Addresses for historical research in Ireland
Information guide No.7
This page is approximately a 4 minute read
A curated list of key research institutions, archives, libraries and specialist collections across Ireland that support maritime, genealogical and historical research.
Republic of Ireland
Kildare Street Dublin 2 | +353 1 603 02 00 | The National Library is Ireland’s main repository of filmed Catholic parish registers. Other records held include newspapers, city and regional directories, estate records, the Householders Index and Griffith’s Primary Valuation. |
Kildare Street Dublin 2 c/o The Irish Club 82 Eaton Square London SW1W 9AJ | +44 (0) 20 7235 4164 | Open 2-6pm on Saturday only. |
Bishop Street Dublin 8 | + 353 (0)1 407 2300
| The National Archives holds records for all of Ireland and those previously held by the Public Record Office at Four Courts, Dublin and by the State Paper Office in Dublin (neither of which exists today). 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. |
Haigh Terrace Dun Laoghaire Co. Dublin | + 353 128 00969 | Irish Maritime history, newspaper cuttings, logs, diaries and photographs etc. |
Department of Geography National University of Ireland Western Road Cork | +353-21-902889
|
Northern Ireland
Ireland (PRONI) 66 Balmoral Avenue Belfast BT9 6NY | +44 (0) 2890 255900 | The Public Record Office of Northern Ireland holds records for all of Ireland. They have 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. Holdings also include estate papers, gravestone inscriptions, census records, Tithe Applotment books, valuation lists and other historical and genealogical sources. |
218 York Street Belfast BT15 1GY |
Balmoral Buildings 12 College Square East Belfast BT1 6DD | +44 (0) 28 90 332288 |
Cultra Holywood Co. Down BT18 0EU | +44 (0) 28 90428428 | The Library, which is situated in the Museum’s Administration Building, contains about 25,000 books and many periodicals, covering a wide range of topics from cookery to local history, from costume to early motor cars. The archives have an equally wide scope, containing reminiscences, linguistic and folklore material, transport material, maps, plans and much more. |
Mellon Road Castletown Omagh County Tyrone BT78 5QY | +44 (0)28 8225 6315 | Much of the Folk Park’s collections reflect factors that influenced people to emigrate from Ireland, the museum also has a growing collection of material directly related to the process of emigration. |
School of Environmental Sciences Faculty of Life & Health Sciences University of Ulster Cromore Road Coleraine BT52 1SA | Website | The Centre examines various aspects of coastal environments, from the physical processes to the human impacts on today’s coastal and marine environments. As well as local research programmes, investigations are being conducted in many international locations. |
17 Donegall Square North Belfast BT1 5GB | +44 (0)28 9032 1707 | 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. |
Suggested reading
- J. Anderson Black – Your Irish Ancestors
- John Andrews – Ireland in Maps
- R. J. Dickson – Ulster Emigration To Colonial America 1718-1775
- Godfrey F. Duffy – Tracing Your Donegal Ancestors
- James Fairley – Irish Whales & Whaling
- Irish Manuscripts Commission – Guide to the Genealogical Office
- Billy Kennedy – The Scots-Irish in the Carolinas
- Shane McAteer & Brian Trainor – Guide to Sources for Researching McAteer Families in Ireland
- Tony McCarthy & Tim Cadogan – Tracing Your Cork Ancestors
- Ian Maxwell – Researching Armagh Ancestors: A practical guide for the family and local historian
- Ian Maxwell – Researching Down Ancestors: A Practical guide for the family and local historian
- North of Ireland Family History Society – These Hallowed Grounds: Volume 1, A Record of the Memorials in Kilrush and St. Patrick’s Burying Grounds, Lisburn
- Michael H. O’Connor – Tracing Your Kerry Ancestors
- M. Perceval-Maxwell – The Scottish Migration To Ulster In The Reign of James 1
- Public Record Office of Northern Ireland – Irish Elections: 1750-1832
- J. G. Ryan & B. Smith – Tracing Your Dublin Ancestors
- Brian Smith – Tracing Your May Ancestors
- Brian Trainor (ed) – Researching Irish Australians: Directory of Research With Will Abstracts & Gravestone Inscriptions
- Ulster Historical Foundation – Heraldry: Ulster and North American Connections
- Ulster Historical Foundation – Merchants in Plenty: Joseph Smyth’s Belfast Directories Of 1807 and 1808
Disclaimer
Researchers should check availability, accessibility and opening times with the repositories listed before making a personal visit.
Lloyd’s Register Foundation, its affiliates and subsidiaries and their respective officers, employees or agents are, individually and collectively, referred to in this clause as ‘Lloyd’s Register’. Lloyd’s Register assumes no responsibility and shall not be liable to any person for any loss, damage or expense caused by reliance on the information or advice in this document or howsoever provided, unless that person has signed a contract with the relevant Lloyd’s Register entity for the provision of this information or advice and in that case any responsibility or liability is exclusively on the terms and conditions set out in that contract.