Irish Civil Registration

The earliest Irish vital records date from 1845

Irish civil registration forms the backbone of genealogical research in Ireland because birth, marriage and death records help us to identify family groups. Being 'Government' records (not church records) these Irish 'vital records' are often the most accurate documentary evidence of our ancestors' lives and they also survive intact. And it's not often that can be said of Irish genealogy records!

The only complication in locating Irish civil registration records results from the division of Ireland in 1922. Fortunately, this isn't difficult to overcome. Records are split between the General Register Office of Northern Ireland (GRONI) in Belfast and the General Register Office (GRO) in Dublin. Contact details are at the foot of this page.

If you already know the names, approximate date and location of your ancestor's birth, marriage or death, finding these life events in Irish civil registration records and obtaining copies of relevant certificates is really easy. You have a choice of action, too. You can look for the event in the official indexes, in the registers (where available) or, in some cases, even make a straightforward application to the appropriate GRO without the official reference.

For many researchers, though, it's not quite this simple as they don't start with sufficient information. In this case, understanding the Irish civil registration system, knowing where records can be accessed, and appreciating the limitations of different sources, will prove valuable.

You can scroll down the page or click the following links for general information:

• Indexes: what is in them and how they are arranged
  
• Indexes: where to study them
• Registers: what they are and where they can be viewed
• Copy certificates: how and where to apply
• Contact details for GRO/GRONI
  

Or, for an indepth look at specific elements of the Irish civil registration system, choose these pages:

• Ireland's birth records and the information they contain
• Irish marriage records (civil) - often the easiest and most satisfying to discover
• Irish death records
• Irish civil registration districts, by county
• How much have Irish names changed since civil registration was introduced?
  

Indexes

After Irish civil registration was introduced, indexes were compiled by the GRO either quarterly or annually (depending on the year) on receipt of records from all the Superintendent Registrar Districts across Ireland.

In 1922, following the division of the island into Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, the GRO function was split between GRO Dublin and GRONI Belfast.

From that date, records of births, marriages and deaths that took place in SRDs in the six counties of Northern Ireland were sent to GRONI for indexing, while records for life events in the remaining 26 counties continued to be sent to GRO Dublin (until 2005 when the GRO moved to Roscommon).

Although the indices are compiled from the original registration records, they do not contain all the information supplied at the time of registration. For example, birth indexes show the first and family name of the newborn but not the name of the child's parents. However, by quoting the reference number and letters written next to the birth entry, a copy of the original registration document can be located and this contains all the pertinent details.

Similarly, the pre-1966 marriage indexes show the first and family name of the newly wed but not the name of the spouse. The adjacent reference leads to a copy of the marriage registration document (ie marriage certificate) and the additional information.

Therefore, the indexes alone will not move your Irish genealogy research very far. But the reference number will.

The registration number

Each entry in the indexes contains the following: Surname, Christian name, name of Registration District in which the birth, marriage or death took place, Volume and page number of the local register in which the entry was recorded. For example, my great-grandad Tierney's birth in the townland of Ballymacadam, co Tipperary is recorded in the 1872 index book as: Tierney Patrick Clogheen 9 722.

Arrangement of the volumes

From 1845-1863, the marriage indexes (which include only non-Catholic marriages) are arranged alphabetically and are hand-written. After this date, the indexes are typed.

From 1864 to 1877, the indexes are in alphabetical order in one book per year.

From 1878 to 1902, the indexes are arranged alphabetically by quarter (ie four quarters to one volume). Unless you are certain of the date of the event, you need to check all four quarters and bear in mind that a birth, marriage or death that occured in one quarter may not have been registered until the following quarter.

From 1903, the birth indexes (but not the marriage or death indexes) are in alphabetical order in one book per year. The maiden name of the baby's mother is recorded, too, for the first time. This makes searching for a large family of children much easier.

Late, overseas and military registrations

Each volume of the Irish civil registration indexes has a section at the back where late registrations were recorded. These entries may have been registered only just outside the six-week registration limit or they may have been several years late.

From 1879 there are also separate pages for the registrations of overseas births and deaths for Irish soldiers and Irish civil servants.

To view Irish civil registration indexes

Online

Some years ago the LDS Church microfilmed all Irish civil registration indexes up to 1958. On 23 January 2009, they released a pilot site in which these records can be searched, free of charge. The term 'pilot' means the site is being tested, that results might be inconsistent, and that some features will not always be available. A few days after the launch, for example, images of index pages were withdrawn, suggesting that this particular function is likely to become unavailable at times of high demand. (Transcripts should still be available, though.)

Unfortunately, for those with ancestors in the six counties of Northern Ireland, there are no records available after 1921. Another limitation is that the maiden name of the mother is not recorded in the LDS birth indexes.

Despite these drawbacks and some teething problems, this resource is sure to become a mainstay of Irish genealogy research.

Elsewhere on the web, transcripts of indexes for some counties or smaller localities are also available, free of charge. If you can't find any through Google or one of the other major search engines, you may find that local family history groups or heritage centres can advise you.

Additionally, the Irish Family History Federation has placed online a huge number of birth, marriage and death records (taken from both church records and the Irish civil registration registers). Although free to search, you have to pay €5 to view each record. Not all counties are yet included... check the site's home page.

Belfast

Computerised indexes are available for public inspection at GRONI. The indexes cover all life events and all years since Irish civil registration began. Only the indexes (not the registers) are available for public inspection.

To view the indexes, you need to make an appointment well in advance. Up to six hours' research at GRONI costs £12. This includes up to four verifications of index entries. Additional verifications cost £3 each. A full certified copy of a birth, marriage or death certificate costs £6. (Pre-1922 marriage certificates cannot be obtained through GRONI; you have to apply to the appropriate local register office.)

Dublin

Although the GRO's head office is in Roscommon, family historians can make personal visits to the GRO's Research Room in Dublin (address below) to study the Irish civil registration indexes to births, marriages and deaths. No appointment is necessary. All staff are superbly helpful and will patiently explain how the records are filed and your search options.

Bear in mind that you have to carry out your own research and that only the indexes (not the registers) are available for public inspection. They are not computerised. You wade through the heavy index books manually and may have to be patient if another researcher is using the book you want.

After studying the indexes and noting the full references for your ancestors' life events, staff will take photocopies of the relevant register entries (allow half an hour per photocopy). Maximum five photocopies per person per day.

An all-day search covering all years and all indexes costs €20. A search covering a maximum of five years of Irish births, marriages and deaths costs €2. Photocopies are extra, at €2 each.

To view Irish civil registration registers

The Irish civil registration registers contain duplicates of the original registration document completed at the time a birth, marriage or death was notified. In effect, these documents are copies of birth, marriage and death certificates.

Duplicates of the majority of these registers are held by the GRO in Roscommon and GRONI in Belfast, and copies of entries can be obtained by following the instructions below for ordering certificates.

One notable exception to these details is that pre-1922 marriage registers for the six counties that now make up Northern Ireland are not held by GRONI but by local register offices. Although you can search GRONI's indexes for these marriage entries, you have to apply to the local register office for copies of certificates. (Alternatively, you can obtain a copy certificate by post from GRO in Roscommon.)

Most local registration district offices also retain their original registers and some will allow public access to them, subject to advance bookings and payment of a fee.

The original registers can also be viewed on microfilm at Family History Centers run by the LDS Church (Mormons). See box to the right for details of their holding and availability.

Obtaining copies of Irish civil registration certificates

If you have already located your ancestor in the indexes or registers, you will know the relevant reference number to use when submitting an application for a copy certificate. The procedure is straightforward - just follow the instructions on GRONI or GRO's websites.

If you have not yet obtained the reference number and you cannot readily access the indexes/registers to find it, all is not necessarily lost. You can submit your application to GRO/GRONI in the usual manner and provide as much information as you can. Don't expect the impossible, however.

While the staff will undertake a search when they are given sufficient information, they will not do so if the search is likely to be too time consuming. In most cases, this will mean you neeed to supply names, dates and location.

Apply to the correct office for copy certificates:

• For births from 1864 to present in the Republic: GRO, Roscommon.
  
• For births from 1864 to 1921 in Northern Ireland: either GRO, Roscommon, or GRONI, Belfast.
  
• For births from 1922 to present in Northern Ireland: GRONI, Belfast.
  
• For marriages from 1845 to present in the Republic: GRO, Roscommon.
  
• For marriages from 1845 to 1921 in Northern Ireland: either GRO, Roscommon, or the appropriate register office in Northern Ireland.
  
• For marriages from 1922 to present in Northern Ireland: GRONI, Belfast.
  
• For deaths from 1864 to present in the Republic: GRO, Roscommon.
  
• For deaths from 1864 to 1921 in Northern Ireland: either GRO, Roscommon, or GRONI, Belfast.
  
• For deaths from 1922 to present in Northern Ireland: GRONI, Belfast.
  

Contact details

GRO:

• General Register Office (GRO), Government Offices, Convent Road, Roscommon, co Roscommon. Tel: (00 353)(0)90 663 2900. www.groireland.ie. No public research facilities. Postal service only. Application forms can be downloaded from the website. No online service yet.
  
• General Register Office (GRO) Research Room, Irish Life Centre, Middle Abbey Street, Dublin 1. Hours 9.30-4.30 Mon to Fri.
  Applications in person only.

GRONI:

• General Register Office Northern Ireland (GRONI), Oxford House, 49/55 Chichester Street, Belfast BT1 4HL, UK. Tel: (00 44) (0)28 9025 2000. www.groni.gov.uk. Application can be made in person, by phone or fax or online.

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For indepth information about Irish civil registration records of birth, marriage and death, see links at top of page.

If you are looking for birth, marriage and death records dating from before the Irish civil registration system started, you need to see if Church Records can help you. Find out how to trace family history through Irish parish registers.

Return to Irish Genealogy Toolkit Home page.