FAQ’s

We are unable to offer a family history research service. If you wish to commission someone to carry out research on your behalf, the National Library of Ireland maintain a list of Researchers – private individuals and organisations – who have indicated a willingness to carry out family history and other research on a professional, fee-paying basis. The Accredited Genealogists Ireland will also provide this service.

Indexes to the Civil Records of Irish Births, Deaths and Marriages

The Indexes to the Civil Records of Irish Births, Deaths and Marriages date from 1864 with non-Roman Catholic Marriages recorded from 1845.

The years covered by the release of the historic Indexes to the Civil Records of Births, Marriages and Deaths are:

• Births: 1864 to 1923
• Marriages: 1845* to 1948
• Deaths: 1871** to 1973

Register images of the Civil Records of Irish Births, Deaths and Marriages

The years covered by the release of the historic records of Births, Marriages and Deaths are:

• Births: 1864 to 1923
• Marriages: 1845* to 1948
• Deaths: 1871** to 1973

*non-Roman Catholic Marriages are recorded from 1845, Roman Catholic Marriages are recorded from 1864.

**The General Register Office are currently working on updating further records of Deaths dating back to 1864. These will be included in future updates to the records available on the website.

The data is refreshed once every calendar year and the refresh will include an additional year of records relating to each event, and any changes made to the records since the previous refresh. The annual update normally takes place in the first quarter of each year. Keep an eye on our website for updates.

The register entry or index information will be corrected only if there is an inaccuracy in the transcription from the original entry. If there is an error in the original entry then a correction of error will be considered at the request of a persons having an interest in the matter, (as provided for in Section 63 of the Civil Registration Act, 2004), on the provision of relevant proof. An example of this is where the surname is spelt Bourke by the family but the surname is Burke on the original registration.

Certificates are issued by the General Register Office, Government Offices, Convent Road, Co. Roscommon.

What is a copy of an entry?

A copy of an entry contains the same information as a certificate (of birth, marriage, death) but is only of use for research purposes. A copy of an entry in the register costs €5.

How do I get a copy of an entry.

To apply for a copy of an entry, download the form here and email the completed form to the General Register Office (GRO) : [email protected]

What is a certificate?

A certificate is a certified copy of an entry in the register and is used for legal and administrative purposes.  A certificate costs €20.

How to get a certificate.

To apply for a certificate, download the form here and email the completed form to the General Register Office (GRO) : [email protected]

The Department of Foreign Affairs has responsibility for matters relating to Citizenship by descent and Passport applications. The DFA website provides significant guidance.

The Foreign Births Register is for persons who can apply to become Irish citizens through an Irish-born grandparents or an Irish citizen parent at the time of their birth, but not born in Ireland. For all information relating to the Foreign Birth Registry please visit the website of the Department of Foreign Affairs

This website has civil records for all of the island of Ireland until 1922.  After that date civil records for Northern Ireland are held by the (GRONI) General Register Office of Northern Ireland which has an online service.

Further records may be added in due course. Note that the website of the National Library of Ireland has images of the microfilms of Church Registers on-line.  The Irish Family History Foundation (IFHF)  also has Church records for other counties on their website.  Please note that the IFHF site is a paid subscription site.

The National Archives Census website provides access to digitised images and a searchable index of household returns and ancillary records for the 1901 and 1911 Censuses of Ireland.

The individual returns from the 1926 Census will be published on line by the National Archives of Ireland in April 2026.

We use Google reCAPTCHA as it is the most effective method of maintaining the websites security whilst allowing for free and easy access. However the users browser and security must to be up to date, otherwise the captcha will repeat a number of times before it allows access to the website.

A “CAPTCHA” is a turing test to tell humans and bots apart. It is easy for humans to solve, but difficult for “bots” and other malicious software to figure out. By adding reCAPTCHA to our site, it assists with blocking automated software, but allows researchers to enter with ease.

For further advice on how to resolve your ReCAPTCHA issue please see: Google reCaptcha support.

When opening an individual record in the Civil Records section of our site, there is a option to submit a query regarding the image or the transcription. Subject to verification, the (GRO) General Register Office will amend any errors or omissions.

There is no facility on the site under Church Records to report errors.

We have Church records available for counties Dublin, Cork & Ross, Kerry & Carlow.  The National Library of Ireland has images available of microfilm copies of Catholic Church records online.  Other on-line sources are the website of the Irish Family History Foundation. Please note that the IFHF site is a paid subscription site.

Sometimes the Birth/Death/Marriage was recorded in the following year, especially when the date of the event was towards the end of the year.

Currently the image is not available for deaths registered between 1864 – 1871.

There are also a small numbers of cases where the register page image is not available because the record was registered or amended in a later year, or because there are quality issues with the original image.

Photocopies or official certificates can be obtained from the General Register Office

Ireland’s Civil registration system was introduced in April 1845 but was initially restricted to non-Catholic church weddings and civil weddings held in register offices. In January 1864 it became obligatory to register all births, marriages and deaths with the local authorities. Registrations were collated according to Superintendent Register Districts, now known as local registration districts, by county*.

*Sometimes Districts included parts of a neighbouring county.

A map and listing of these districts can be viewed on the here

Margin notes contain information relating to that entry and should always be read in conjunction with the entry.

The notes normally refer to

• An amendment (certified copy) and this amendment will be attached as another image.
• A correction on the register page (no additional image).
• A re-registration which indicates where the new registration entry can be located.