centres.
• Societies (family history, county, regional, and national).

Step 3. Decide which compiled sources to search.

Search for compiled sources that:
• Deal with your specific family name.
• Cover your specific place of interest.
• Cover a range of years during your ancestor's lifetime.

Step 4. Search compiled sources.

Compiled sources are often indexed or alphabetically arranged. Search for your ancestors in the compiled sources you find. In addition to your direct-line ancestors, search for their family members, relatives, or in-laws. Information about other relatives may give you clues to information about your direct-line ancestors.

Step 5. Copy and document the information in your research notes.

Copy the information from the record exactly as it was given onto the family group sheets and
pedigree chart for your ancestor. Be sure to record the source of the information onto a research< log. You may want to make a photocopy of the record for future use. To learn how to keep good notes, see Note taking & keeping for genealogists.

Step 6. Analyze and use the information found in compiled sources.

Compare any information you found in compiled sources with knowledge you already have about
your ancestor. Does it:
• Conflict with what you know? If the information conflicts, use other sources to verify it.
• Support what you know?
• Add to what you know?
Then ask yourself:
• Did the source have the information I wanted?
• Is this information accurate?
• Does this information suggest other sources to search?

Step 7. Verify information from compiled sources with otherrecords.

When you obtain information from compiled sources, you must verify the information by searching
original records.
Where to Find It
Internet Sources
FamilySearch Internet Genealogy Service
Many compiled sources are available on the Internet.You can search for compiled sources
through FamilySearch Internet Genealogy Service. FamilySearch Internet can search online
records and other web sites to see if they contain the information you need. To look for compiled
sources through FamilySearch Internet, go to Search for Ancestors and use either the All
Resources or Web Sites search option.

Websites

• National Archives of Ireland
• Irish Genealogy -- particularly for Dublin City and counties Carlow, Cork and Kerry. 
• RootsIreland's online searchable database
• Cumann Geinealais na hÉireann - Genealogical Society of Ireland
• Historic Maps
• From Ireland
• Ask About Ireland
• GenUKI
• Ireland Reaching Out
  
• Irish Times Ancestor Search

More Ireland Websites ....

Family History Centers

Family History Centers have computer databases of compiled records. In addition, a Family History Center may have some compiled sources for local families. Family History Centers can also borrow microfilms and microfiche of compiled sources from the Family History Library. The Library charges a small fee to loan microfilm or microfiche to a Family History Center.If a compiled source is not available on microfilm, you may request a photocopy from the Family History Library for a small fee. You will need to fill out a Request for Photocopies form, which is available at Family History Centers. Complete the form with the library call number for the source.
Send the form and the fee to the Family History Library. Note that many published sources are copyrighted and cannot be photocopied in their entirety.
Family History Centers] are located throughout the United States and other areas of the world. For the address of the Family History Center nearest you, see Family History Centers.
Family History Library
The Family History Library has one of the world's largest collections of compiled research sources. These include:
• International Genealogical Index--available on microfiche, on computer, and on the Internet. It includes information extracted from civil registration and church records of Ireland. You may access the index here by clicking on Search for Ancestors above and then selecting International Genealogical Index.
• Ancestral File--available on microfiche, on computer, and on the Internet. It includes information submitted by individuals researching their Irish ancestry. You may access the index here by clicking on Search for Ancestors above and then selecting Ancestral File.
• Pedigree Resource File--index only, available on the Internet. The files are on CD and may be
purchased online. You may access the index here by clicking on Search for Ancestors above and then selecting the Pedigree Resource File.
• British Isles Vital Records Index--available on CD at the library and many Family History Centers. It can also be purchased online.
• FamilySearch Catalog, Surname Search--lists published family histories; available on microfiche, on computer, and on the Internet. You may access the catalog here by clicking on FamilySearch Catalog above and then selecting Surname Search. Search for your surname of interest.
There is no fee for using the library's collection in person.
Sources for Previous Research in the British Isles lists and discusses major compiled sources available in the Family History Library. Some of these sources are available in other archives and libraries.
For information about contacting or visiting the library, click on Family History Library System above.
Archives and Libraries
Compiled sources are available in archives and libraries throughout the world. Some major archives and libraries are:
Ireland
• The National Archives of Ireland.
• General Register Office, Dublin.
• General Register Office, Belfast.
• The National Library of Ireland.
• The Public Record Office of Northern Ireland.
England
• The British Library.
• Public Record Office.
• Society of Genealogists.
Ireland, How to Find Compiled Sources

Australia and New Zealand
• National Archives of Australia.
• National Archives of New Zealand.
• National Library of New Zealand.
United States and Canada
• National Archives (U.S.), with regional branches throughout the country.
• Newberry Library.
• Library of Congress.
• New England Historic and Genealogical Society Library.
• National Library of Canada.

Addresses for archives and libraries can be found at The UK National Archives

Contact an archive or library before you visit to find out what compiled sources are available.
Heritage Centres Government sponsored offices, called Heritage Centres, are located throughout Ireland to assist individuals with their Irish family history research. They have compiled collections and indexes of Irish records, including:
• Church records.
• Census records.
• Civil registration records.
• Gravestone inscriptions.
• Tax records.
• Land records.
• School registers.
• Trade directories.
• Voters' lists.
• Workhouse records.
Centres will search their collections for a fee. For more information about these centres, go to the
Irish Family History Foundation web site.
Societies
Family history and genealogy societies may also extract and index records and may have collections of research done by their members and others. Many societies also publish journals< and periodicals that include compiled research.
Some of the societies in Ireland include:
• Local family history societies.
• The Irish Family History Society.
• The North of Ireland Family History Society.
• The Ulster Historical Foundation.

Ireland, How to Find Information About a Place Where Your Ancestor Lived

Once you have identified the name of a place in Ireland where your ancestor lived, you should learn more about it. Knowing details about a place will help you find records about your ancestor.
For more detail, see Background.
Sources that provide information about places in Ireland include:
• Gazetteers.
• Topographical dictionaries.
• Townland Indexes.
What You Are Looking For
The information you find varies from source to source. In these sources you may find information
about:
• Location.
• Jurisdictions.
• Places of religious worship.
• Geographical descriptions.
• Population.
• Industries and manufacturing.
• Land use.
• Geological features.
• Estates.

Steps

These 5 steps will help you find information about a place in Ireland.

Step 1. Choose a place where your ancestor lived.

Look at the information you have gathered and choose the name of a parish, town, or townland
where your ancestor lived. If only the county or country is known, go to How To Find a Place-Name.
Ireland

Step 2. Choose a gazetteer.

Choose a gazetteer or similar source to search. The following gazetteers are listed in order of the amount and value of the information they give. These gazetteers are available at the Family History Library. Other gazetteers may be available at a library near you. You may want to look at more than one gazetteer to gather details about the place you have chosen.

• The Parliamentary Gazetteer of Ireland. 1844 Gives location, jurisdictions, geographical description, local religions, local estates, industries and manufacturing, land use, and population breakdown by religion.
• Lewis's Topographical Dictionary of Ireland. 1837 and later editions Gives location, jurisdictions, geographical description, local religions, local estates, industries and manufacturing, land use, and population.
• Cassell's Gazetteer of Great Britain and Ireland. 1894-1898 Gives location, geographical description, local religions, local estates, industries and manufacturing, and land use. Index to the Townlands, *Towns, Parishes, and Baronies of Ireland, 1851. 1851; reprinted 1984 Alphabetical list of townlands and towns giving the county, barony, civil parish, and poor law union jurisdictions.
• Bartholomew's Survey Gazetteer of the British Isles.
  Original, 1904; 9th edition, 1943; reprinted 1966 Gives location and geographical description; also gives jurisdictions, industries and manufacturing, and population for larger cities.

Gazetteers and topographical dictionaries are not the only sources for information about placenames.
For more sources, see Tip 1.

Step 3. Obtain a copy of a gazetteer.

You may find gazetteers at:
• Family History Centers.
• The Family History Library.
• Other archives and libraries.

Step 4 Search the gazetteer for the place-name.

Once you have obtained a copy of a gazetteer, look for the name of the place where your ancestor lived. Information in gazetteers is arranged alphabetically by the place-name.
If you cannot find the place in a gazetteer or other place-name source, see Tip 2.

Step 5. Copy the information and note the source.

Copy the information about the place-name onto family group sheets, a pedigree chart, and in your notes. Some of the information may not seem helpful at this time but may be important in future research. You may want to make a photocopy of the information directly from the source.
Be sure to write down the source of the information on a research log, including any library call numbers. Be specific when writing down this information. If you should ever need to look at the source again, your documentation will show where to find it in the record. If anyone else should consult your research, they will also see where the source is located. Your research log will serve as a guide to your research.

Tips

Tip 1. Where else can I find information about a place?

Information about places can also be found in:
• County histories.
• Town or parish histories.
• County directories.
• Descriptive regional guides.
• Encyclopedias.
Look for these other types of sources in a local archive or library catalog. To search the Family
History Library Catalog, go to What to Do Next, select the Catalog, and look for the county, town,
or parish, and your topic of choice.
The Internet may also provide sources of information about places in Ireland.

Tip 2. What if I cannot find the place-name in any of the suggested sources?

You may not find a place-name because it is:
• Misspelled.
• Known by another name.
• Obsolete.
• A farm or other property name.
We suggest you contact the Ordnance Survey offices in Ireland to see if they can assist you.
Their addresses, including e-mail, are listed on their web sites:
• Republic of Ireland
• Northern Ireland

Tip 3. How can I find a map showing the place where my ancestor lived?

For information on how to find a map, see How To Find Maps.
Background
Once you have identified a specific place in Ireland where your ancestor came from, you need to identify the jurisdictions that included that place. Knowing jurisdictions is important when looking for records. Church records are kept by ecclesiastical authorities, but one religion's jurisdictions are not the same as another. In addition, civil jurisdictions are different than religious, and there have been several levels of civil jurisdiction that have kept records of genealogical value.

Jurisdictions of importance include:
• Ecclesiastical parish.
• Diocese.
• Civil parish.
• Barony.
• Poor law union.
• District electoral division.
• County.
• Province.
When you find a source of information about your place, make note of all of the jurisdictions in which it is included.
Where to Find It Family History Centers
Family History Centers may have gazetteers for Ireland on microfiche or microfilm. Other placename sources may also be available. Centers can purchase microfiche or borrow microfilm from the Family History Library. There is a small fee to have a microfilm sent on loan to a center.
Family History Centers are located throughout the United States and other areas of the world.
Find a Family History Center near you.
Family History Library
The Family History Library has several gazetteers and other place-name sources for Ireland in book form as well as on microfilm or microfiche. There is no fee for using the library's collection in person.
You may request photocopies of pages from a gazetteer or other source from the library for a small fee. You will need to fill out a Request for Photocopies form, which is available at all Family History Centers. Complete the form with the book, film, or fiche number you found in your search of the FamilySearch Catalog (see What to Do Next). Send the form and payment to the Family History Library.
Other Archives and Libraries
Addresses for archives and libraries can be found at The UK National Archives .

Useful websites

• National Archives of Ireland
• Irish Genealogy -- particularly for Dublin City and counties Carlow, Cork and Kerry. 
• Irish Family History Foundation's online searchable database 
• Cumann Geinealais na hÉireann - Genealogical Society of Ireland
• Historic Maps
• From Ireland
• Ask About Ireland
• GenUKI
• Ireland Reaching Out
• Irish Times Ancestor Search
• Irish Genealogical Research Society

More Ireland Websites ....

International Genealogical Index (FamilySearch) - free