Before civil registration began in 1864, baptisms, marriages, and burials were recorded in Catholic parish registers. These remain among the most important sources for family history in Ireland. Many civil records for earlier periods are no longer available, especially given the 1922 fire in the Public Record Office, Dublin, which destroyed numerous archival records.
Because parish registers are held at parish level (not diocesan), this office cannot look up records. This guide explains how to proceed, what to expect, and where to look.
Support for Researchers
A parish will only be able to help if your enquiry is precise. Before contacting:
Determine which parish your ancestor most likely belonged to
Identify approximate date or decade of the event (baptism, marriage, burial)
Record full name(s) (including maiden names)
If possible, identify parents’ names or spouse name
Use online sources to narrow your search before contacting a parish
Parishes are often understaffed. General, vague queries are rarely accepted.
- Parish registers are not digitised by dioceses; they remain in parish safekeeping
Direct public access to register books is generally not allowed, for reasons including data protection
Many registers are in old handwriting and may be damaged or faded
Some registers are incomplete or missing
For living persons, you must provide written consent, photo ID of the person, and your own identity documentation
If you are unsure about family details, please carry out as much research as you can before making a request at parish level. Most parishes are just not in a position to deal with non-specific genealogy queries. The National Library of Ireland has some helpful genealogy advisory web pages showing what’s available online and how to go about your family history search: see https://www.nli.ie/family-history.
The following websites may also be useful (some are subscription-based):
• National Archives: www.nationalarchives.ie/genealogy
• National Archives 1901 and 1911 censuses: nationalarchives.ie/collections/search-the-census
• National Library of Ireland – parish registers: www.registers.nli.ie
• Galway City Historic Graveyards: historicgraves.com/project/galway-city-historic-graveyards
• Irish Graveyards: www.irishgraveyards.ie
• Find A Grave: www.findagrave.com
• Interment.net: www.interment.net
• From-Ireland: www.from-ireland.net
• Galway Family History Society: www.galwayroots.com
• Clare Heritage & Genealogy Centre: www.clareroots.com
• Roots Ireland: www.rootsireland.ie
• Irish Family History Centre: www.irishfamilyhistorycentre.com
• Irish Ancestors: www.johngrenham.com
• Irish Genealogy: www.irishgenealogy.ie
• Family Search: www.familysearch.org/en/wiki/Ireland_Online_Genealogy_Records
• And for an idea of costs, see Irish Genealogy Services: www.irishgenealogyservices.com/services-costs
If your foundational research narrows things sufficiently, you can contact the parish priest or parish office. In your enquiry include:
The exact type of record (baptism, marriage, burial)
Name(s) involved (including maiden names)
Approximate date(s) or year range
Name of parish (if known)
Any supporting information (e.g. address, known family members)
A polite note acknowledging that parishes may not always have time to respond
If applicable: consent and identification for living persons
Parishes may charge a modest fee for searches or certificates.
While the diocesan office does not hold parish registers, we may help in cases where:
You are unsure of the parish and need guidance in mapping civil divisions to parish boundaries
You need contact details for parishes in this diocese
You have evidence of where the parish may have been suppressed or merged
You require archival or historical context when parish records are missing
We can suggest likely parishes given townland, address, or known family data.
Due to events such as the 1922 fire at the Public Record Office, Dublin, many secular and ecclesiastical files were lost.
Some parishes experienced damage or decay of registers, or relocation without full transfers.
Thus, even with careful search and inquiry, some records may not exist or may be irrecoverable.
Q: Can I visit the parish register in person?
A: Very rarely. Parish registers are rarely open to public inspection. All official parish access is typically mediated through parish staff or appointed personnel.
Q: What about records after 1900 or 1920?
A: Some parishes continued registers into the 20th century, but access is limited depending on parish policy, privacy law, and condition. Always check with the parish directly.
Q: What is the time to expect for a response?
A: It may take weeks or even months. Be patient. Many parishes respond when staffing permits.
Q: Are there costs?
A: Some parishes charge a small search or certification fee. If you receive a quote, it should be reasonable.
Q: What if I get no response?
A: Follow up politely after several weeks. If still nothing, try contacting an adjacent parish or diocesan historian for guidance.