It is well known that research into Irish family history is not always easy. Some valuable records have been lost, others start too late for your purposes and those you can find are difficult to read. Don't worry! Here we hope to share some advice and show you that family history research is enjoyable and worthwhile, and most importantly not at all as difficult as you might think.

In Ireland, people most readily identify themselves with their Parish. It is how school and religious systems are generally organised. Parishes often ignore the boundaries of Towns and Counties, making them more specific to the local Community. In the 19th Century, emigrants from Ireland usually named their Parish as their point of origin and Ireland Reaching Out seeks to connect their descendants back to that same place.

Ireland's cultural heritage is incredibly rich, with folklore and legend brought to life every day in the buildings, ruins and natural landscape that surround us.

The following list outlines some of the available educational courses, programmes and resources available relating to the broad study of Irish culture and heritage.

Here is a list of recurring terms that appear on our website. They are mainly genealogy related and may help you to define your terms of reference when conducting family history research.