The Irish Genie

08/02/2026

Great news … really looking forward to Monday !!

They must have been listening to me. This is in the Sunday Independent today.

04/02/2026

We are on the countdown… I’ve a list I want to check as soon as they are updated … it would be fabulous to get the pre 1870 deaths … would help knock some brick walls I have.

When will we get a new year of data on Irishgenealogy? We're expecting 1925 births, 1950 marriages and 1975 deaths. It would be lovely if we got the 1864-1870 deaths (or even just the indexes back!) but I've almost given up on that. Last year's update was delayed by the launch of the new version of the website, so I'm hoping it'll be earlier this year.
That gap between the birth indexes on the commercial sites is closing fast. IrishGenealogy has births indexed with the mother's name from 1900. Ancestry/Findmypast/Familysearch have birth indexes to 1958 but they only have the mother's surname in the index from 1928. With the imminent release of the 1926 census, we should be able to get around this little 20th century gap. If you need to work with 19th century births, remember that Rootsireland often has the civil records indexed out so they might be a shortcut, albeit requiring at least a short term subscription.

03/02/2026

Unlock family secrets with Irish marriage records. Discover how names, locations, witnesses and occupations in marriage entries can break brick walls in your genealogy research. Read the full guide from The Irish Genie to learn practical tips and where to look. https://www.theirishgenie.ie/post/tracing-ancestors-through-irish-marriage-records

02/02/2026

This weekend we celebrated St Brigid’s day (1st February) the matron Saint of Ireland, with a Bank Holiday.

Brigid was born in Faughart, Co. Louth, in approximately 450 AD, Brigid has strong associations with Kildare especially the Curragh in Co. Kildare.

Across Ireland, families once marked this day by making Brigid’s crosses, leaving Brigid’s cloak outside for blessing, and welcoming the saint into the home for protection.

Virtually every family in Ireland as a Brigid, Bridie, Birdie, Bridget or Delia in their family. (I have 62 Brigid/ Bridget in my family)

St Brigid's Day | Ireland.ie

25/01/2026

Curious about Irish Civil and Church Records? Here’s what you need to know!

Civil records are official documents required by law, recording important life events like births, marriages, and deaths in a standard format. In Ireland this requirement became law in 1864 for all citizens. These records are organised by where the event happened—if you’re tracing your family tree, Shane Wilson’s Townland Index and Database (1851) (https://www.swilson.info/townlands.php ) can help you find the right registration district.

You can search for:
• Births (1864–1924)
• Marriages (1864–1949) (non-Catholic marriages from 1845)
• Deaths (1864–1974)

All of these are available for free at www.irishgenealogy.ie, with new year’s added every spring!

Church records, especially Catholic ones, usually cover baptisms and marriages (but not as many deaths). Each parish kept its own records, so formats vary and some records haven’t survived. You’ll find Catholic Parish Registers at the National Library of Ireland (https://registers.nli.ie/) , and records for the Catholic Diocese of Kerry, Dublin City, and the Church of Ireland (baptisms, marriages, deaths in Dublin City) at www.irishgenealogy.ie.

Happy searching!

18/01/2026

Great to see these appointments

Dublin City Council has appointed their Historians in Residence for 2026 and 2027, who will highlight Dublin history across the city

18/01/2026

Beginning Your Irish Family History Journey

As you embark on your Irish family history research, it helps to be well prepared and to understand the landscape—both geographical and historical—of the places your ancestors once called home. Let’s begin with a sense of that landscape.

Ireland’s intricate system of land divisions reflects centuries of shifting governance, settlement patterns, and cultural tradition. At its most detailed, the island is made up of:

• 61,119 townlands – the smallest and oldest land divisions, often rooted in ancient Gaelic boundaries
• 4,563 Electoral Divisions – used for administrative and census purposes
• 2,509 Civil Parishes – originally ecclesiastical units later adapted for civil administration
• 328 Baronies – historic Norman subdivisions once central to taxation and legal affairs
• 32 Counties – the most familiar modern administrative units
• 4 Provinces – Connacht, Leinster, Munster, and Ulster, each carrying deep cultural and political heritage.

Every townland, parish, and district has its own stories, traditions, and folklore—understanding these layers can bring your ancestors’ lives into sharper focus.

Check out my latest tips to get started here ... https://www.theirishgenie.ie/post/top-tips-for-getting-started-with-your-irish-family-tree

18/01/2026

Starting your Irish family tree? Discover practical, confidence-building steps in our new blog: Top Tips for Getting Started With Your Irish Family Tree. From interviewing relatives to exploring civil records and understanding naming patterns—this guide makes the first steps simple. Read more: https://wix.to/tamGXQJ

A few practical steps can help you begin your research with confidence:• Start at HomeSpeak with relatives and gather names, dates, places, and family stories. Search for old letters, photographs, certificates, diaries, or family Bibles.• Understand Irish Naming PatternsBe aware of surname varia...

16/01/2026

Great news if you have Kildare roots …

New Kildare Records Added! 13th January 2026 By Brendan Scott We are delighted to announce the addition of 8278 nineteenth-century census substitute records for County Kildare to the Roots Ireland database! They are as follows: Slater’s Trade Directories for Co. Kildare, 1846 and 1881 (3,234 recor...

15/01/2026

Great course with a fantastic lecturer

Have you had a DNA test done but are unsure how to interpret your results and move forward with your genealogical research? Join Claire Bradley, professional genealogist, for a DNA Workshop where she will guide participants in using their DNA results for family history. To participate you need to have already received your DNA test results and be able to access them on the day. The workshop will take place at Fingal Local Studies & Archives, 46 North Street, Swords on Wednesday, 21st January from 2.30pm-4pm. Spaces are limited, to book contact archives@fingal.ie or call (01) 8704486.

11/11/2025

Really looking forward to working with the Clonsilla and Porterstown Heritage Society

Our last event of 2025 is a talk, on Wed 19th November, at 7pm.

The talk will be given by local genealogist Frances Daly, about all the records available to assist tracing your family tree! We will also have refreshments and time for a chat afterwards. This talk will take place in St Mochta's Parish Centre, Porterstown.

Please email cpheritagesoc@outlook.com if you'd like to book a place, as spaces are limited!

The Irish Genie was founded by Frances Daly. Frances is based in Dublin and specialises in Irish Genealogy. Frances is a member of the Irish Genealogical Research Society and the Pharos Pro-Am Genie Networking Group. https://www.theirishgenie.ie/

Hope to see you there!

Fingal Heritage