Find guidance and resources to help you begin your genealogy research.
Genealogy Resources
Galway Public Libraries offer access to a wide range of resources to help you trace your Irish family history. Whether you're just starting out or deep into your research, these tools and archives can help uncover valuable information about your ancestors.
Census Records
1901 and 1911 census (National Archives):
These are the earliest surviving full census records. Earlier records, such as those from 1821 and 1841, were destroyed in a fire at the Public Records Office in Dublin in 1922.
Newspapers and Archives
British Newspaper Archive:
Includes British and Irish newspapers dating back to 1700, with many local Connacht titles not available elsewhere online.
Free access at Ballinasloe, Clifden, and Tuam libraries. Available at Library Headquarters by appointment.
Irish Newspaper Archive:
A searchable database of historical Irish newspapers.
Free access in all public libraries in County Galway.
Church and Civil Records
Catholic parish registers:
Digitised records available online via the National Library of Ireland website.
Tithe Applotment Books (1823–1837):
Lists occupiers of agricultural land over one acre who paid tithes to the Anglican Church.
Griffith’s Valuation (1850s):
Property valuation records listing heads of households—useful for identifying families in specific areas.
IrishGenealogy.ie:
Official records of births, marriages, and deaths from 1864 onwards.
Burial and War Records
Galway County Council burial records index:
Digitised burial records available via Galway County Council.
Commonwealth War Graves Commission – Debt of Honour Lists:
Searchable database of soldiers from Commonwealth countries who died in WWI and WWII. Includes information on Irish regiments such as the Royal Dublin Fusiliers.
Find a Grave:
A crowd-sourced website where users transcribe headstone data to provide genealogical information.
Immigration and Passenger Lists
Immigrant Ships Transcribers Guild:
Database of over 500,000 passengers who arrived in the U.S. from the 1600s to 1929.
New York Passenger Lists (Ellis Island):
Immigration records from 1892–1924, available via the Statue of Liberty – Ellis Island Foundation.
Maps and Place Name Resources
Geohive:
Ireland’s geospatial data hub, including a historical townlands map viewer.
Places.galwaylibrary.org:
Searchable database of Galway place names based on O'Donovan’s field books and Ordnance Survey maps from the 1840s.
Online Databases and Tools
Find My Past:
Free access at Library Headquarters (by appointment), and at Tuam, Ballinasloe, Galway City, and Clifden libraries.
Photographs of Old Galway:
Explore the photographic collection of Galway Public Libraries.
