Ireland Compiled Genealogies

In this outline, the heading genealogy is used to describe
 * (1) sources that contain family history information gathered by individuals, societies, and archives and
 * (2) sources that discuss how to do family history research. Genealogical records may include pedigree charts, compiled family information, correspondence, ancestor lists, research exchange files, record abstracts, and collections of original or copied documents.

These are excellent sources that can save you time. However, they may contain inaccuracies. You should verify the information found in them.

Handbooks and Manuals
Handbooks and manuals on how to do Irish research can also save you time. They often suggest additional sources and techniques that will facilitate your Irish research. Some handbooks focus on specific localities in Ireland, such as Dublin. Such specific handbooks mention records and sources for their locality that are not mentioned in more general handbooks. Specific handbooks may also alert you to problems or situations that you may encounter when doing research in the targeted locality. These handbooks can thus be very helpful.

Some genealogical handbooks and manuals are mentioned in this outline, but many others exist. The genealogical handbooks and manuals specific to Ireland and its localities that can be found at the Family History Library are listed in the catalog under the following headings:

IRELAND - GENEALOGY - HANDBOOKS AND MANUALS

IRELAND, [COUNTY] - GENEALOGY - HANDBOOKS AND MANUALS

IRELAND, [COUNTY], [CITY] - GENEALOGY - HANDBOOKS AND MANUALS

Major Indexes and Databases
The Family History Library has several sources that can help you access previous research or refer you to others who are interested in sharing research:

International Genealogical Index. The International Genealogical Index provides names and vital information for more than 1.4 million deceased people who lived in Ireland. This valuable tool lists birth, christening, and marriage dates and places. The index for Ireland includes names extracted by volunteers from parish registers and civil registration and names submitted by other researchers.

The International Genealogical Index is available on microfiche and on compact disc as part of FamilySearch™.

Ancestral File. Ancestral File, a part of FamilySearch™, contains family history information linked together in family groups and pedigrees contributed since 1979. Ancestral File contains information on thousands of Irish families. It can print pedigree charts, family group records, and individual summary sheets for any person in the file.

Family Group Records Collection (Archive and Patron). More than eight million family group record forms—including many for Irish families—have been microfilmed and incorporated into the Family Group Records Collection. The collection is divided into two major parts: the Archive section and the Patrons section. The film numbers for both parts are listed in the Author/Title Search of the catalog under FAMILY GROUP RECORDS COLLECTION.

Family Histories
Some Irish families write histories or newsletters that contain biographies, photographs, and other genealogical information.

The Family History Library has a number of these Irish family histories and newsletters. They are listed in the Surname Search of the catalog under the major surnames discussed in each publication. Allied families may not be listed.

Many Irish family histories are also indexed in:

de Breffny, Brian, ed. and comp. Bibliography of Irish Family History and Genealogy. Dublin, Ireland: Golden Eagle Books, 1974. (Family History Library book Ref 941.5 D23d.)

Grenham, John. Tracing Your Irish Ancestors: The Complete Guide. Dublin, Ireland: Gill and Macmillan, 1992. (Family History Library book Ref 941.5 D27gj.)

Maclysaght, Edward. Bibliography of Irish Family History. (Family History Library book Ref 941.5 D23m.)

These books are arranged alphabetically by surname and together list over thirteen hundred family histories.

Irish surnames are also often organized by clan with official websites associated with each. The Clan O'Brien, for example, is easily found at http://www.obrienclan.com/

Indexes to Genealogical Collections
The Family History Library has some unique collections of genealogical information on Irish families, including published and unpublished collections of family lineages, research files of prominent genealogists, and a few surname indexes. The following sources index many of the library's genealogical collections:

Surname Index. 3 vols. Dublin, Ireland: Genealogical Office. (Family History Library book Ref Q 941.5 A5g; film 928,034 items 1-3.) This index lists pedigrees and other records deposited at the Genealogical Office, Dublin. It also lists the pedigrees found in the Genealogists Magazine(1929-59) and The Irish Genealogist (1937–). The supplementary volume of this series provides call numbers for those records, pedigrees, and periodicals available at the Family History Library.

McAnlis, Virginia Wade. The Consolidated Index to the Records of the Genealogical Office, Dublin, Ireland. Vols. 1-4. Issaquah, Washington: Virginia R. McAnlis, 1994. (Family History Library book 941.5 A3mv.) This index to the manuscripts of the Genealogical Office gives microfilm numbers for the National Library of Ireland and the Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah.'

Hayes, Richard J. Manuscript Sources for the History of Irish Civilization. (Family History Library book Ref 941.5 A5h.)

Smith, Frank D. Smith's Inventory of Genealogical Sources: Ireland. (FHL book Ref 941.5 D23s.) This manuscript indexes many periodicals and journals available at the Family History Library that contain family pedigrees.

Pedigree Index. 3 vols. Typescript. Salt Lake City, Utah: Genealogical Society of Utah, [1964?]. (Family History Library book Ref Q 941.5 A5gp; film 255,494.) This index gives film numbers for many pedigrees available at the Family History Library.

The following guide and supplements index printed sources containing pedigrees of at least three generations. These guides are excellent for finding Irish pedigrees:

Marshall, George W., ed. The Genealogist's Guide. 1903. Reprint. Baltimore, Maryland: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1980. (Family History Library book Ref 929.142 M356g 1980; film 496,451.) This is the main volume of these three sources.

Whitmore, John Beach, comp. A Genealogical Guide: An Index to British Pedigrees in Continuation of Marshall's Genealogist's Guide (1903). London, England: Walford Brothers (sold guide for compiler), 1953. (Family History Library book Ref 929.142 M356g supp.; fiche 6054492 .) This source supplements Marshall's guide.

Barrow, Geoffrey B., comp. The Genealogist's Guide: An Index to Printed British Pedigrees and Family Histories, 1950-1975. London, England: Research Publishing Co., 1977. (Family History Library book Ref 929.142 M356g 1950-1975.) This source supplements Marshall's and Whitmore's guides.

Research Coordination
You can use Ancestral File and the Pedigree Resource File to identify others who are searching your family line and to register your interest in coordinating research.

You can also use the following publications to identify the names and addresses of individuals researching the same family name. Search all editions of both publications, since both are published yearly and specific family names may appear in only one edition. You may have to do some research to connect your family with a family of the same surname listed in one of these sources.

Johnson, Keith A., and Malcolm R. Sainty.Genealogical Research Directory: National and International. Sydney, Australia: (The Editors of the) Genealogical Research Directory, 1997. (FHL book Ref 929.1025 G286grd.)

Park, Keith, and Tracey Park.Family History Knowledge - UK 1992. 2d ed. Melksham, England: Family History Club, 1992. (FHL book Ref 942 D27pk.)

Web Sites

 * http://www.goireland.com/Genealogy/
 * http://www.genuki.org.uk/
 * http://www.genealogylinks.net/uk/ireland/index.html
 * http://www.irelandroots.com/
 * http://www.obrienstore.com/