Claire Santry

Irish Genealogy Toolkit is a free, independent guide for anyone seeking to discover Irish ancestors and understand their lives. It helps beginners and experienced family historians navigate Ireland’s growing range of genealogical resources, offering practical advice without promoting commissioned research or paid database subscriptions. The site covers census, civil registration, church, land and property, court and prison records, emigration, historical newspapers, and ways to identify an ancestor’s place of origin.

Visitors can also find county maps, research forms, family tree charts, templates, society information, recommended free websites, and updates on genealogy news and resources. Its guidance explains how to approach records carefully, understand what has survived, and avoid common research pitfalls, including confusion about records lost in the 1922 Public Records Office fire. The site draws on the creator’s own Irish family history research and experience, and includes information about the paperback Irish Genealogy Guide.

Whether users are starting their search or building on earlier discoveries, Irish Genealogy Toolkit provides tools, context, and direction for exploring Irish heritage from anywhere in the world