The Irish government has relaunched their genealogy website, which offers visitors a new portal that includes historical records from multiple sites. It is a major breakthrough in bringing together all genealogy sources in one site.
There are an estimated 70 million people across the world who claim Irish heritage. The new website IrishGenealogy.ie includes access to the following records:
- Church records
- Census records from 1901 and 1911
- Tithe Applotments, which are unique land surveys taken to determine the amount of tax payable by landholders
- Soldier’s wills
- Griffith’s Valuations
- Ireland - Australia Transportation database
- Military Archives
- Ellis Island records
- National Photographic Archive from the National Library of Ireland
Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht Jimmy Deenihan said the new website will provide an information point for people starting to research their ancestors.
"My Department and I are conscious of the importance of genealogy as an important way of connecting with those abroad who wish to trace their roots and, also permitting those here in Ireland to establish their family history," Minister Deenihan said in a statement.
“At present, the genealogy landscape can seem confusing so, my Department has concentrated on the development of some additional search functionality for www.irishgenealogy.ie by way of providing a portal or search facility for digital genealogy records.
“This enhanced search facility will help by highlighting the potential sources of information that are available on-line.
“Visitors will be able to search records from a number of on-line sources including the Church Records already available on www.irishgenealogy.ie, and others such as the 1901 and 1911 Census and Soldiers wills, to name but a few.”
The website advises the best way to begin researching your family history is talk to parents, aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents etc., and find out what they know.
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