Genealogical Society of Ireland

Genealogical Society of Ireland
Name	Genealogical Society of Ireland
Formation	1930s
Type	Non-profit
Purpose	Genealogy, family history
Headquarters	Dublin
Region served	Ireland
Language	English, Irish

Genealogical Society of Ireland is a voluntary association dedicated to Irish family history, ancestry research, and archival preservation. It serves researchers tracing lineages connected to Dublin, Cork, Galway, Limerick, and other counties while engaging with international diasporas in London, New York, Boston, Toronto, Sydney, and Belfast. The society collaborates with institutions such as the National Archives of Ireland, the Public Record Office, Trinity College Dublin, University College Dublin, and the Irish Manuscripts Commission to improve access to primary sources.

History

Founded in the wake of interest generated by census releases and parish register transcriptions, the society emerged alongside organizations like the Royal Irish Academy, the Society of Genealogists, and the Ulster Historical Foundation. Early activity intersected with projects led by figures associated with the National Library of Ireland, the Representative Church Body Library, and diocesan registries in Armagh and Dublin. During the twentieth century the society coordinated efforts with international counterparts such as the New York Genealogical and Biographical Society, the Society of Genealogists (London), the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Family History Library, and genealogical units at Harvard University and Oxford University. Collaborations extended to digitisation initiatives influenced by the British Library, Library of Congress, and genealogical publishers like Ancestry and Findmypast.

Mission and Activities

The society's mission includes preservation of parish records, promotion of civil registration research stemming from the Registration Acts, and advocacy for access to the 1901 and 1911 census schedules. It conducts research into surnames, heraldry linked to the Chief Herald of Ireland, and migration patterns related to the Great Famine, the Industrial Revolution, and the Irish diaspora to Australia, Canada, and the United States. Activities involve indexing gravestone inscriptions at Glasnevin Cemetery, transcribing tithe applotment books, and liaising with the Valuation Office and the Landed Estates Court. The society engages with cultural bodies like the Arts Council, the Heritage Council, and county archives in Kerry, Mayo, Roscommon, and Donegal.

Publications and Resources

The society issues journals and newsletters that reference primary collections housed at Kilmainham Gaol, Dublin City Archives, Cork City and County Archives, and the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland. Publications often cite sources such as the Calendar of Wills, Registry of Deeds, Poor Law Union records, and manor court rolls. It compiles surname dictionaries, parish register transcriptions, and guides to using sources like Griffith's Valuation and the Registry of Deeds indexes. Special collections have been deposited with academic libraries at Queen's University Belfast, Maynooth University, and University College Cork, and used in studies appearing alongside works by historians linked to the Irish Manuscripts Commission, the National Monuments Service, and the Office of Public Works.

Events and Education

The society organizes lectures and workshops featuring speakers from institutions such as Trinity College Dublin, University College Dublin, Queen's University Belfast, the National Archives of Ireland, and the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland. It hosts seminars on paleography, statistical analysis of census returns, and legal frameworks including the Registration Acts and land reform legislation. Regular events include collaborations with the Irish Family History Foundation, the Irish Genealogical Research Society, county heritage offices, and civic museums in Cork, Galway, Limerick, and Waterford. The society also participates in genealogy conferences where representatives from the New England Historic Genealogical Society, the Federation of Family History Societies, and international archives present.

Organization and Governance

Governance follows voluntary board structures comparable to those at the Royal Irish Academy, chaired by individuals experienced with parish registers, heraldic practice at the Office of the Chief Herald, and archive management at the National Archives of Ireland. Committees oversee publications, education, digitisation, and outreach, liaising with bodies like the Heritage Council, the Arts Council, and local county councils. The society maintains collections catalogued with reference standards similar to those used by the British Library, Library of Congress, and the National Library of Ireland.

Membership and Outreach

Membership attracts genealogists, family historians, and researchers from Dublin, Cork, Belfast, Galway, Limerick, and international branches in London, New York, Boston, Toronto, and Sydney. Outreach includes collaboration with diaspora organizations such as the Irish Abroad Unit, cultural institutions like the Irish American Cultural Institute, genealogical publishers including Ancestry and Findmypast, and academic departments at Trinity College Dublin, University College Dublin, and Queen's University Belfast. The society supports volunteers working with parish priests, diocesan archivists, repositories like the Representative Church Body Library, and community heritage projects in counties Mayo, Kerry, Sligo, and Donegal.

Category:Organisations based in Dublin (city) Category:Genealogical societies Category:History of Ireland