"Midnight Feasts" - Hunting for Irish Marriages
"Miss Grubbs Wedding Group", Clonmel, 1900 NLI (Wikimedia Commons)
The formal recognition of a marriage was extremely important from a legal point of view given inheritance laws. Although Quakers and Jews have historically had their unions recognised outside of the Established Church, the same could not be said for Catholics or dissenting Protestants for a long time. For their children to be declared legitimate and stand to inherit property, they often had to marry in the Church of Ireland so don't rule out these parish registers even if you know your ancestors were of another faith.
Civil Marriage Registration was made compulsory in Ireland in 1845 for Church of Ireland marriages, but it was not until 1864 that the same rules applied to all other faiths.
Civil Marriage Registration was made compulsory in Ireland in 1845 for Church of Ireland marriages, but it was not until 1864 that the same rules applied to all other faiths.
Church of Ireland
If you know the parish(es) you are interested in, start by educating yourself as to what has survived by using my own finding aid - Church of Ireland Parish Records Finder by County (scroll down on linked page.)
Remember to look for evidence of a marriage licence or bond possibly being issued by the diocese when a couple wanted to marry without banns being declared. Like banns, this is not evidence of an actual marriage having taken place, just the intent to marry. However, this may be all the evidence there is so interpret it in the context of other evidence available for the couple. Sadly, the licences and bonds themselves generally have not survived, just the indexes and possibly abstracts.
Reference Pages & Sites
Church of Ireland Parish Finder (Shane Wilson)
"Church of Ireland Parish Registers on Microfilm" (NAI) Source used to compile my county finding aid
Church of Ireland - Table of All Parish Registers throughout Ireland (RCBL) Source used to compile my county finding aid
Records
Anglican Record Project (CoI) Selected parishes listed on this project page
Irish Genealogy (Church Records) (DCHG) Check extent of CoI records here.
Ireland, Church of Ireland Search Forms for Baptisms, Marriages and Burials, 1731-1870 (Anc=£) Very selective (under 14k records)
Irish Parish Register Marriages, ffolliott Collection (FMP=£) Selected counties - check notes for coverage
Multiple Dioceses & Prerogative Court of Armagh. These would all appear to be the same resource.
Betham's Genealogical Abstracts (FMP=£) Mostly pre-1800 Dublin Diocese. Parishes and groom's occupation usually listed.
Betham's Prerogative Marriage Licence Abstracts, 1629-1810 (FMP=£) Listed as a separate collection but might just be a subset of the main one?
Ireland, Abstracts of Wills and Marriages, 1620-1923 (Anc=£). Betham, Crossle and Thrift Abstracts all bundled together.
Transcripts of memorials of deeds, conveyances and wills, 1708-1929 (LDS digitised microfilms for Registry of Deeds) Some marriage settlements [?]
Registry of Deeds Index Project Ireland (Nick Reddan) You can search for just marriage settlements - very selective transcripts though
And finally, no, I've not pasted the wrong link on to this page. The following collection on FindMyPast appears to be sourced from a very wide range of original sources at the National Archives of Ireland, including some marriage licence bonds. Read the source page information very carefully and, if there is an NAI reference, you may be able to track down a copy or original record in Dublin in person. However don't rely on being to find it independently in the limited NAI online catalogue - click through to the Advanced Search screen and try to put in the reference number, but it may not be online. You could always try contacting the NAI directly to see if they could look it out for you.
Index of Irish Wills, 1484-1858 (FMP=£) c.100k records but not clear what proportion are MLB's and unfortunately you cannot search by type.
If you know the parish(es) you are interested in, start by educating yourself as to what has survived by using my own finding aid - Church of Ireland Parish Records Finder by County (scroll down on linked page.)
Remember to look for evidence of a marriage licence or bond possibly being issued by the diocese when a couple wanted to marry without banns being declared. Like banns, this is not evidence of an actual marriage having taken place, just the intent to marry. However, this may be all the evidence there is so interpret it in the context of other evidence available for the couple. Sadly, the licences and bonds themselves generally have not survived, just the indexes and possibly abstracts.
Reference Pages & Sites
Church of Ireland Parish Finder (Shane Wilson)
"Church of Ireland Parish Registers on Microfilm" (NAI) Source used to compile my county finding aid
Church of Ireland - Table of All Parish Registers throughout Ireland (RCBL) Source used to compile my county finding aid
Records
Anglican Record Project (CoI) Selected parishes listed on this project page
Irish Genealogy (Church Records) (DCHG) Check extent of CoI records here.
Ireland, Church of Ireland Search Forms for Baptisms, Marriages and Burials, 1731-1870 (Anc=£) Very selective (under 14k records)
Irish Parish Register Marriages, ffolliott Collection (FMP=£) Selected counties - check notes for coverage
Multiple Dioceses & Prerogative Court of Armagh. These would all appear to be the same resource.
- Diocesan and Prerogative Marriage Licence Bonds Indexes (1623-1866) (NAI)
- Ireland Diocesan and Prerogative Marriage Licence Bond Indexes 1623-1866 (FMP=£)
- Ireland Diocesan and Prerogative Marriage Licence Bond Indexes 1623-1866 (FamilySearch)
- Index to Irish Diocesan Marriage Licences (FamilySearch) Browsable digitised microfilm of the original index registers.
- Clonfert Marriage Licence Bonds, Wills, Administrations (FMP=£) Only 146 marriages (Original source: ffolliott)
- Diocese of Cloyne Marriage Licence Bonds, 1630-1800, 1899-1900 (T. George H. Green) (FMP=£) Searchable database on FindMyPast
- "Cork and Ross Marriage Licence Bonds, 1623-1750" (e-book) Co. Cork
- Cork, Ireland, Marriage Licence Bonds Index, 1623-1750 (Anc=£) Searchable database on Ancestry
- "Ferns Marriage Licence Bonds, 1661-1806" (Henry Hollingsworth) Cos. Wexford & Wicklow
- Ireland, Diocese of Dublin Marriage Licences, 1638-1858 (FMP=£) Couples listed for bonds and licences, mostly 18th century onwards
- Dublin, Ireland, Probate Record and Marriage License Index, 1270-1858 (Anc=£) Includes the same records on Ancestry
- Appendix to the 26th Report (Index to Act or Grant Books and Original Wills of the Diocese of Dublin to 1800) Includes marriage bonds
- Appendix to the 30th Report (Index to Act or Grant Books and Original Wills of the Diocese of Dublin, 1800-1858) Includes marriage bonds
Betham's Genealogical Abstracts (FMP=£) Mostly pre-1800 Dublin Diocese. Parishes and groom's occupation usually listed.
Betham's Prerogative Marriage Licence Abstracts, 1629-1810 (FMP=£) Listed as a separate collection but might just be a subset of the main one?
Ireland, Abstracts of Wills and Marriages, 1620-1923 (Anc=£). Betham, Crossle and Thrift Abstracts all bundled together.
Transcripts of memorials of deeds, conveyances and wills, 1708-1929 (LDS digitised microfilms for Registry of Deeds) Some marriage settlements [?]
Registry of Deeds Index Project Ireland (Nick Reddan) You can search for just marriage settlements - very selective transcripts though
And finally, no, I've not pasted the wrong link on to this page. The following collection on FindMyPast appears to be sourced from a very wide range of original sources at the National Archives of Ireland, including some marriage licence bonds. Read the source page information very carefully and, if there is an NAI reference, you may be able to track down a copy or original record in Dublin in person. However don't rely on being to find it independently in the limited NAI online catalogue - click through to the Advanced Search screen and try to put in the reference number, but it may not be online. You could always try contacting the NAI directly to see if they could look it out for you.
Index of Irish Wills, 1484-1858 (FMP=£) c.100k records but not clear what proportion are MLB's and unfortunately you cannot search by type.
Roman Catholic Church
See Roman Catholic Parishes & Registers for more information.
Reference Pages & Sites
Catholic Parish and Church Search by Location (Shane Wilson)
Catholic Directory of 1848 (Shane Wilson)
Roman Catholic Parish Maps & Record References by County (John Grenham)
Roman Catholic Parish Registers (NLI) Browse register images
Roman Catholic Parish Finder (Shane Wilson)
Records
Irish Genealogy (Church Records) (DCHG) Check the extent of RC records here first.
Ireland, Select Catholic Marriage Registers, 1778-1942 (Anc=£) Limited collection - read source notes carefully.
Ireland, Selections of Catholic Parish Marriages and Banns, 1742-1884 (Anc=£) Limited collection - read source notes carefully.
Shared indexing and linked to NLI images.
See Roman Catholic Parishes & Registers for more information.
Reference Pages & Sites
Catholic Parish and Church Search by Location (Shane Wilson)
Catholic Directory of 1848 (Shane Wilson)
Roman Catholic Parish Maps & Record References by County (John Grenham)
Roman Catholic Parish Registers (NLI) Browse register images
Roman Catholic Parish Finder (Shane Wilson)
Records
Irish Genealogy (Church Records) (DCHG) Check the extent of RC records here first.
Ireland, Select Catholic Marriage Registers, 1778-1942 (Anc=£) Limited collection - read source notes carefully.
Ireland, Selections of Catholic Parish Marriages and Banns, 1742-1884 (Anc=£) Limited collection - read source notes carefully.
Shared indexing and linked to NLI images.
Multi-Denominational / Other Faiths
I think these 3 are all essentially the same resource and there are precious few clues as to the faith of the couples.
Roots Ireland (IFHF) (Subscription required) Check coverage for any county carefully before searching
Ireland, Society of Friends (Quaker) Marriages (FMP=£) Date back to the 1600's
Ireland, Casey Collection Indexes, 1545-1960 (Anc=£) Good for Cos. Cork & Kerry. Colloquially known as O'Kief Coshe Mang
FINDMYPAST Irish Collections covering marriages (FMP=£) The full list of collections that they say include marriages.
Early Irish Marriage Index (IGRS - free limited index search) This is an index of marriages compiled from a wide range of sources. You will need to be a member of the Irish Genealogical Research Society to see the full index entry, but you might get a hint from here to follow up elsewhere.
I think these 3 are all essentially the same resource and there are precious few clues as to the faith of the couples.
- Ireland Marriages 1619-1898 The FamilySearch wiki is not very forthcoming on provenance but mostly likely to be parish registers perhaps?
- Ireland, Select Marriages, 1619-1898 (Anc=£) Stated to be originally sourced from FamilySearch
- Ireland Marriages 1619-1898 (FMP=£) Vaguely sourced as compiled from "civil, parish & court records"
Roots Ireland (IFHF) (Subscription required) Check coverage for any county carefully before searching
Ireland, Society of Friends (Quaker) Marriages (FMP=£) Date back to the 1600's
Ireland, Casey Collection Indexes, 1545-1960 (Anc=£) Good for Cos. Cork & Kerry. Colloquially known as O'Kief Coshe Mang
FINDMYPAST Irish Collections covering marriages (FMP=£) The full list of collections that they say include marriages.
Early Irish Marriage Index (IGRS - free limited index search) This is an index of marriages compiled from a wide range of sources. You will need to be a member of the Irish Genealogical Research Society to see the full index entry, but you might get a hint from here to follow up elsewhere.
Civil Registration of Marriages
For more detailed information and practical advice, see my Civil Registration Districts and Civil Registration Records pages.
The main place to start is with the available indexes, transcripts and images of the civil birth registers. These are available both for free and via subscription on a number of sites. Be sure to make use of as many as you can as the indexes and search functions vary. Never just rely on one source to generate a list of candidates to investigate - cast your net as wide as possible.
Reference Pages & Sites
Registration District Browser (Shane Wilson)
Records
Civil Registration Indexes and Register Images, 1845-1920 (GROI) Free to search and the only place to see images. All Ireland up to 1920.
These are essentially the same resource which you can search on up to 1958 (for the Republic of Ireland) and use middle names too. Transcripts only.
Ireland Civil Registration, 1845-1913 (FamilySearch) Selected indexed marriage register images 1845-1870
Roots Ireland (IFHF) (Subscription required) Some transcripts of civil marriages often attributed to parishes - check county page sources.
GRONI (on-line access to records - login required) For marriages in the counties of Northern Ireland over 75 years ago.
For more detailed information and practical advice, see my Civil Registration Districts and Civil Registration Records pages.
The main place to start is with the available indexes, transcripts and images of the civil birth registers. These are available both for free and via subscription on a number of sites. Be sure to make use of as many as you can as the indexes and search functions vary. Never just rely on one source to generate a list of candidates to investigate - cast your net as wide as possible.
Reference Pages & Sites
Registration District Browser (Shane Wilson)
Records
Civil Registration Indexes and Register Images, 1845-1920 (GROI) Free to search and the only place to see images. All Ireland up to 1920.
These are essentially the same resource which you can search on up to 1958 (for the Republic of Ireland) and use middle names too. Transcripts only.
- Ireland Civil Registration Indexes, 1845-1958 (FamilySearch) Probably the original source for the subscription sites
- Ireland, Civil Registration Marriages Index, 1845-1958 (Anc=£)
- Irish Marriages, 1845-1958 (FMP=£)
Ireland Civil Registration, 1845-1913 (FamilySearch) Selected indexed marriage register images 1845-1870
Roots Ireland (IFHF) (Subscription required) Some transcripts of civil marriages often attributed to parishes - check county page sources.
GRONI (on-line access to records - login required) For marriages in the counties of Northern Ireland over 75 years ago.
Newspapers
Newspapers are a great source for tracking down marriages, but remember there was a cost to inserting the notices and therefore it is perhaps a relatively small proportion of the population that indulged in this habit.
Irish Times (Subscription required) This title does appear on other sites like the BNA, but it also has its own dedicated archive site.
Irish Newspaper Archives (Subscription required) Check for titles included.
Irish Newspapers on the British Newspaper Archive (Subscription required) May be accessible for free in British libraries.
Belfast Newsletter Births, Marriages & Deaths Notices, 1738-1925 (Anc=£) Nationally important publication, not just restricted to Belfast folk.
Ireland Newspapers, 1763-1890 (Anc=£) Unindexed collection which you can browse.
Irish Newspapers (FMP=£) Check filters for titles included.
The Irish Newspaper Transcript Archive, ffoliott Collection, 1756-1850 (FMP=£) Limited in scope but useful for Cork.
This looks like the same resource originally transcribed by Henry Farrar from a fashionable Dublin journal of the period.
Newspapers are a great source for tracking down marriages, but remember there was a cost to inserting the notices and therefore it is perhaps a relatively small proportion of the population that indulged in this habit.
Irish Times (Subscription required) This title does appear on other sites like the BNA, but it also has its own dedicated archive site.
Irish Newspaper Archives (Subscription required) Check for titles included.
Irish Newspapers on the British Newspaper Archive (Subscription required) May be accessible for free in British libraries.
Belfast Newsletter Births, Marriages & Deaths Notices, 1738-1925 (Anc=£) Nationally important publication, not just restricted to Belfast folk.
Ireland Newspapers, 1763-1890 (Anc=£) Unindexed collection which you can browse.
Irish Newspapers (FMP=£) Check filters for titles included.
The Irish Newspaper Transcript Archive, ffoliott Collection, 1756-1850 (FMP=£) Limited in scope but useful for Cork.
This looks like the same resource originally transcribed by Henry Farrar from a fashionable Dublin journal of the period.
- Farrar's Index to Irish Marriages 1771-1812 (FMP=£)
- Ireland, Marriages in Walker's Hibernian Magazine, 1771-1812 (Anc=£)
- "Irish Marriages, being an index to the marriages in Walkers Hibernian Magazine, 1771-1812. Vol 1: A-J" by Henry Farrar
- "Irish Marriages, being an index to the marriages in Walkers Hibernian Magazine, 1771-1812. Vol 2: K-Z" by Henry Farrar
Overseas Marriages
Perhaps the Irish-related marriage you are seeking took place overseas e.g. siblings in emigrant families or soldiers serving overseas. Or you may be following an emigrant family forward seeking marriages in new countries.
Foreign newspapers are an excellent source.
British Newspaper Archive (Subscription required) May be accessible for free in British libraries.
British Newspapers (FMP=£) Check filters for titles included.
Papers Past (New Zealand)
Trove Digitised Newspapers (Australia)
New York Times Archive (Subscription required)
Newspapers.com (Subscription required) Generally North American titles but some other countries too. See below for Ancestry indexes.
Church and civil registration in major destinations for Irish emigrants should also be considered. Here are a few suggestions - not exhaustive.
India
Did your ancestor join the East India Company, or later, the British Army and marry abroad? Or were they part of the huge civil service? Be sure to check out all candidates as disease was rife and second marriages may have taken place. See also my page "Fighting in a Foreign Field - India".
Scotland
The important year to remember is 1855, when Scotland brought in Statutory Registration. Early birth records also recorded the date and place of the parents' marriage, so check the birth records of the eldest children to see if this information was recorded. See also my "Settling under the Saltire - the Irish in Scotland".
England & Wales Civil Registration - Marriage Indexes
The following collections cover many counties as well as selected transcript sources.
United States of America
Most states covered and also plenty of county level collections, so do your geography homework to be able to select the right sources for the cities in particular e.g. Cook County records for Chicago. See also my page on "American Pie - the Irish in the USA."
Canada
Narrow your search by state or province. See also my page on "Empire Builders - the Irish in Canada".
Australia & New Zealand
Collections for most Australian states and territories across both subscription sites but nothing other than a copy of the NZ official BMD site on either, which is free to query on the link below. See also my page on "Down Under - the Irish in Australia & New Zealand".
Perhaps the Irish-related marriage you are seeking took place overseas e.g. siblings in emigrant families or soldiers serving overseas. Or you may be following an emigrant family forward seeking marriages in new countries.
Foreign newspapers are an excellent source.
British Newspaper Archive (Subscription required) May be accessible for free in British libraries.
British Newspapers (FMP=£) Check filters for titles included.
Papers Past (New Zealand)
Trove Digitised Newspapers (Australia)
New York Times Archive (Subscription required)
Newspapers.com (Subscription required) Generally North American titles but some other countries too. See below for Ancestry indexes.
Church and civil registration in major destinations for Irish emigrants should also be considered. Here are a few suggestions - not exhaustive.
India
Did your ancestor join the East India Company, or later, the British Army and marry abroad? Or were they part of the huge civil service? Be sure to check out all candidates as disease was rife and second marriages may have taken place. See also my page "Fighting in a Foreign Field - India".
- British India Office Marriages (FMP=£) Register images for some records.
- India Marriages, 1792-1948 (FamilySearch) No original source stated.
Scotland
The important year to remember is 1855, when Scotland brought in Statutory Registration. Early birth records also recorded the date and place of the parents' marriage, so check the birth records of the eldest children to see if this information was recorded. See also my "Settling under the Saltire - the Irish in Scotland".
- Scottish Old Parish Registers & Statutory Marriages (ScotlandsPeople=Pay-per-view) See my Scotland Records & Resources page.
England & Wales Civil Registration - Marriage Indexes
- FreeBMD Volunteer project covering 1837-1997. Not 100% coverage but getting there. Good for learning about changing Registration Districts too.
- England & Wales, Civil Registration Marriage Index, 1837-1915 (Anc=£) Sourced from FreeBMD.
- England & Wales, Civil Registration Marriage Index, 1916-2005 (Anc=£) Sourced directly from the General Register Office.
- England & Wales Civil Marriages, 1837-2005 (FMP=£) Original source not stated...
- England and Wales Marriage Registration Index, 1837-2005 (FamilySearch) Sourced from FindMyPast.
The following collections cover many counties as well as selected transcript sources.
- ANCESTRY English Marriage Collections (Anc=£)
- FINDMYPAST English Marriage Collections (FMP=£)
- ANCESTRY Welsh Marriage Collections (Anc=£)
- FINDMYPAST Welsh Marriage Collections (FMP=£)
United States of America
Most states covered and also plenty of county level collections, so do your geography homework to be able to select the right sources for the cities in particular e.g. Cook County records for Chicago. See also my page on "American Pie - the Irish in the USA."
- ANCESTRY American Marriage Collections (Anc=£) Biggest collection is an OCR-generated index to Newspapers.com (see above.)
- FINDMYPAST American Marriage Collections (FMP=£) Includes several large Roman Catholic collections for eastern seaboard.
- FamilySearch American BMD Collections Many marriages in here - narrow your search using state or county as first keyword in title.
Canada
Narrow your search by state or province. See also my page on "Empire Builders - the Irish in Canada".
- ANCESTRY Canadian Marriage Collections (Anc=£) Good selection for Ontario, including Drouin collection in French. Newspaper index too.
- FINDMYPAST Canadian Marriage Collections (FMP=£) Very little, other than a modest collection for Manitoba (JAN 2022).
- FamilySearch Canadian BMD Collections Several marriage collections.
Australia & New Zealand
Collections for most Australian states and territories across both subscription sites but nothing other than a copy of the NZ official BMD site on either, which is free to query on the link below. See also my page on "Down Under - the Irish in Australia & New Zealand".
- ANCESTRY Australian & New Zealand Marriage Collections (Anc=£) Most states represented, plus newspapers index.
- FINDMYPAST Australian & New Zealand Marriage Collections (FMP=£) Interesting collection of convict marriages 1821-1851. Irish in here?
- New Zealand Marriage Search Same records on the official NZ BMD website.
- FamilySearch Australian & New Zealand BMD Collections Several marriage collections listed.
Long Shots!
These are exactly as titled - you are perhaps very unlikely to find the marriage you seek in these pages and databases, but you never know as there is plenty of biographical information listed in these sources.
"A Genealogical and Heraldic History of the Landed Gentry of Ireland" (Sir Bernard Burke & Arthur Charles Fox-Davies, 1912) Landed ancestors?
"Irish Landed Gentry" (John O'Hart, 1887) (e-book) Landed ancestors?
Kings Inn Admission Papers, 1607-1867 Lawyers and barristers?
These are exactly as titled - you are perhaps very unlikely to find the marriage you seek in these pages and databases, but you never know as there is plenty of biographical information listed in these sources.
"A Genealogical and Heraldic History of the Landed Gentry of Ireland" (Sir Bernard Burke & Arthur Charles Fox-Davies, 1912) Landed ancestors?
"Irish Landed Gentry" (John O'Hart, 1887) (e-book) Landed ancestors?
Kings Inn Admission Papers, 1607-1867 Lawyers and barristers?
(c) Irish Geneaography - 2021
