We are delighted to announce the addition of almost 9000 new Roman Catholic baptismal and marriage records from South Tipperary to the Roots Ireland database! They are as follows:

• 6,393 baptisms, 1834-1905 (Knockavilla RC parish);
• 2,404 marriages, 1834-1905 (Knockavilla RC parish).

For an up to date list of sources for South Tipperary and to search these records, go to tipperarysouth.rootsireland.ie and login or subscribe as required.

We are delighted to announce the addition of 69,272 records from Counties Antrim and Down to our database at Roots Ireland. They are as follows:

Hertford Estate Rent Roll, 1728 (1,329 records)

Sir Fulke Conway was granted the manors of Killultagh and Derryvolgie in South Antrim in the early seventeenth century. The land passed through his brother Edward to the Hertford family. The 1728 rent roll for the manors covers much of the land in the parishes of Blaris [including the town of Lisburn], Lambeg, Derriaghy, Magheragall, Magheramesk, Aghalee, Aghagallon, Glenavy, Camlin and Tullyrusk and contains over 1300 names of tenants.

Electors of the Borough of Belfast, 1832 (1,685 records)

This database comprises a register of those qualified to vote in Belfast in the general election of 1832 and was compiled from the printed source, Electors of the Borough of Belfast Registered at the Special Sessions under the Reform Act Distinguishing How Each of Them Voted at the First Election, which was published in Belfast in 1833. The source includes the name, occupation and address of the elector and the names of the candidates for whom he voted.

Electors of the Borough of Belfast, 1865 (3,508 records)

This database comprises a register of those qualified to vote in Belfast in the general election of 1865. The register lists electors alphabetically by ward (Dock, St Anne’s, St George’s, Smithfield and Cromac), giving street and indicating the candidates that each person voted for.

Anti-Repeal Declaration, 1848 (2,895 records)

In the late 1840s, opposition to the campaign to repeal the Act of Union resulted in the creation of a number of petitions in support of maintaining the connection with Great Britain.

This database is taken from a printed volume held in the Library of the Oireachtas, Dublin, containing the names of individuals from Counties Antrim and Down who subscribed to one of the anti-repeal declarations in the spring of 1848.

Typically, for each signatory there is also an occupation and an address (often the townland of residence and its nearest town or village).

Index to 1796 Flaxgrowers Bounty List for Counties Antrim and Down (4,187 records)

This database is based on the information contained in the Flax Growers’ Bounty List which was published by the Irish Linen Board in 1796. It is a valuable substitute for non-existent census material for this period in Ireland. The list includes (for Counties Antrim and Down) the first name and surname of the farmer, the civil parish and the county location plus details on the number of spinning-wheels or looms awarded

Royal Irish Constabulary Registry of Households in Sub-District of Knocknacarry, County Antrim, 1881-1901 (4,522 records)

This is a very useful substitute for the lost censuses of 1881 and 1891 and contains over 4,500 names. What makes it so interesting is that numerous comments were added to the list to indicate such events as death, marriage and emigration, as well as ‘gone to sea’, ‘joined RIC’ or ‘joined army’. 

Census Of Protestant Householders, 1740 (5,888 records)

The so-called ‘Census of Protestant Householders’ was compiled in 1740, apparently at the behest of the Irish Parliament. The original records of this survey were destroyed in Dublin in 1922, but transcripts made by the genealogist Tenison Groves are available in PRONI. Parishes covered in this census were:

County Antrim – Ahoghill, Armoy, Ballintoy, Ballymena [Kirkinriola], Ballymoney, Ballyrashane, Ballywillin, Billy, Clough [Dunaghy], Culfeightrin, Derrykeighan, Drummaul, Duneane, Dunluce, Finvoy, Kilraghts, Loughguile, Manybrooks [Grange of Ballyscullion], Ramoan, Rasharkin and Rathlin.

County Down – Kilbroney and Seapatrick (Loughbrickland Walk).

The Ulster Muster Roll, c.1630, Counties Antrim & Down (5,678 records)

A muster roll was a list of able-bodied men who were capable of military service. The most important of the muster rolls of the early seventeenth century period was that compiled between the spring of 1629 and the spring of 1633 by Lieut. William Graham, the muster-master of Ulster. This database comprises an index to the muster roll. Along with the name of the settler, the index includes the name of the owner of the estate and, if recorded, the barony (or sometimes the town or lordship). 

Old Age Pension Proof of Age Extraction Claim Forms 1841, 1851 (4,312 records)

The Census Search Forms or ‘Green Forms’ were completed by the staff of the Public Record Office of Ireland from information supplied by applicants for the Old Age Pension seeking evidence of their age. The Old Age Pension was introduced in 1908 and the ‘Green Forms’ were made between 1910 and 1922. Civil Registration of Births, Marriages and Deaths was not begun in Ireland until 1864 and birth certificates were not therefore available for persons of eligible age (70 years). Proof of age could be obtained in a variety of ways including searches in parish registers, army records and the census. The ‘Green Forms’ were used as an internal office record of the search made in the census. 

Census of Bangor parish, 1861 (7,026 records)

The 1861 census for the parish of Bangor, County Down, is available as in copy among the local authority records for Bangor. This provides the names of residents in each household by townland, with the name of the landlord and other remarks. Note: only about 88 per cent of the total number of inhabitants in Bangor parish reported by the census are named in the transcription. It seems likely that some pages have gone astray.

Ulster Directory 1900 (11,716 records)

This database contains a list of the inhabitants of Ulster in 1900, listing individual names, occupations and addresses.

1803 Agricultural Census of Parishes in Co. Antrim and Co. Down (16,525 records)

Scares about the threat of an invasion of Great Britain and Ireland by Napoleonic France recurred periodically during the late 1790s and the early years of the nineteenth century. During a scare in 1803 about an invasion of Ireland, resulting from the planned but abortive insurrection of that year, returns were made of ‘live’ and ‘dead’ (i.e. crops) stock in the possession of farmers.

The 1803 Agricultural Census was created in response to a scare about an invasion of Ireland; the surviving returns relate to many parishes in County Down and the northern parishes of County Antrim.

This database includes almost 15,000 names and locations for individuals living in Co. Antrim and Co. Down at the time of the census. Approx. 7,170 entries relate to parishes in Co. Antrim, and over 7,700 entries relate to parishes in Co. Down.

To search these records, go to  rootsireland.ie/antrim and rootsireland.ie/down  and Login or Subscribe as required. Click on ‘Census Substitutes…’ and you can select an individual Source. Most of these records are in County Antrim and some are in County Down.

Are you wishing to find out more about your Irish ancestors? Have you been thinking of what to do or where to go for your 2025 Summer holiday?

Unlock your family story with one of Ulster Historical Foundation’s 2025 research programmes!

With their research-focused format and limited capacity, you’ll enjoy dedicated support from expert researchers to delve even deeper into your Irish and Scots-Irish heritage.

From now until 31 May register for one of these programmes with just a £100 deposit! (normally £200).*

The Foundation staff have also looked at ways to improve upon the previous programmes (taking the recommendations and suggestions of previous delegates) and hope that the programme’s devised for 2025 will better improve your research experience and visit to Ireland.

Places are filling up fast, with both the June 2025 programme and September 2025 programme almost at capacity. Reserve your place today and let Ulster Historical Foundation help you find your elusive Irish and Scots-Irish Ancestors!

*Note: Deposit is non-refundable

26th October – 29th October 2025

This research programme gives you the chance to spend three days researching in the archives – being guided and supported by our team of researchers each day. It is the ideal programme to compliment a longer holiday or research trip that you might already have planned.

Register now with just a £100 deposit! (full price £649.99).

Click here for more information 

Conferences Almost Sold Out

22nd June – 25th June 2025 (less than 3 places remaining)

This research programme gives you the chance to spend three days researching in the archives – being guided and supported by our team of researchers each day.

It is the ideal programme to compliment a longer holiday or research trip that you might already have planned.

Register now with just a £100 deposit! (full price £649.99).

Click here for more information

31st August – 05th September 2025 (less than 5 places remaining)

This enhanced research programme gives you the chance to spend a whole week researching in the archives – being guided and supported by our team of researchers each day. It offers you a great opportunity to break down any genealogical brick walls and unlock your family history.

Register now with just a £100 deposit! (full price £949.99).

Click here for more information

We are delighted to announce the addition of 20,385 new Kerry records to the Roots Ireland database! They are as follows:

Roman Catholic parish of Killorglin baptisms: 1798-1911 (with some gaps between 1851-1880).

For an up to date list of sources for Kerry and to search these records, go to kerry.rootsireland.ie and login or subscribe as required.

Celebrate St Patrick’s Day by taking out a 12-month subscription for RootsIreland with 25% off from 6th March to 31st March 2025!

We are delighted to announce the addition of 5282 Roman Catholic baptismal records from the parish of Kilcummin, Co. Kerry, dating from 1821-1900 to our database at Roots Ireland! For an up to date list of sources for Kerry and to search these records, go to kerry.rootsireland.ie and login or subscribe as required.

28 February to 18 March 2025

Ulster Historical Foundation is pleased to announce that Gillian Hunt (Research Officer) and Fintan Mullan (Executive Director) will be returning to the United States for a genealogical lecture tour programme – their first visit since 2023!

The itinerary for this US lecture tour will run from Friday 28 February to Tuesday 18 March 2025

Lecture programmes, full days and half days will be offered.

In addition, at a number of locations individuals will be able to register for a one-to-one personal research consultation with either member of the Foundation’s team where they can benefit from our knowledge and experience to help overcome ‘brick walls’ or advance their Irish and Scots-Irish roots.

We hope we might meet you at one of these events, and would be pleased if you would share any relevant location to friends and genealogy buddies who might be interested.

Tour Schedule

• Friday 28 February – Oakland, CA (consultations),
• Saturday 01 March – Oakland, CA
• Sunday 02 March – Seattle, WA
• Tuesday 04 March – Pittsburgh, PA
• Wednesday 05 March – Pittsburgh, PA (consultations)
• Thursday 06 March – Phoenix, AZ
• Friday 07 March – Phoenix, AZ
• Saturday 08 March – Atlanta, GA
• Sunday 09 March – Green Bay, WI (consultations)
• Monday 10 March – Green Bay, WI
• Tuesday 11 March – Minneapolis, MN
• Wednesday 12 March – Minneapolis, MN (consultations)
• Thursday 13 March – Chicago, IL
• Friday 14 March – Bentonville, AR (consultations)
• Friday 14 March – Bentonville, AR
• Saturday 15 March – Dallas, TX
• Sunday 16 March – Dallas, TX (consultations)
• Monday 17 March – Bolingbrook, IL (consultations)
• Tuesday 18 March – Bolingbrook, IL

We are delighted to announce the addition to the Roots Ireland website of 1350 baptismal records and 196 marriage records for the Cork parishes listed below, bringing them up to 1924 and 1949 respectively.  These are all additions of further years to existing parishes, and the exact details are below.

To access these records, go to corknortheast.rootsireland.ie and login or subscribe as required.

Having sold out its original print run, Ulster Historical Foundation is delighted to announce that the Townland Atlas of Ulster is being reprinted!

Thanks to incredible enthusiasm and unprecedented demand, the first print run sold out in just 6 weeks. To ensure everyone who missed out has a chance to own this remarkable publication, Ulster Historical Foundation is now taking pre-orders on the  bookstore.

The Townland Atlas of Ulster is an essential reference guide for both newcomer and serious researcher, showing exact locations and where to look for related records. By using the maps and indexes, family and local historians can easily grasp the essentials of our ancestors’ lives – where they worked, paid their rent, went to church and market, etc.

Don’t miss this second chance to own your own copy of this invaluable research guide

Expected release date – April 2025

Click here for more information 

Read what others are saying about the Townland Atlas of Ulster

Today, as Ireland becomes increasingly urbanised and new housing estates proliferate, authentic townland names are in danger of disappearing. A wonderful book such as this is, therefore,
invaluable in maintaining a record of a rich shared heritage and a culture, north and south, that speaks to everyone.
Prof. Terence Dooley, Maynooth University Department of History

To have mapped and provided such comprehensive detail for each of Ulster’s 16,000 townlands is an achievement that will stand the test of time. It (the Townland Atlas of Ulster) will or should become a standard reference book for those people tracing their Ulster roots. I now know that if I’m seeking a visual representation of townlands, parishes and estates in a particular area I will be straight to your maps; and if seeking, for a particular townland, details of church registers (CoI and RC) and 17th and 19th century landlords my first port of call will be the Index of Townlands.
Brian Mitchell, Derry Genealogy

I received the Townland Atlas of Ulster this morning and am delighted with it. The quality of the book is exceptional and the content fascinating. As someone who is fascinated by maps, and loves
the townlands where I grew up in County Down, it unexpectedly made me feel quite emotional to see them memorialised so beautifully. It will certainly be a big help to my research, especially as I
pursue DNA matches who relate to my unknown great grandfather in County Antrim, territory unfamiliar to me. I just wanted to congratulate everyone on its production and of course particular
thanks go to Andrew Kane.

Lyn from Encinitas

The beautiful atlas has arrived. It is a magnificent publication.
Ann from Canberra

I received my pre-ordered copy today and must say it’s an incredible piece of work to have. A great reference book.
Well done to all involved !!!
Paddy from Gweedore

A magnificent achievement – I look forward to delving into the vast array of resources beautifully arranged and presented.
Larry from Maynooth

My copy of the Townland Atlas of Ulster arrived safely yesterday. To say that I am thrilled with it is an understatement. It’s a wonderful book with superb production values, packed with information. I probably will not get much work done this weekend as I explore it in more detail.
Angela from Dublin

Townland Atlas of Ulster -Book Launch Video

The book launch of Townland Atlas of Ulster that was held at the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland (PRONI) on 05 December is now available to watch on YouTube. Click the video below to hear from author Andrew Kane, and popular local television presenter and programme maker Joe Mahon as they discuss the value and significance of Ulster’s Townlands.

Click here to watch