Researching family history through Ireland is not the easiest part of genealogical research. However, some sources do exist, but probably not in the format that one is used to seeing. It is therefore important to understand the history of the times which you are researching, in order to further expand the sources that may assist you. Besides online sources, reviews of books which you can obtain, are available from our Library page.
For centuries, the English kings had tried to subjugate Ireland. Early efforts had been to "plant" Ireland with English settlers. About 1607, James I, who had been James VI of Scotland, added Scots to settle the Plantation of Ulster, in an effort to add Protestants to Ireland.
"Undertakers" were granted vast estates, but were required to bring in settlers from Scotland and England. Scots undertakers generally recruited settlers from their tenants in Scotland. Many of the undertakers were from Southwest Scotland, now known as Dumfries and Galloway. Ireland, being very close, was a much more inviting place for new opportunities for settlers, than the prospect of a long voyage to America.
Full government records were taken every 10 years from 1821 through 1911. 1821 through 1851 were largey destroyed by fire in 1922, with only small sections saved. Those records from 1861 through 1891 were completely destroyed prior to 1922, by order of the government. What remains is available from the National Archives of Ireland.
With the absense of census records, the document referred to the most in genealogical research is Griffith's Valuation. There actually were 3 valuations - 1826, 1846 and 1852. These valuations were not meant to take the place of a census, but were to identify the "productive value" of property in order to assist in eliminating taxation inequities.
Complicating the problem for Griffith and for genealogists, were the many terms used in defining the boundaries of land. There were English acres, Irish acres, counties, parishes, townlands, manors, ploughlands, baronies, carcaghs, and tates. But, these records were thorough and can be reviewed online at www.askaboutireland.ie
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