Our Top 5 FREE Irish Family History Websites for you to research
IrishGenealogy.ie
Run by the Irish Department of Culture, this site offers free access to civil records (births over 100 years old, marriages over 75, deaths over 50) and a growing collection of church records, especially Church of Ireland registers. It’s straightforward to use, with searchable indexes and images. Free
FamilySearch.org
Backed by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, this global site has a hefty Irish section, including civil registration indexes (1845–1958) and parish records. It’s free with a basic account, though some images link out to partner sites or require a visit to a FamilySearch Center. Free
National Archives of Ireland Genealogy
This gem provides free access to the 1901 and 1911 censuses—the only full Irish censuses to survive—plus fragments of earlier ones (1821–1851), Tithe Applotment Books (1820s–1830s), and Soldiers’ Wills from World War I. It’s a treasure trove for pre-20th-century research. Free
Public Record Office of Northern Ireland (PRONI)
For ancestors from Northern Ireland’s six counties, PRONI offers free online databases like the Ulster Covenant (1912), Freeholders’ Records, and Valuation Revision Books. It’s a goldmine for Ulster research, with no fees attached—just register to dive in. Free
National Library of Ireland (NLI) Catholic Parish Registers The NLI digitized its microfilm collection of Catholic parish registers, covering baptisms and marriages up to around 1880. It’s free to browse, though there’s no name index—you’ll need to know your ancestor’s parish and approximate dates to make headway. Free