More historic Irish birth, marriage and death records released online

Thousands of historic Irish birth, marriage and death records have been made available online as part of the latest annual update to the State’s civil registration archive, opening new doors for people tracing their family history.

The newly released records are now accessible on the free website irishgenealogy.ie, which allows users to search official civil records stretching back more than a century.

The latest update extends the available material to include birth records from 1864 to 1925, marriage records from 1845 to 1950 and death records from 1864 to 1975.

The site, which requires no subscription or registration, is widely used by people researching their ancestry, both in Ireland and among the Irish diaspora worldwide.

Each year, an additional year of birth, marriage and death entries is added to the database, steadily building a valuable national archive of personal and family history.

The ongoing project is a collaboration between government departments to make official records more easily accessible to the public.

It is seen as an important resource for people seeking to piece together their family stories, connect with relatives and better understand the lives of previous generations.

Welcoming the latest release, Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport Patrick O’Donovan said the continued expansion of the archive was an important public service.

“The ongoing partnership between my Department and the Department of Social Protection continues to make civil registration records of births, deaths and marriages available online.

“This collaborative project ensures the continued provision of these valuable record sources to citizens and the Irish diaspora worldwide, freely and easily accessible, via the www.irishgeneaology.ie website,

“I’m sure this update will be met with eager anticipation by those engaged in genealogical research.”

The expansion means that anyone interested in their family history can now access an even wider range of official documents from the comfort of their own home.

From discovering a grandparent’s birth record to confirming marriage details or learning more about relatives who died decades ago, the site has become a key starting point for many personal research journeys.

For Dubliners in particular, the records can offer a powerful connection to the city’s past.

Civil registration documents can provide names, dates, addresses and occupations, helping to paint a picture of how families lived and worked across generations.

In many cases, they also provide a first glimpse into the stories of people who may otherwise have been lost to time.

Minister for Social Protection Dara Calleary said he was pleased to support the continued release of material, describing it as an important step in preserving and sharing Ireland’s social history.

“I am pleased to make a further year of records available to the Department of Culture, Communications, and Sport so that this rich source of family history information can be accessed online across the globe.

“Birth, death and marriage records are a vital part in following the paths of our Irish ancestors and I am delighted to support this ongoing collaborative project.”

Interest in genealogy has surged in recent years, with many people using online tools to explore their roots and better understand where they come from.

For families across Dublin, the availability of more historic records can help fill in gaps, confirm long held stories and uncover new connections.

As the database grows year by year, it is expected to remain a popular and important resource for historians, researchers and anyone curious about their own family story.