Ireland Research Tips and Strategies

Guided Research
See the best online databases to start you in locating birth, marriage, and death information in Ireland.
 * Ireland Guided Research - More about Guided Research

Beginning Research
If you are just beginning to research your Irish ancestors, here are some helps to get you started. Choose an event to learn about in the life of your Irish ancestors:


 * Birth
 * Marriage
 * Death/Burial
 * Immigration:

1864 to Present
Irish genealogical research from 1864 to the present should be relatively straightforward. The main sources used in this period are:


 * Civil Registration
 * Census (only 1901 and 1911 survive in whole)

Other records that may be used:


 * Will and Probate Records
 * Newspapers
 * Cemetery records

Before 1864
Research in this period can be more challenging. The main source used is:


 * Church Records

Other sources that may be used are:


 * Census Fragments (where they exist)
 * Civil Registration (for Protestant marriages 1845-1863)
 * Griffiths Registration
 * Tithe Records and other Land, Taxation registers
 * Cemeteries

Research Tips

 * Date of birth or finding parents.  Irish civil registration marriage records give the names of the fathers of the bride and groom, and often give the ages of the bride and groom.  Search the Ireland Marriages - FamilySearch Historical Records
 * Finding children or parents.   Civil registration records may contain a birth record with this information.  Search Ireland Civil Registrations
 * General A Primer in Irish Genealogy