Ireland genealogy researching tips

When looking for genealogy records, finding out what questions you need to ask - and the kind of family information you'll need - is as important as the information sources you'll consult.

So, before you begin, start with a family profile:

Names of ancestors: Be sure to include possible variant spellings. For example, McLean was often spelled "McLain," "McLane" or even "MacLean."

Dates of birth: Even approximate years can help focus a search.

Places of birth in Ireland: County and city information is best, but if you can narrow them to specific church parishes, you're better off.

Religion(s): Not everyone in Ireland is or was Catholic. If your early relatives were Presbyterian or another Protestant denomination, you have more sources available to narrow your search.

Occupations: Some counties will have early trade directories. Newspapers might also be valuable (see below).

Names of other relatives: The more complete the record, the better. Names and dates of birth for children, spouses, siblings may be useful.

Dates of marriages: Invaluable for establishing residence, etc.

Dates or years of departure from Ireland: U.S. immigration records such as passenger lists, naturalizations and census records can help fill out the picture.

Searchable records

Index of Surnames: If you're not sure where your family came from, the "Index of Surnames" can help you "pinpoint" the civil parishes and counties where people of that surname lived and worked. Copies of this are widely available in genealogy centers here and abroad. Michael C. O'Laughlin and the Irish Genealogical Foundation have also published "The Book of Irish Families: Great & Small" in several commercial editions, which can be bought online at Amazon.com.

Civil records: Civil registration of all births, marriages and deaths in Ireland commenced in 1864. Some civil records for non-Catholics began in 1845. Resources abound here, but you can find a cohesive collection and directories to the information at the National Library of Ireland in Dublin.

Church records: Surviving Catholic parish records from 1880 and before are available via microfilm at the National Library of Ireland. The dioceses of Cashel, Emly and Kerry require letters of authorization to review records, but all others are open to the public at the library. The "List of Parish Registers" is online at www.nli.ie, with individual pages available in PDF format. Individual churches and parish centers can also be invaluable resources.

Many original records for the Church of Ireland (Anglican) were destroyed in a 1922 fire, though some original records reside at the National Library of Ireland.

Presbyterians looking for their ancestors can consult the Presbyterian Historical Society in Belfast, Northern Ireland, through its Web site: www.presbyterianireland.org.

Census: The earliest surviving Irish census records date back to 1901 and are available in various locations. The National Library of Ireland points patrons to commercial books such as John Grenham's "Tracing Your Irish Ancestors" and James Ryan's "Irish Records: Sources for Family and Local History" as guides to tracking non-census family tracking information.

Property records: From 1824 to 1838, the Tithe Appointment Books provide an invaluable pre-census picture of Irish society structure. The "Primary Valuation of Ireland," also called "Griffith's Valuation" (1848-1864), has been a much-consulted genealogist tool. The National Library has copies of this vast tome, with several online editions available.

Newspapers: Most communities of note had at least one newspaper, some dating back to the 1700s. These publications can be a treasure trove of information and are often found at the National Archives in Dublin or county libraries.