Ireland Directories

Directories are alphabetical lists of names with corresponding addresses. Knowing an individual's address can be very helpful in searching the census records of a large city (see Ireland Census). The information in directories is for the year they are published. Directories for Dublin first appeared in the early eighteenth century and continue today. Provincial (town) directories began somewhat later and have continued only sporadically. Besides names and addresses, directories sometimes include:
 * City maps.
 * Indexes or listings of inhabitants by streets.
 * Addresses of schools, churches, cemeteries, and other institutions.
 * Streets and the civil parishes they are in.

Inclusion or omission in directories of successive years may indicate when a person moved to or left a city, retired, or died. Not everyone was listed in directories, but those who had a trade or were of a higher social status were generally listed.

The following types of directories may be found for areas of Ireland:


 * City, Postal or Commercial directories, which provide alphabetical lists of people.


 * Trade directories, which provide alphabetical lists of trades and professions with the names and sometimes residential addresses of persons engaged in those trades or professions.


 * Court directories, which list government officials and private (upper-class) residents.


 * Law directories, which name judges, lawyers, notaries, and staff of various courts.


 * Telephone directories, which give names, addresses, and telephone numbers of individuals and businesses.


 * Specialty or Professional directories, which were occasionally published for various occupations.


 * Organizational directories, which list addresses of societies, libraries, newspapers, and other organizations.


 * Church directories, which give information about and addresses for church jurisdictions, buildings, and leaders (see Ireland Church Directories).

For a list of Irish directories and a summary of the information contained in each, consult:

Ffolliott, Rosemary, and Donal F. Begley. "Guide to Irish Directories." In Irish Genealogy: A Record Finder

The Family History Library has many Irish directories. These are listed in the Place Search of the catalog under the following headings:

IRELAND - DIRECTORIES

IRELAND, [COUNTY] - DIRECTORIES

IRELAND, [COUNTY], [CITY] - DIRECTORIES

Additional city directories listing major cities in Ireland i.e. Belfast, Dublin, Londonderry (Derry), Cork etc., also cover major cities in England, Scotland and Wales. In some instances, these are not cataloged to include the cities they cover in Ireland. When a published work covers more than one country in the British Isles, it is cataloged under England as the default location to place it in the collection. To identify other possible directories with Ireland material, look in the Place Search portion of the catalog under the following headings:

ENGLAND - DIRECTORIES

Online Databases
Ireland
 * FindMyPast Complete Directory Listing $
 * 1783-1829 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
 * 1814 - How to Use this Collection; index, images available through FindMyPast
 * FindMyPast Leet's Directory 2nd Ed. 1814 $
 * 1835 - How to Use this Collection; index, images available through findmypast
 * 1843 - How to Use this Collection; index, images available through findmypast
 * FindMyPast I Slater National Commercial Directory of Ireland 1846 $
 * 1856 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index, images available on FindMyPast
 * The Genealogist Thom's Official Directory of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland 1859 $ 14 Day Free Trial
 * FindMyPast Thom's Irish Almanac and Official Directory 1868 $
 * 1868 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index, images available through FindMyPast
 * FindMyPast Slater's Royal National Commercial Directory of Ireland 1870 $
 * 1880 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index, images available on FindMyPast
 * FindMyPast Slater's Royal National Commercial Directory of Ireland 1881 $
 * FindMyPast Thom's Irish Almanac and Official Directory 1884 $
 * 1884 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * 1894 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index, images available on FindMyPast
 * FindMyPast Slater's Royal National Commercial Directory of Ireland 1894 $
 * FindMyPast Thom's Official Directory of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, Irish Section 1894 $
 * The Genealogist Thom's Official Directory of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland 1898 $ 14 Day Free Trial
 * Ancestry.com Thom's Official Directory of Ireland 1904 $ (2,264 records)
 * 1923 - How to Use this Collection; index - Free, images available on FindMyPast
 * FindMyPast Thom's Official Directory of Ireland 1910 $
 * 1910 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index, images available on FindMyPast
 * The Genealogist Thom's Official Directory of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland 1913 $ 14 Day Free Trial
 * Ireland, City and Regional Directories, 1836-1947 at Ancestry - index & images ($)

Ireland Provincial Directories

Leinster Province Munster Province Ulster Province
 * FindMyPast Pigot and Co. City of Dublin and Hibernian Provincial Directory 1824 $
 * FindMyPast Shearman's Directory of Waterford, Kilkenny, and the Southeast 1839 $
 * FindMyPast Shearman's Directory of Waterford, Kilkenny, and the Southeast 1839 $
 * FindMyPast Henry and Coughlan's General Directory of Cork and Munster for 1867 $
 * FindMyPast Guy's Directory of Munster 1893 $
 * FindMyPast James Alexander Henderson the Belfast and Province of Ulster Directory for 1856 $
 * FamilySearch Business Directory of Belfast and Principal Towns in the Province of Ulster 1865-66 Browsable Images, item 7 (images 969-1213) Includes directories for towns in the counties of Armagh, Down, Antrim, Londonderry, Tyrone, and Monaghan.

City, Postal or Commercial Directories

Antrim Clare Cork Derry (Also known as Londonderry) Down Dublin Fermanagh Galway Kerry Kilkenny Laois (Also known as Leix or Queens) Limerick Louth Offaly (Also known as Kings) Sligo Tipperary Waterford Wexford
 * Google Books Joseph Smith Belfast Directories: Reprint J.R.R. Adams, ed. Merchants in Plenty 1807/8
 * Ancestry.com Holden's Annual London and Country Directory, of the United Kingdoms, and Wales, in Three Volumes, for the Year 1811. $
 * Ulster Historical Society Belfast Almanack 1820 $
 * FamilySearch Henderson's Belfast Directory 1831-2 Browsable Images, item 2 (images 79-138)
 * FindMyPast Matier's Belfast Directory 1835-6 $
 * FamilySearch Matier's Belfast Directory 1835-6 Browsable Images, item 2 (images 144-286)
 * FamilySearch Belfast Directory 1839 Browsable Images, item 3 (images 292-429)
 * FamilySearch Martin's Belfast Directory 1841-2 Browsable Images, item 4 (images 437-610)
 * FamilySearch Martin's Belfast Directory 1842-3 Browsable Images, item 1 (images 6-193)
 * FamilySearch Henderson's New Belfast Directory 1843-4 Browsable Images, item 2 (images 200-433)
 * FamilySearch Henderson's Belfast Directory 1846-7 Browsable Images, item 3, (images 440-671)
 * FindMyPast Henderson's Belfast Directory 1850 $
 * FindMyPast James Alexander Henderson the Belfast and Province of Ulster Directory for 1856 $
 * Clare County Library Lucas's Directory of Ireland, Ennis 1788
 * Clare County Library Leet's Directory of Clare, 1814
 * Clare County Library Pigot's Directory of Clare for the towns of Ennis, Killaloe, and Kilrush, 1824
 * Clare County Library Hogan's Directory of Kilkee, 1842
 * Clare County Library Hogan's Directory of Kilkee, 1863
 * Clare County Library Slater's National Directory, 1870
 * Clare County Library Bassett's Directory, 1876-6
 * Clare County Library Bassett's Directory, 1880-1
 * FindMyPast Bassett's Directory of Limerick City and County adn Principal Towns in the Counties of Clare, Tipperary, and Kerry 1881 $
 * Clare County Library Slater's National Directory, 1881
 * FindMyPast Ashe's Limerick and Clare Directory 1891-92 $
 * Clare County Library Guy's Directory, 1893
 * Cork Past and Present.IE McDonnell's Cork City Directory 1753
 * Cork Past and Present.IE McDonnell's Cork City Directory 1754
 * Cork Past and Present.IE McDonnell's Cork City Directory 1755
 * Cork Past and Present.IE Lucas's Cork Directory 1787
 * Cork Past and Present.IE Holden's Triennial Directory 1805-1807
 * Cork Past and Present.IE West's Cork Directory 1809-1810
 * Cork Past and Present.IE Pigot's Directory Cork City and County 1824
 * Cork Past and Present.IE Finny's Cork Almanack 1830
 * Cork Past and Present.IE Jackson's County and City of Cork P.O. General Directory 1842
 * Cork Past and Present.IE Aldwell's County and City P.O. General Directory 1844
 * Cork Past and Present.IE Slater's Directory of Cork and Cobh 1846
 * Cork Past and Present.IE Purcell's Commercial Cork Almanac 1852
 * Cork Past and Present.IE Purcell's Commercial Cork Almanac 1855
 * Cork Past and Present.IE Slater's Directory of Cork City and County 1856
 * Cork Past and Present.IE Laing's Cork Mercantile Directory 1863
 * FindMyPast Henry and Coughlan's General Directory of Cork and Munster for 1867 $
 * Cork Past and Present.IE Henry and Coughlan's General Directory of Cork and Munster for 1867
 * Cork Past and Present.IE Slater's Directory of Cork City and County 1870
 * Cork Past and Present.IE Fulton's City of Cork and Queenstown Directory 1871
 * Cork Past and Present.IE Wilkies Cork City Directory 1872
 * Cork Past and Present.IE Guy's City and County of Cork 1875-1876
 * Cork Past and Present.IE Slater's Directory of Cork City and County 1881
 * Cork Past and Present.IE Guy's Cork City and County Almanac and Directory 1883
 * Cork Past and Present.IE Guy's City and County Almanac and Directory 1884
 * Cork Past and Present.IE Guy's Topographical Dictionary of County Cork 1889
 * Cork Past and Present.IE Guy's City and County Almanac and Directory 1891
 * Cork Past and Present.IE Guy's Cork City and County Directory 1893
 * Cork Past and Present.IE Guy's City and County Almanac and Directory 1897
 * Cork Past and Present.IE Guy's City and County Almanac and Directory 1903
 * Cork Past and Present.IE Guy's City and County Almanac and Directory 1907
 * Cork Past and Present.IE Guy's City and County Almanac and Directory 1910
 * Cork Past and Present.IE Guy's City and County Almanac and Directory 1913
 * Cork Past and Present.IE Guy's City and County Almanac and Directory 1916
 * Cork Past and Present.IE Guy's City and County Almanac and Directory 1921
 * Cork Past and Present.IE Guy's City and County Almanac and Directory 1925
 * Cork Past and Present.IE Guy's City and County Almanac and Directory 1930
 * Cork Past and Present.IE Guy's City and County Almanac and Directory 1935
 * Cork Past and Present.IE Guy's City and County Almanac and Directory 1940
 * Cork Past and Present.IE Guy's City and County Almanac and Directory 1943
 * Cork Past and Present.IE Guy's City and County Almanac and Directory 1945
 * Rootsireland Derry Almanac and Directory 1921 $ (8,367 records)
 * Rootsireland Derry Almanac and Directory 1930 $ (9,084 records)
 * FindMyPast George Bassett County Down Guide and Directory 1886 $
 * FindMyPast Treble Almanack and Dublin Directory 1783 $
 * Ancestry.com Wilson's 1820 Dublin Directory $ (7,721 records)
 * From-Ireland.net Wilson's 1820 Dublin Directory
 * FindMyPast Wilson's 1820 Dublin Directory $
 * FindMyPast Pigot and Co. City of Dublin and Hibernian Provincial Directory 1824 $
 * FindMyPast Pettigrew & Oulton's Dublin Almanack & General Register of Ireland 1835-1845 $
 * 1843 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index, images available through findmypast
 * FindMyPast Post Office Annual Directory and Calendar for 1843 Dublin $
 * FindMyPast Ireland Thom's Directory 1844-1900 $
 * 1858 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index, images available through findmypast
 * FindMyPast Post Office Annual Directory and Calendar for 1858 $
 * FindMyPast Thom's Irish Almanac and Official Directory 1868 $
 * FindMyPast Thom's Irish Almanac and Official Directory 1884 $
 * FindMyPast Macloskie's Directory of Fermanagh 1848 $
 * Rootsireland Slater's and Pigot's Directories 1824-1894 $ (7,799 records)
 * FindMyPast Bassett's Directory of Limerick City and County adn Principal Towns in the Counties of Clare, Tipperary, and Kerry 1881 $
 * FindMyPast Shearman's Directory of Waterford, Kilkenny, and the Southeast 1839 $
 * FindMyPast George Bassett Kilkenny City and County Guide and Directory 1884 $
 * Rootsireland Lucas's Directory 1788 $ (79 records)
 * Rootsireland Pigot's Directory 1824 $ (559 records)
 * Rootsireland Slater's Directory 1846-1894 $ (7,744 records)
 * Rootsireland Porter's Directory 1908 $ (330 records)
 * Limerick City.IE Limerick Street Directories 1769-1976
 * FindMyPast Bassett's Directory of Limerick City and County adn Principal Towns in the Counties of Clare, Tipperary, and Kerry 1881 $
 * FindMyPast Ashe's Limerick and Clare Directory 1891-92 $
 * FindMyPast Guy's Limerick Directory 1912 $
 * FindMyPast George Bassett Louth County Guide and Directory 1886 $
 * Rootsireland Pigot's Directory 1824 $ (530 records)
 * Rootsireland Slater's Directory 1846-1894 $ (7,475 records)
 * Rootsireland Birr Directory 1889 $ (324 records)
 * FindMyPast King's County Directory 1890 $
 * Rootsireland Porter's Directory 1908 $ (246 records)
 * FindMyPast Sligo Chronicle Almanac and Directory for 1878 $
 * FindMyPast Sligo Independent Newspaper, County Directory, Almanac and Guide 1889 $
 * Rootsireland North Tipperary Street Directories 1846-1919 $ (12,897 records)
 * FindMyPast Bassett's Directory of Limerick City and County adn Principal Towns in the Counties of Clare, Tipperary, and Kerry 1881 $
 * FindMyPast Shearman's Directory of Waterford, Kilkenny, and the Southeast 1839 $
 * FindMyPast Harvey's Waterford Almanac and Directory for 1866 $
 * FindMyPast George Bassett Wexford County Guide and Directory 1885 $

Specialty or Professional Directories

Leather Medical
 * Fáilte Romhat Kelly's Directory of the Leather Trades in Ireland 1915
 * Ancestry.com UK and Ireland Medical Directories, 1845-1942 $ (738,852 records)
 * FindMyPast Ireland Medical Directory 1852 $
 * FindMyPast Ireland Medical Directory 1858 $, FS Index -

Trade Directories
 * Ancestry.com Ireland 1931 Trade Directory $ (13,000 records)
 * FindMyPast Ireland 1931 Trade Directory $
 * Ancestry.com Guinness Business Archive 1824-2002 $

Church Directories


 * Ancestry.com UK Directory of Clergy, Church of Ireland 1897 $