Ireland Archives and Libraries

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 * Archives collect and preserve original documents of organizations such as churches or governments. Libraries generally collect published sources such as books, maps, and microfilm.
 * If you plan to visit a repository, contact them and ask for information about their collection, hours, services, and fees. Ask if they require you to have a reader’s ticket (a paper indicating you are a responsible researcher) to view the records, and ask how to obtain one.
 * Although the records you need may be in an archive or library, the FamilySearch Library may have microfilmed and/or digitized copies of them.
 * Although the records you need may be in an archive or library, the FamilySearch Library may have microfilmed and/or digitized copies of them.

National Archives
Both the National Archives (Ireland) and the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland collect records for all of Ireland. Neither staff does major research for patrons, but both may conduct brief searches if you supply them with sufficient information.
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National Archives, Republic of Ireland
Bishop Street Dublin D08 DF85 Ireland (Eire) [mailto:mail@nationalarchives.ie mail@nationalarchives.ie] Website

The National Archives was created in 1988 by merging the State Paper Office (created in 1702) and the Public Record Office of Ireland (created in 1867). Records at the National Archives include Church of Ireland parish records, gravestone inscriptions, census returns, probate records, deeds, Tithe Applotment books, rebellion and outrage papers, convict reference files, and other historical and genealogical sources. Some records, or indexes, have been digitized and are searchable on the archives' website.

Public Record Office of Northern Ireland (PRONI)
2 Titanic Boulevard Belfast BT3 9HQ Northern Ireland [mailto:proni@dcalni.gov.uk proni@dcalni.gov.uk] Website  The Public Record Office of Northern Ireland has a fairly complete collection of church records (all denominations) for all of Northern Ireland as well as some records for the counties of Donegal, Cavan, and Monaghan. The office's holdings also include estate papers, gravestone inscriptions, census records, Tithe Applotment books, valuation lists, and other historical and genealogical sources. Some records, or indexes, have been digitized and are searchable on the PRONI website.

Religious Archives
Church of Ireland RCB Library Braemor Park Churchtown Dublin 14 D14 N735

Tel: +353 (0)1 492 3979 Email: library@ireland.anglican.org
 * Request a Search
 * List of Parish Registers

National Library of Ireland
Kildare Street Dublin 2 Ireland (Eire) [mailto:info@nli.ie info@nli.ie] Website Family History Service

The National Library is Ireland's main repository of filmed Catholic parish registers. Other records on deposit at the National Library include newspapers, city and regional directories, estate records, the Householders Index, and Griffith's Primary Valuation. The library's staff does not do commissioned searches. An online database, Sources: a National Library of Ireland database for Irish Research should be searched before visiting the library.

The National Collection of Northern Ireland Publications
National Collection of Northern Ireland Publications 17 Donegall Square North Belfast BT1 5GB Northern Ireland Telephone: +44 (0)28 9032 1707 E-mail: info@linenhall.com NIPR Website
 * NIPR (formerly known as the Northern Ireland Publications Resource) is Northern Ireland’s National Collection of Northern Ireland Publications, a systematic collection and catalogue of all books, journals, pamphlets and reports published in Northern Ireland. As Northern Ireland has no National Library, no local institution is legally responsible for collecting all material published in Northern Ireland. Prior to the creation of NIPR, there was no reliable way of finding out what was published in Northern Ireland, who was collecting it, and where it was held.


 * With funding from the British Library, the Library and Information Services Council for Northern Ireland set out to redress the situation and officially launched the Northern Ireland Publications Resource (NIPR) in October 2000. The aim of the project was to collect every book, pamphlet, journal and periodical published in Northern Ireland since January 2000, preserving them for posterity and make them available for consultation by the general public. After a successful initial two-year pilot scheme, further funding was provided by the Northern Ireland Executive to continue the scheme.

The Linen Hall Library, Belfast, is our lead partner, provide assistance with collecting and preserving the collection, and a dedicated repository has been set up within the Linen Hall Library to house the collection.

Public Libraries and Museums

 * Each county and most major cities in Ireland have a main library. Many of these libraries have a local and family history collection. These collections may include estate records, newspapers, gravestone inscriptions, minute books of various local and county government agencies, poor law records, family pedigrees, and histories. Some libraries have indexed parts of their collections.
 * County or specialty museums may also contain genealogical records, including estate, military, tax, church, and business or employment records.
 * Other archives also contain information of genealogical value. Three such archives are described below.

Linen Hall Library
17 Donegall Square North Belfast BT1 5GB NORTHERN IRELAND [mailto:info@linenhall.com info@linenhall.com] Website
 * The Linen Hall Library has an extensive collection of genealogical and heraldic material. Some of its holdings are duplicated in other repositories such as the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland, the National Library of Ireland, and the National Archives. Others of its holdings, such as its printed family histories, are unique.

Trinity College Library
College Street Dublin 2 IRELAND (EIRE) [mailto:dutylibrarian@tcd.ie dutylibrarian@tcd.ie] Website
 * Among other genealogical and historical records, the Manuscripts Department of Trinity College Library has a collection of medieval manuscripts, the 1798 rebellion papers, and some Church of Ireland parish records for Dublin.

National University of Ireland
49 Merrion Square, Dublin 2, Tel: +353 (1) 439 2424 Fax: +353 (1) 439 2466  [mailto:registrar@nui.ie registrar@nui.ie] Website
 * The Library is associated with the main University campus, and has extended archives and archival services.

The Queen's University of Belfast
University Rd, Belfast BT7 1NN, United Kingdom Website
 * The Library of the Queen's University has extensive archival records relating to the Northern Counties of Ireland. It is also the repository of most religious records that are Protestant in nature.

England Repositories
Because England ruled Ireland for much of its history, many records pertaining to the Irish are found in English repositories. The major English archives that have Irish records are:

The National Archives
Bessant Drive, Kew Richmond, Surrey TW9 4DU ENGLAND Website

British Library, Department of Western Manuscripts
96 Euston Rd, London NW1 2DB, United Kingdom [mailto:Customer-Services@bl.uk Customer-Services@bl.uk] British Library (then click on collections and then any Manuscripts button)

British Library, India Office Library and Records
197 Blackfriars Road London SEI 8NG ENGLAND [mailto:Customer-Services@bl.uk Customer-Services@bl.uk] Website

British Library, Newspaper Library
The British Library 96 Euston Road London NW1 2DB [mailto:Customer-Services@bl.uk Customer-Services@bl.uk] Website (then click on collections and then Digitized British newspapers)

General Guides
The Irish Archives Resource  Website IAR is an online service for finding records. We do not hold any collections but thanks to our contributors we can help researchers find out where records are held and how to access them. Foster, Janet, and Julia Sheppard. British Archives: A Guide to Archive Resources in the United Kingdom. 3rd ed. New York, New York: Macmillan Publishers, 1995. (FS Library book Ref ;) This guide lists the addresses, major records, and publications of several repositories in Northern Ireland. The guide is indexed by county and by type of collection.

Grenham, John. "Research Services, Societies and Repositories''." In Tracing Your Irish Ancestors: The Complete Guide.'' This chapter lists the names, addresses, phone numbers, and hours of various repositories in both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.

Helferty, Seamus, and Raymond Refausse, eds. Directory of Irish Archives. 5th ed. Blackrock, Ireland: Irish Academic Press, 2011, (FS Library book Ref Directory of Irish Archives.) This book alphabetically lists for both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland each repository, its address, its major record holdings, and any guides to its collections. The book is indexed by county and by record subject.