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Family History

Family History

Researching your Family History

The County Library, Tallaght has a range of source that will assist you in this task. Your research should start with you and your immediate family. Interview parents, grandparents and older relatives. Consult relatives who may have already undertaken research.

The important questions are who, when, and where. Names, locations and dates are most relevant when it comes to searching records. Such information can significantly narrow the focus of subsequent research.

Consult family papers such as wills; birth, marriage and death certificates; mortuary or memorial cards; notices and articles from papers, etc.

Record genealogical information in ancestor or descendant charts.

Always note the sources used. It is very easy to forget where you obtained information.

To begin using records you will need:

  • The name of the family.
  • The parish or townland in which they lived.
  • Approximate date.
  • Once you start researching – work backwards.

Reference/“how to” resources:

The following publications will be very useful in guiding you in your research:

  • Grenham, John. Tracing Your Irish Ancestors. 4th ed. Dublin: Gill and MacMillan, 2012.
  • Ryan, James G.. Irish Records Sources for Family and Local History. rev. ed. Dublin: Flyleaf Press and Salt Lake City UT; Ancestry Incorporated, 1997.

These books and many more are available for reference in the Local Studies area of the library shelved at LH 929.3415.

The following periodicals are held in the Local Studies Collection in the County Library:
Irish Ancestor, Family History, Irish Genealogist, and Irish Roots.

The most important tool in identifying Irish placenames is the General Alphabetical index to the Townlands and Towns, Parishes and Baronies of Ireland, based on the Census of Ireland for the year 1851. Facsimile edition. Baltimore, MA: Genealogical Publishing, 1984 
Shelf: LH 312.9415.

The Records

Records used for family history research in Ireland fall under the following broad categories:

  • Census Records
  • General Register Office records
  • Property records
  • Church Records

Family History at County Library, Tallaght

Details of the Library’s holdings under each category are outlined below:

Census

The 1901 & 1911 Census are online at the National Archives
Transcripts of 1901 Census Rathfarnham D.E.D., 1901 Census Tallaght D.E.D and 1901 Census Whitechurch D.E.D. Shelf: LH 314.094183.
1851 Dublin City Census (Charts Heads of Households) on Local Studies Computers at the County Library.

General Register Office Records

State registration of marriages other than Catholic marriages began in 1845. In 1864, State registration of all births, marriages and deaths began. These records are held in the General Register Office. Indexes to births from 1864-1958, marriages from 1845-1958 and deaths from 1864-1958 are now available online on Family Search or at www.irishgenealogy.ie. 

Property Records
Griffith’s Valuation

Griffith’s Land Valuation is one of the most important surviving 19th Century genealogical resources for Ireland. It was published between 1847 and 1864 and is available online at Ask about Ireland

Church Records

Indexes to some church records for Dublin, Cork, Kerry and Carlow are available at www.irishgenealogy.ie 

The National Library of Ireland's collection of Catholic Parish Registers are available online at http://registers.nli.ie/.

  • Raymond Refaussé. Handlist of Church of Ireland parish registers in the Representative Church Body Library. Dublin: Representative Church Body Library, 2002. Shelf: LH 929.3415.
  • Irish Family History Society. Directory of Parish Registers indexed in Ireland. Naas: Irish Family History Society, 1997. Shelf: LH 929.3415.

Other Records

Directories
The County Library Tallaght holds an excellent collection of Thom’s Directory (Dublin City and County) and its predecessor the Treble Almanack. The South Dublin Villages section from the 1846-1962 Directories are available online in Source. 

Wills

  • Index to the prerogative wills of Ireland 1536-1810. ed. .Sir Arthur Vicars, F.S.A. Baltimore, MD: Genealogical Publishing Co. Inc., 1997 Shelf: LH 929.3.
  • Index of Irish wills 1484-1858, records at the National Archives of Ireland
    (includes wills, administrations, marriage licence bonds, marriage licences)
    (Available on Local Studies computers)

Newspapers
Irish Newspaper Archives online at www.irishnewsarchive.com(available in branch at the County Library, Tallaght)
Irish Times Digital Archive online at www.askaboutireland.ie
(available on all public access computers in all South Dublin Libraries branches)

Gravestone Inscriptions
Directory of Dublin Graveyards, including record and survey listings, available at Dublinheritage.ie 

  • Memorials of the dead, Dublin city and county, Edited by Michael J.S.Egan (in 9 vols). Published between 1988 and 1995) The first three volumes were published by the Irish branch of the Irish genealogical Research Society, the remaining volumes were published by Dr. Michael J.S. Egan himself). Shelf: LH 929.5.
  • St. Maelruan's Teamwork Project. A Report based on a survey of the structures and monuments of St. Maelruan's churchyard. Tallaght. Tallaght: St. Maelruan's Teamwork Project, 1986 (The second part of this work contains a transcription of the gravestone inscriptions for St. Maelruan’s Churchyard). Shelf: LH 941.83.

Occupational

The Military Archives holds records relating to the Irish Defence Forces. The digitised elements of the collection are available at http://www.militaryarchives.ie

  • Herlihy, Jim. The Dublin Metropolitan Police, a complete alphabetical list of officers and men, 1836-1925. Dublin: Four Courts, 2001. Shelf: LH 929.34183.
  • Herlihy, Jim. The Dublin Metropolitan Police, a short history and genealogical guide, with notes on medal awards and casualties, and lists of members connected with the London Metropolitan police, the Irish revenue police, the Irish constabulary and the British army. Dublin: Four Courts, 2001. Shelf: LH 363.20941835.
  • Herlihy, Jim. The Royal Irish Constabulary, a complete alphabetical list of officers and men, 1816-1922. Dublin, Four Courts, 1999. Shelf: LH 929.3415.
  • Herlihy, Jim. The Royal Irish constabulary, a short history and genealogical guide. Dublin: Four Courts, 1997. Shelf: LH 351.7409415.

Other Repositories

Doing family history research in Ireland is a step by step process and you are likely to find yourself working in numerous libraries and archives.

Church Of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints
Finglas Road
Glasnevin
Dublin 11 
Republic of Ireland
Open Tues 10am-2pm, Thursday 10am-2pm, 3pm-7pm, Friday 7pm-9pm, 
Saturday 10am-2pm
Website: http://www.familysearch.org

General Register Office (Dublin)
Werburgh Street,Dublin 2
Ph. 1890 252076 
Open 9.15 am - 4.45 pm Monday to Friday
Website : http://www.welfare.ie/en/Pages/GRO_Research.aspx

Land Valuation Office
Irish Life Centre 
Abbey Street Lower, 
Dublin 1 
Republic of Ireland
Ph. (01) 817 1000 
Open Mon-Fri 9.30 am - 4.30 pm.
Website: http://www.valoff.ie

Military Archives,
Cathal Brugha Barracks, Rathmines, Dublin 6 
Ph. 01 8046457
www.militaryarchives.ie

National Archives of Ireland
Bishop St.
Dublin 8 
Republic of Ireland
(01) 4783711
Open 10 am - 5 pm Mon. - Fri. 
Website : http://www.nationalarchives.ie

The National Archives' Genealogy website is at https://www.irishgenealogy.ie/en/2016-family-history/welcome

National Library of Ireland 
Kildare St.
Dublin 2 
Ph (01) 6030200 
Monday-Wednesday 9:30am-9.00pm 
Thursday-Friday 9:30am-5.00pm 
Saturday 9:30am-1.00pm
Website: http://www.nli.ie

Genealogy service (personal callers only) 
Mon - Fri: 9.30am - 4.45pm
Saturday: 9.30am - 12.30pm

Registry of Deeds
Henrietta St.
Dublin 1 
(01) 8048417 
Open 10 am - 4.30 pm, Mon. - Fri. 
Website : https://www.prai.ie/registry-of-deeds-services/

Representative Church Body Library
Braemor Park
Rathgar
Dublin 14 
(01) 4923979
Open 9 am - 1 pm, 2:00 - 5 pm, Mon. - Fri. 
Website: http://ireland.anglican.org