Steven Skeldon
Family History Services Manager, National Library of Ireland
Learn about the free family history service that’s here to guide you, with expert advice and practical resources to help you get started.
For anyone beginning a family tree, the National Library of Ireland offers guidance and resources to help turn curiosity into discovery.
Getting started with genealogy
The National Library of Ireland’s family history service provides free advice by email at [email protected]. In-person consultations can also be arranged in the dedicated research room located in our Kildare Street premises.. These sessions are designed to help with questions about sources, records and research strategies. A Reader’s Ticket is required for in-person consultations, and details on how to obtain one are available at nli.ie/visit/readers-ticket.
For those just starting out, the Library has created simple templates that can be downloaded or printed to keep track of names, dates and family connections. These can be found at nli.ie/family-history/getting-started. They are an ideal way to organise your research from the beginning.
Whether you are tracing ancestors
or exploring Ireland’s stories, there
is always more to learn and discover.
What records are available?
A key date for Irish family research is 1864 — the year government civil records of births, marriages and deaths began. Before that, church registers of baptisms and marriages were the main source of information, though not all have survived. Census returns and property records also provide valuable insights, helping to uncover names, ages and family connections.
The Library’s Further Research page at nli.ie/family-history/further-research offers clear guidance on how to use these sources effectively.
Explore Ireland’s collections
Beyond genealogy, the National Library of Ireland is home to more than 12 million items that tell the stories of Ireland. Our collections include books, periodicals, manuscripts, maps, photographs, ephemera and digital material and archives.
You can search the catalogue online at catalogue.nli.ie, exploring by subject, location or even through an interactive map tool. Whether you are tracing ancestors or exploring Ireland’s stories, there is always more to learn and discover.
If you have any questions about family history research, get in touch at [email protected]
