Free Irish Records
- Leslie Ryan
- May 14
- 2 min read
I have discovered a few new Free Irish Records sources I want to share with you.
As you know, if you are researching Irish or Scots-Irish ancestors, the records are few and hard to find whether you are looking in either Northern Ireland or in The Republic. Family Tree Magazine (I have a subscription) has recommended:
The Public Record Office of Northern Ireland aka PRONI. Here you will find information about different records spanning 400 years. For example, the "Name Search" app will search through Pre-1858 Wills & Admons, 1740 Protestant Householders, 1766 Religious Censuses, and 1775 Dissenters Petitions. The actual record may not be visible, but there will be notes and info about them.
If like me, you have mtDNA (from your mother) surname matches that predate your known tree members, you may find new towns and Northern Ireland counties that might point you in the right direction! This also applies to your Y-DNA test results too. I'm looking for you, Traynors! Here is a link to click: https://www.proni.gov.uk/
Another place Family Magazine suggests for the Republic of Ireland is The Placenames Database of Ireland with more than 60,000 Irish Townlands, the parishes and sometimes the translation of the name! Type in the name of that mystery townland and maybe find your breakthrough! Click her to go there: https://www.logainm.ie/en
As always, Family Search is probably the most extensive Free Records resource no matter which country you are looking for your ancestors. There is no membership fee, they only require an email address, and they don't spam you! There are other trees to compare yours to, but just because it's on the LDS site does NOT mean it is documented to be accurate. Always check those tree sources!
Our genealogical pursuit is not inexpensive! Hope that you find a pot of gold at these Free Irish Records websites. If you'd like some FREE help and advice, send me an email please.
Regards,
Leslie Ryan
No compensation is received for any links or referrals herein.
No copyright infringement is intended.
