We are an Irish Genealogy focused centre, so if you are interested in researching your family history we are here to help. We offer one-to-one consultations with expert genealogists in-person, or online via video chat, to help you with your research, wherever you are in your journey. 

The consultation begins with a conversation – we like to find out what your current family history knowledge is, including any documents you might have. Then our genealogists work with you using online databases and their expertise to find more information, show you how to get the most out of the records and answer any questions you have. As consultations are one-on-one, talking to the genealogist, they can be very helpful at answering questions, linking the information together and solving ‘brick walls’ you’ve come across in your own research.

You can book a consultation with one of our expert genealogists here.

For more in depth research, we offer commissioned research projects. This process begins with you filling out a form detailing your research goals, which our team will assess and use to create a project and quote for you. Our researchers access a wide variety of resources both online and in-person across our research projects, and also work with DNA to carry out genetic genealogy projects or enhance traditional projects.

Our Research team has worked on television programmes like Who Do You Think You Are?
and researched the official genealogies of individuals such as President Joe Biden, Dame
Barbara Windsor and Tom Cruise, to name a few.

This varies based on your knowledge of your family history, the records available to us, and of course, a little bit of luck. 

Our experts can trace almost all families in Ireland back to the 1830s. Before 1830 we have to assess case-by-case, what research is possible.

We generally recommend having a name, date and approximate time period of at least one ancestor so our genealogist can get started.
However, our genealogists have worked with all different levels of information — from whole family trees to just a few names — so whatever you have is great.

In the lead-up to your consultation, it could be helpful to write down a quick family tree — starting from yourself back through your parents, grandparents, etc. Make note of the date and place they were born, married, emigrated, etc. Our genealogists always start with you and work backwards to ensure they are tracing the right family line. Having those names and dates on paper will make them easy to
remember and reference during the consultation – leaving more time for the new research!

You should book your consultation here as we operate by appointment only.

Once booked, there is no need to send any information prior to the appointment. Your genealogist will spend the first few minutes getting to know you, what research you have done already and what you are looking to find out. 

WIn the lead-up to your consultation, it could be helpful to write down a quick family tree — starting from yourself back through your parents, grandparents, etc. Make note of the date and place they were born, married, emigrated, etc.

It can be helpful to bring the information you already have about your family with you, starting from yourself and going back to parents, grandparents and so on – so you can reference it easily during the consultation. Your genealogist will spend the first few minutes getting to know you, what research you have done already and what you are looking to find out.

Up to six people are welcome to attend the same consultation.

We use worldwide databases so we can trace your ancestors wherever they came from and wherever they go. 

If you are unsure of when exactly your ancestors emigrated from Ireland we can first look at the country they emigrated to and explore the records there to get as much information as possible to link them to records in Ireland.

We currently do not stock DNA tests, but will keep our customers updated should this change.

We can look at DNA evidence as part of a research commission if you already have it, to help us work within the surviving records that tell us about the people you are related to and the lives they lived. 

If one of your grandparents was born on the island of Ireland you may be entitled to become an Irish citizen. The Irish Family History Centre can assist in identifying and obtaining documents required for your application, if available. Further information can be found here  

Applying for citizenship by descent can be tricky. There are a number of different original records you need to gather for the person you are claiming descent from (original civil birth, marriage and death certificates, etc.). For further information on the application process and required documentation visit the Department of Foreign Affairs website.

Many people find it useful to book a fifty minute online consultation prior to departure from their home country to help them plan their trip to Ireland.

You may even discover your ancestor’s townland or their ancestral home before your trip!

Due to privacy laws in Ireland (GDPR) we are not able to access records on living individuals outside the public domain.