BUILDING THE BRIDGE BACK TO IRELAND:

Using various websites to find documents that might show where in Ireland
your ancestors are from, and where to look once you get "across the pond".
Presented by Mary Van Dyke
Roughly two-thirds of researching Irish Genealogy is done by starting in present day America, and traveling back
in time to where it began in Ireland. Finding our immigrant ancestors in American documents can be done using
the internet. It is critical to search for as much information as you can on ALL of the relatives of your Ancestor.
Once an Irish location is known, records on family members can be found.
All websites listed here are examples only, and do not represent the full range of options at your fingertips. Be
aware that some of the "free" websites listed may change in the future, and have fees attached. If, at any time,
you have issues with any of the listed websites, please feel free to email me at Mary@FindingGrandpa.com.
AMERICAN RECORDS
Census - (1900-1930) narrow down year of arrival, and/or Naturalization
Naturalization and Declaration of Intention - birth date and location and/or date of arrival
Ship Manifest - last residence, destination location, and relative's information
City Directories - can show when people moved out of locations, or help narrow down death dates
Military - birth date and location
Marriage - birth location and parents' names
Birth (of children) - birth location
Death (of Ancestor and of their children) - birth date and location and parents' names and their birth locations
Probate - relatives' names and residences
Headstone - birth and death date, and birth location
Newspaper (articles and obituaries) - all of the above

INTERNET SITES THAT MAY HAVE THE RECORDS:

Ancestry.com (free to search indexes, paid to view results)
FamilySearch.org (free)
USGenWeb.org (free)
ItalianGen.org (free)
Fold3.com (paid)
EllisIsland.org (free to view, paid to receive copy)
CastleGarden.org (free)
Google.com (free) (web search, maps, books)
FindAGrave.com (free)
ChroniclingAmerica.loc.gov (free)
NewspaperArchive.com (paid)
Newspapers.com (paid)
FultonHistory.com (free)

IRISH RECORDS
Land (1847-1864) - residents of townlands
Census (1901 and 1911, and partials of 1821 - 1851) - age and birth county
Marriage (Civil and Church) - age, birth location, and parents' names
Birth (Civil and Church) - birth location and parents' names
Death (Civil and Church) - age, residence, and family members' names
Probate - family members' names and residences
Headstone - birth and death dates, family members' names and birth location
Newspaper (articles and obituaries) - all of the above

INTERNET SITES THAT MAY HAVE THE RECORDS:

AskAboutIreland.ie/griffith-valuation (free) (Griffith's Valuation)
Click "Place Name Search"; Type "Galway" and select "Galway" in the County drop-down menu; Select any
large map (far right column); Using the horizontal scroll bar in the upper right corner of the map, drag the bar
towards the left to show half old map and half current map; Zoom out; Drag the map to the area youre interested
in; Zoom in and drag the horizontal scroll bar to the right to show all old map; Note the spelling of the parish
name; Use that spelling to try a "Place Name Search", and to view all occupants living there.
IrelandXO.com (free) (Ireland Reaching Out)
FamilySearch.org (free)
Ancestry.com (free to search indexes, paid to view results)
www.proni.gov.uk (free) (Public Records Office of Northern Ireland)
FindMyPast.ie (free to search indexes, paid to view results)
RootsIreland.ie (free but limited access to search indexes, paid to view results)
Genealogy.NationalArchives.ie (free) (census, wills, tithes)
IrishGraveyards.ie (free)
FindAGrave.com (free)
IrishGenealogy.ie/en/ (free)
From-Ireland.net (free)
FamilyHistory.ie (free)
IrishNewsArchive.com (paid)
IrishTimes.com/archive (paid)
nli.ie/en/homepage.aspx (free) (National Library of Ireland)
RootsChat.com (free)
IrelandRoots.com (free)
DiscoverIreland.ie (free)