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Online site launched to trace your Irish ancestory
By Elaine Sheridan
A first of its kind central database has been launched online for those
wishing to trace their Irish ancestry.
The one-stop-shop for genealogical records is the initiative of the Irish
Family History Foundation who, along with a network of cross-border centres,
is the largest provider of professional history research services in Ireland.
And with over 8.6million birth, baptismal, marriage and death records
now on-line, the process of trying to find relatives has finally been
made easier.
Secretary of the Irish Family History Foundation Karel Kiely is confident
that the site will be a huge hit amongst the Diaspora all over the world.
She said: “The site is designed to be used by everyone.
“We know a lot of users will be of the older generation so we have
made it as straightforward as possible.
“The good thing about it is that every centre in each county can
be contacted by phone, e-mail or fax and there are people there to answer
your queries and help with the searches.”
The launch of the central database took place last week on the Jeanie
Johnston ship in Dublin — to symbolise the millions of Irish people
who journeyed abroad to find a better life in places such as Britain,
America and Australia.
The new central database will no doubt be an invaluable resource to all
those of Irish descent who are interested in delving back through time
in search of information.
And currently there are genealogical records for most of the counties
in Ireland with each centre having their own database online.
The bulk of the computerisation of records has now been completed meaning
millions of records are readily available to view.
At present it costs €5 (approx £3.80) to view details of
each record and the money raised from that will be ploughed back into
keeping the services updated and developing the existing technology.
IFHF’s Karel Kiely said: “This database is a national treasure
and an invaluable resource for Ireland in the provision of genealogical
data to all those of Irish descent.”
So if you have ever wondered about your forebears — where they
lived, what their occupations were, how many children they had, go online
at www.irish-roots.ie to find
out.
Alternatively you can write to the Irish Family History Foundation at History
& Family Research Centre, Riverbank, Main Street, Newbridge, Co. Kildare.
Tracing your family history:
The following centres have made their databases available online and
it is planned that further centres will be added in the coming months:
Antrim
Armagh
Cavan
Cork North & East
Down
Dublin North
Dublin South
Fermanagh
Galway East
Galway West
Kildare
Kilkenny
Leitrim
Louth
Limerick
Mayo North
Mayo South
Roscommon
Tipperary North & South
Tyrone
Westmeath |
