The National Archives of Ireland
National Archives of Ireland - image from NAI home page
The following words of wisdom are based on my own experiences. Please get in touch if you can add to this advice with your own observations.
What is this archive and what might you find there?
The National Archives of Ireland (NAI) are located in Bishop St., not far from St. Patrick's Cathedral. They are in a modern building that dates from 1992, having taken over from the Public Record Office of Ireland previously housed at the Four Courts. Various state and court papers have naturally found their retirement home here including such gems as the surviving 1901 and 1911 Irish censuses. There are also other genealogically significant resources that have found their way to the NAI, more of which below.
Of course, sadly, given Ireland's well documented and troubled early 20th century history, there are also many records which should be here but no longer exist having gone up in smoke in 1922 when the Four Courts was engulfed in flames (* sigh * - if there was one thing that we Irish genies wish we could turn back time and change ...) In fact, spare a thought for Herbert Wood, Assistant Deputy Records Keeper, who published his "Guide to Public Records deposited in the Public Record Office of Ireland" in 1919, only to see it rendered mostly obsolete a mere 3 years later. Having said that, much effort has been put into trying to recreate parts of the collection from alternative sources. In fact, the Irish Genealogical Research Society was founded in London in 1936 for exactly this reason and has built up an unique library of research documents.
How to find your way to treasure in this archive, in person or remotely?
If you are planning a visit to the NAI, then read their Frequently Asked Questions leaflet to make sure you are aware of the practicalities of gaining access to the Reading Room etc. The Genealogy pages highlight their key resources that are already available on-line and give some good general guidance on other types of records to consider. But that's about it - you are then cast into the wilds of the NAI Catalogue where as usual you are the mercy of generations of archivists and their own predilections for cataloguing. The basic Search screen for the Archives is the usual "letterbox scrabble" affair where you have to know what you're looking for in order to find it! There seems to be no facility for browsing the catalogue easily by category? I'm sure there is treasure to be found in these archives in person, but you do need the map marked 'X' or at least some signposts! As far as I am aware there is no Irish equivalent of Amanda Bevan's, "Tracing your ancestors in the National Archives", which is your guide to the records held at Kew. Please let me know if you know of anything similar for Ireland.
If you do visit in person, then there is a free Genealogy Service available for a few short hours each morning, which I can't comment on it as I have not taken advantage of it myself. When I have visited, I have to say, I have found the whole experience a bit dispiriting but maybe I've just consistently got the staff on bad days ... or maybe not? I just did not feel very welcome and no-one seemed interested in being helpful.
Having whinged, it's only fair now to given the NAI a huge vote of thanks for the marvellous resources that they have put on-line with some very good search screens giving access to high quality digitised images for free;
The Will Calendars from 1922 are not searchable via the search screens like the earlier ones, but the documents can be browsed by year. You can call up the list of files by accessing the link above. Or alternatively, you could use Chris Paton's helpful shortcuts.
What is this archive and what might you find there?
The National Archives of Ireland (NAI) are located in Bishop St., not far from St. Patrick's Cathedral. They are in a modern building that dates from 1992, having taken over from the Public Record Office of Ireland previously housed at the Four Courts. Various state and court papers have naturally found their retirement home here including such gems as the surviving 1901 and 1911 Irish censuses. There are also other genealogically significant resources that have found their way to the NAI, more of which below.
Of course, sadly, given Ireland's well documented and troubled early 20th century history, there are also many records which should be here but no longer exist having gone up in smoke in 1922 when the Four Courts was engulfed in flames (* sigh * - if there was one thing that we Irish genies wish we could turn back time and change ...) In fact, spare a thought for Herbert Wood, Assistant Deputy Records Keeper, who published his "Guide to Public Records deposited in the Public Record Office of Ireland" in 1919, only to see it rendered mostly obsolete a mere 3 years later. Having said that, much effort has been put into trying to recreate parts of the collection from alternative sources. In fact, the Irish Genealogical Research Society was founded in London in 1936 for exactly this reason and has built up an unique library of research documents.
How to find your way to treasure in this archive, in person or remotely?
If you are planning a visit to the NAI, then read their Frequently Asked Questions leaflet to make sure you are aware of the practicalities of gaining access to the Reading Room etc. The Genealogy pages highlight their key resources that are already available on-line and give some good general guidance on other types of records to consider. But that's about it - you are then cast into the wilds of the NAI Catalogue where as usual you are the mercy of generations of archivists and their own predilections for cataloguing. The basic Search screen for the Archives is the usual "letterbox scrabble" affair where you have to know what you're looking for in order to find it! There seems to be no facility for browsing the catalogue easily by category? I'm sure there is treasure to be found in these archives in person, but you do need the map marked 'X' or at least some signposts! As far as I am aware there is no Irish equivalent of Amanda Bevan's, "Tracing your ancestors in the National Archives", which is your guide to the records held at Kew. Please let me know if you know of anything similar for Ireland.
If you do visit in person, then there is a free Genealogy Service available for a few short hours each morning, which I can't comment on it as I have not taken advantage of it myself. When I have visited, I have to say, I have found the whole experience a bit dispiriting but maybe I've just consistently got the staff on bad days ... or maybe not? I just did not feel very welcome and no-one seemed interested in being helpful.
Having whinged, it's only fair now to given the NAI a huge vote of thanks for the marvellous resources that they have put on-line with some very good search screens giving access to high quality digitised images for free;
- 1901 & 1911 Censuses
- 1841 / 1851 Census Search Forms (Proof of age for Old Age Pensions introduced in 1908 for persons aged 70+)
- Tithe Applotment Books, 1823-1837
- Valuation Office Books, 1824-1856
- Diocesan and Prerogative Wills, 1595-1858
- Will Calendars, 1858-1920
- Will Registers, 1858-1900
- Soldiers Wills from the First World War
- Diocesan and Prerogative Marriage Licence Bonds Indexes, 1623-1866
- Catholic Qualification and Convert Rolls, 1700-1845
- Crew and Shipping Records, 1860-1921
The Will Calendars from 1922 are not searchable via the search screens like the earlier ones, but the documents can be browsed by year. You can call up the list of files by accessing the link above. Or alternatively, you could use Chris Paton's helpful shortcuts.
