National Archives of Ireland prepares the 1926 census for release

The National Archives of Ireland (https://nationalarchives.ie) has released a short video giving a tantalising glimpse of the work currently underway to prepare the 1926 Irish census for release on 18 April 2026.

You can view the video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VQn7dxNAgzk, or below, where it is embedded for your convenience.

The census covers the 26 counties that formed the Irish Free State at the time, now the republic that is Ireland - the equivalent records for the Northern Irish census, taken on the same night as its southern equivalent, have sadly not survived.

Chris 

Order Researching Ancestral Crisis in Ireland in the UK at https://bit.ly/4jJWSEh. Also available -Tracing Your Belfast Ancestors, Tracing Your Irish Ancestors Through Land Records, Sharing Your Family History Online, Tracing Your Scottish Family History on the Internet, Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet (2nd ed), and Tracing Your Scottish Ancestry Through Church and State Records - to purchase, please visit https://bit.ly/ChrisPatonPSbooks. For purchase in tthe USA visit https://www.penandswordbooks.com. Further news published daily on The Scottish GENES Facebook page.

War of Independence and Irish Civil War compensation claims files to go online

From the National Archives of Ireland (www.nationalarchives.ie):

On 30 November last, Minister for Finance Paschal Donohue TD visited the National Archives to announce the transfer from his department to the National Archives of 3500+ files relating to compensation claims for injuries, death or damages sustained during the War of Independence or Civil War. This collection contains first-hand accounts by claimants – including medical and personal data – relating to tragic events during a turbulent period, demonstrating that people of all ages, from all and no sides were affected in varying ways during these difficult years.

Work will now begin to prepare these files for public release in April 2023 so stay tuned for updates

Further information about the project is available at https://www.gov.ie/en/press-release/f0245-records-for-compensation-claims-relating-to-personal-injuries-or-death-during-the-period-of-the-war-of-independence-and-civil-war-to-be-released-to-the-public/

(With thanks to the NAI via email) 

Chris

My new book Tracing Your Irish Ancestors Through Land Records is now available to buy at https://bit.ly/IrishLandRecords. Also available - Sharing Your Family History Online, Tracing Your Scottish Family History on the Internet, Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet (2nd ed), and Tracing Your Scottish Ancestry Through Church and State Records - to purchase, please visit https://bit.ly/ChrisPatonPSbooks. Further news published daily on The Scottish GENES Facebook page, and on Twitter @genesblog.

Ireland's Virtual Record Treasury launches

If there is one thing to learn about Irish genealogy and history, it is that the glass is always half full when it comes to the survival of records, it is never half empty. You'll hear a lot of doom and gloom from folk about records being destroyed, and how it just can't be done. Ignore them, there is often a way!

Today, Ireland pulled off a miracle, in retrieving a great deal of the material thought to be forever lost in the Public Record Office fire of 1922, during the Irish Civil War. Through transcripts, surrogate copies, conservation miracles, and collaboration with other archives worldwide (not least PRONI and TNA), the new Virtual Record Treasury of Ireland platform has now been launched at https://virtualtreasury.ie.

Having just watched the official launch online, which I found to be extraordinarly emotional, it's just too big to review right now, so I am merely going to suggest that you get stuck in, and in due course, when I can breathe a little more, I will properly review it! 

Suffice to say that having just typed in my home town of Carrickfergus, 506 entries have popped up, and they will be duly plundered very soon. My home town of Carrickfergus has a Latin motto - Gloria Prisca Novatur - meaning 'the glory of old renewed'. Today, whilst our old PRO has not been fully restored, much of its former glory has been renewed in Dublin. A superb effort from all concerned, and a fitting conclusion to the Decade of Centenaries.

For more on the launch visit https://beyond2022.ie/ and https://www.rte.ie/news/ireland/2022/0624/1306668-virtual-record-office/.

The glass is half full, it is not half empty. Have fun!

Chris 

My new book Tracing Your Irish Ancestors Through Land Records is now available to buy at https://bit.ly/IrishLandRecords. Also available - Sharing Your Family History Online, Tracing Your Scottish Family History on the Internet, Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet (2nd ed), and Tracing Your Scottish Ancestry Through Church and State Records - to purchase, please visit https://bit.ly/ChrisPatonPSbooks. Further news published daily on The Scottish GENES Facebook page, and on Twitter @genesblog.

Ancestry adds six National Archives of Ireland collections

Ancestry (www.ancestry.co.uk) has added the following Irish collections, all sourced from the National Archives of Ireland in Dublin:

Ireland, Wills and Grants of Probate, 1858-1900
https://www.ancestry.co.uk/search/collections/62078/
Source: Wills and administrations. Dublin, Ireland: Microfilm of original records at the National Archives.

Ireland, Indexes to Wills, Probate Administration, Marriage Bonds and Licences, 1591-1866
https://www.ancestry.co.uk/search/collections/62077/
Source: Indexes of Wills, Administration and Marriage Licence Bonds. Dublin, Ireland: Microfilm of original records at the National Archives.

Ireland, Registers of Wills and Administrations, 1828-1885
https://www.ancestry.co.uk/search/collections/62076/
Source: Inland Revenue registers of wills and administrations. Dublin, Ireland: Microfilm of original records at the National Archives.

Ireland, Crew Lists and Shipping Agreements, 1863-1920
https://www.ancestry.co.uk/search/collections/62047/
Source: Records of the Registrar General of Shipping and Seamen, 1860 - 1921. Dublin, Ireland: Microfilm of original records at the National Archives.

Ireland, Census Fragments, 1821-1851
https://www.ancestry.co.uk/search/collections/62025/
Source: Pre-1901 Census fragments. Dublin, Ireland: Microfilm of original records at the National Archives.

Ireland, National School Registers, 1847-1959
https://www.ancestry.co.uk/search/collections/62023/
Source: National School registers and roll books. Dublin, Ireland: Microfilm of original records at the National Archives.

Descriptions of all of the collections are available via the links. Note that the first five collections are also freely available on www.genealogy.nationalarchives.ie, whilst the school registers are equally hosted on FindmyPast (https://search.findmypast.co.uk/search-world-records/ireland-national-school-registers). Nevertheless, with the records now also hosted on Ancestry, your online hosted family tree (if you have one), will be able to flag up potential matches.

For more on how to make your trees work with sites such as Ancestry and FindmyPast to locate record matches, my book Sharing Your Family History Online may be able to help. It is available to purchase from Pen and Sword via www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/Sharing-Your-Family-History-Online-Paperback/p/18718 in both print and e-editions.

Chris

Just out, Sharing Your Family History Online is on sale at https://bit.ly/SharingFamHist. Tracing Your Scottish Family History on the Internet, at http://bit.ly/ChrisPaton-Scottish2 is also out, as are Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet (2nd ed) at http://bit.ly/ChrisPaton-Irish1 and Tracing Your Scottish Ancestry Through Church and State Records at http://bit.ly/ChrisPaton-Scotland1. Further news published daily on The Scottish GENES Facebook page, and on Twitter @genesblog.

National Archives of Ireland to reopen on Monday 29th June

The National Archives of Ireland (www.nationalarchives.ie) has made the following announcement on its website:

The National Archives will re-open to the public on a limited, appointment-only basis from Monday June 29th.

Please check back to this website later in the week to book your appointment online.

Chris

My next 5 week Scotland 1750-1850: Beyond the Old Parish Registers course starts July 6th - see https://www.pharostutors.com/details.php?coursenumber=302. My next book, Tracing Your Scottish Family History on the Internet, at http://bit.ly/ChrisPaton-Scottish2 is now out, also available are Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet (2nd ed) at http://bit.ly/ChrisPaton-Irish1 and Tracing Your Scottish Ancestry Through Church and State Records at http://bit.ly/ChrisPaton-Scotland1. Further news published daily on The Scottish GENES Facebook page, and on Twitter @genesblog.