How to Trace Your Irish Ancestors: An Essential Guide to Researching and Documenting the Family Histories of Ireland's People

The purpose of this book is to highlight the most important documentary evidence available to the family historian wishing to research their Irish ancestry. It is aimed primarily at researchers whose time in Irish repositories is limited, and who want to know what is available locally and online. Unlike the British Isles, which has very extensive civil and census records, Irish ancestral research is influenced by the destruction of so many of the major record collections. To make good this loss, duplicates, copies and abstracts of the lost records have been assembled over the years by archivists across Ireland so that today, in the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland (PRONI) alone, researchers have access to more than 53 shelf kilometres of records!Nevertheless, researchers are compelled to become better acquainted with lesser-known collections that serve as substitutes - such as tithe assessments, school registers and land and valuation records - than their counterparts in England, Scotland or Wales. This book covers more than eighteen individual sources of information, making it simpler to organise your search and easier to carry it out both locally and on the ground.

Table of Contents:
Abbreviations; Introduction; 1. Where to Begin; 2. Administrative Divisions; 3. Civil Registration; 4. Census Returns and Old Age Pensions; 5. Census Substitutes; 6. Wills and Testamentary Papers; 7. Election Records; 8. Board of Guardian Records; 9. School Records; 10. Migration; 11. Emigration; 12. Landed Estate Records; 13. Taxation and Valuation Records; 14. Church Records; 15. Military Records; 16. Printed Sources; 17. Law & Order; 18. Local Government; 19. Researching Online; Useful Research Resources; Index.

About the Author :
Author Ian Maxwell is former Records Officer at the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland, and is now a freelance writer for Family History Monthly and Ancestor magazines contributing to numerous articles on both Irish, Scottish and English history and genealogy and lecturing on those subjects too. Ian is also the author three other genealogy books. Tracing Your Ancestors in Northern Ireland (HMSO, 1997), Researching Armagh Ancestors (UHF, 2000) and Researching Down Ancestors (UHF, 2004).

Review :
'An essential guide for any family historian whose research has been hampered by the destruction of so many major record collections in Ireland.' Mature Times 'A good, solid account of Ireland's records written in a clear, accessible manner.' Who Do You Think You Are? 'This splendid book does indeed cover the full gamut of resources and it contains a valuable list of up-to-date websites.' Family History Monthly'Offers remarkably detailed and wide ranging information to the sources and where they may be found.' Ancestors'Reliable and straightforward guide to researching Irish family history, with a factual focus and no waffle.' Your Family Tree'This clearly laid out book is a useful guide for anyone researching and documenting the family histories of Ireland's people.' Family Tree Magazine