Genealogy is becoming popular throughout the world. Ancestry research is beneficial for several reasons. It can help discover birth parents, lost relatives, heirs to the family property, etc.

Tracing genealogy has become a common pastime for many families. People are inherently curious about their ancestry and where their lineage comes from. If you’re interested in tracing your Irish roots, this guide will walk you through the entire process.

Why Tracing Your Irish Heritage is Beneficial

Tracing your Irish heritage is beneficial for numerous reasons. It can allow you to connect with relatives you’ve never known. Descendants of deceased Irish citizens can also apply for citizenship even if they weren’t born in Ireland.

Individuals with Irish ancestry can also join some very exclusive, membership-only Irish societies. Many individuals may also simply be interested in learning about their family history and visiting Ireland to see places of interest.

How to Trace Your Irish Heritage

Tracing your ancestry can be a complex process. Genealogy research is time-consuming as it involves extensive research.

Interview Family

The ideal starting point is gathering the information you can from close living relatives, parents, and siblings. Older family members are living sources of family history, and you should use the opportunity to extract all the information you can from them. Compile this information and sort it before proceeding with the next step.

Utilizing Online Resources

The National Archive of Ireland maintains an online census database that can be accessed to find information about one’s ancestors. The website provides information from the earliest censuses conducted in 1901 and 1911. The site also has links to other resources that could help you track your heritage.

Utilizing other resources such as sites dedicated to genealogy research and using social media can help too. You can use popular social media platforms to track individuals sharing your ancestor’s surname. Local organizations and companies also maintain an online presence, and they may be able to help you.

Tracking Through Religion

Religion has played a pivotal part in much of Ireland’s history. Finding information about family heritage will also vary depending on the church your ancestors followed. People descending from Catholic-Parish farmers, for instance, will find records dating back to the early 1800s. However, some accounts also exist as early as the late 1700s.

Likewise, those who trace their roots to Gaelic ancestors will find that records about their families are scarce.

Roman Catholic registers also date back to the late 1700s. However, if your ancestry traces back to some western counties, that information may not be available, because these counties were poor and record-keeping here only started in the middle of the 19th century.

If you’re facing obstacles in your research, it may be time to contact a professional. If you’re looking to trace your Irish heritage, work with our experts instead.

My Ireland Family Heritage helps people trace their ancestors and learn about their lives. We have been serving people for the past 20 years in the fields of Irish Genealogy and Tourism. Contact them today to trace your family history.