FindMyPast Irish Research

Researching your Irish family was difficult in the past. That has now changed with the release of tens of millions of records concerning Ireland. FindMyPast claims to have “the world’s largest and most comprehensive collection of easy-to-search Irish family history records.”

FindMyPast has blogs and webinars that help you understand their databases and how to get the best use out of their site. “Secrets to Successful Family Research” presented by Fiona Fitzsimons is an excellent blog on how to use the Irish records in FindMyPast. Fiona has some wonderful suggestions on how to maximize your Irish research.

Fiona’s first tip is to be sure and not just accept what is in an index without looking at the original digital image.

When searching, use variants with or without the O or the Mac. There were periods where the O’s and Mac ’s were used sporadically.

Be sure you are using the right name in your search. Your ancestor may have been named Edward at birth but by the end of his life was called Edmond or Eamon, popular nicknames for Edward. Be aware of the Irish nicknames for the name you are researching.

Marriages occurred in the bride’s home parish early in the week. Inter-faith marriages were more common the many realize. Baptisms of the first children born most often occurred in the mother’s home parish as the mother usually returned home to have her children.

Catholic parents put a priority on baptism. You may find a birth date listed later than the baptism date. How could an infant be baptized before they were born? If parents were late in registering their child, they faced a fine. Instead of paying a fine, they changed the birth date. When in question, assume the baptism date is closest to the actual birth date.

The Irish buried their dead with their kin. Families would transport their deceased long distances to bury them with family. Look for burial and death information where the family originated.

Petty Session Court Records are a must to research. These records included every age, religion, and location. The Irish criminalized even minor offenses.

There are many more records to search such as Dog licenses, Griffith Valuation and newspapers. Being familiar with the records available is the key to success. As the Irish saying goes – “Wherever you go and whatever you do, may the luck of the Irish be there with you.”