Irish Genealogy & Family History Resources

Are you interested in discovering more on your Irish family history? In this section, I have included letters (and podcasts) that include stories, explanations and approaches to help you investigate your own Irish family history. You may even receive a little inspiration to break down one or two family history brick walls!

 

Browse the features listed on this page and jump to one that interests you, or enter a placename, surname or other item in the search box below to see related letters and podcasts.

Irish Genealogy & Family History Letters

Irish Maid in Manhattan: A Letter of Appreciation and Thanks

Explore the lives of Irish domestic servants through the story of Bridget Murphy. Discover the history of the ‘Bridget’ stereotype and the 1855 NY Census.

A 100 Year old census goes online next year — Here is why it matters

You may already have heard the news: the 1926 Irish census is scheduled for release in April 2026. For anyone tracing Irish roots, this is something special.

Have you found the Irish Townland of origin for your Ancestor?

If you’ve explored Irish family history, you’ve likely come across the word townland. But what is an Irish townland and how do you find it?

A Witness to a Family Eviction, County Galway, 1886

This week, I’m excited to share another chapter from my upcoming book. I share an imagined conversation with my great-great grandmother and an Irish family eviction.

The Irish Civil and Land Records: A Turning Point for Irish Genealogy

The Irish Civil and Land Records are valuable resources for Irish genealogy research. But to understand their significance, we need to step back to 1864.

Irish Genealogy & Family History Podcasts

Finding Your Irish Ancestral Homeland in Ireland (#838)

In this special Irish family history episode we take two letters from our Green Room members. We chat about the approach they should take to uncover more about their respective Irish ancestral homelands.

An Irish Genealogy Trip Back to County Cork (#837)

On our latest episode, join us on an Irish genealogy trip as we embark with Boston-native Cathy Abraham back to County Cork. Unraveling the romantic tale of her great-grandparents’ elopement to America, we uncover hidden truths and visit ancestral lands connected to the O’Callaghan and Richardson families. Prepare for some fascinating discoveries!

Living Conditions at the time of The Great Hunger (#836)

In this episode, we look at a very difficult time in Ireland – one that triggered a time of death across the population of the island as well as emigration for many generations afterwards.

What Happens when an Irish Bard Reads Your Family History (#821)

In this episode we look at two different styles of story-telling. First, Carina reads out “Which County did your Irish Ancestor Come from?”. In the second feature we ask an Irish Poet/Bard to look at the family history of one of our Green Room members and then to put the entire saga into verse.

7 Irish Characters – 7 Tales of Emigration (#812)

In a follow-up to our recent episode about traveling from Cobh to Ellis Island – we head back to the Cobh Heritage Centre in County Cork and hear 7 stories of emigration from this very spot to many places around the world. Many thanks to Jack Walsh and all the team at the Cobh Heritage…