Ancestor-Hunting in Ireland
More than 39 million Americans claim Irish ancestry, and the desire to trace those long-lost roots back to the "auld sod" can run deep. Here are some pointers for how you can make your trip to Ireland a journey into your past.
The first port of call is a visit to Ireland's online national archives (www.nationalarchives.ie), which has volumes of information and is constantly releasing genealogy records with an extensive search function through the census of 1901 and 1911, which may help you trace your relations before you leave home.
Before You Go
The more you can learn about your ancestors, the more fruitful your search is going to be once you're on Irish soil. Crucial facts include:
- The name of your ancestor
- Names of that ancestor's parents and spouse
- His or her date of birth, marriage, or death
- County, parish, and townland of origin in Ireland
- Religious denomination
The first place to seek information is directly from members of your family. A grandparent or a great-aunt with a story to tell can be the source of important clues. And relatives may have documents stored away that can help with your sleuthing—old letters, wills, diaries, birth certificates, and photos.
On the Ground in Ireland
General Register Office. Civil records—dating back to 1865—are available at the General Register Office. Records for Anglican marriages date from 1845. Werburg St., Dublin, Co. Dublin, Dublin 2. 01/863–8200; www.gov.ie/gro.
The Mellon Centre for Migration Studies. For Northern Ireland, you can find information at the Mellon Centre for Migration Studies at the Ulster American Folk Park. Ulster American Folk Park, 2 Mellon Rd., Omagh, Co. Tyrone, BT78 5QY. 028/8225–6315; www.mellonmigrationcentre.com.
National Archives. These extensive archives include census records and, like the National Library, they provide free genealogy consultations on weekdays from 10 am to 1:30 pm. A lot of the archives are now online. Bishop St., Dublin, Co. Dublin, Dublin 8. 01/407–2300; www.nationalarchives.ie.
National Library of Ireland. Ancestor hunters have long traveled throughout Ireland to comb parish church records, but most of these records are now available on microfilm in Dublin at the National Library of Ireland and increasingly through their online service. The library is a great place to begin your hunting; you can consult a research adviser there free of charge. Kildare St., Dublin, Co. Dublin, Dublin 2. 01/661–2523; www.nli.ie.
Public Record Office. 2 Titanic Blvd., Queen's Island, Titanic Quarter, Belfast, Co. Down, BT3 9HQ. 028/9053–4800; www.nidirect.gov.uk/proni.
The National Archives has paved the way in putting historical census information online, and the websites listed provide information about genealogical research.
If you'd rather not spend your vacation in a records hall, you can hire a professional to do your spadework. The Association of Professional Genealogists in Ireland (www.irishgenealogy.ie) will present you with a "package of discovery" upon your arrival.
The Irish Times newspaper also has ancestor-hunting resources (www.johngrenham.com), and the National Library provides references for professionals.
