21 April 2026 (past event)
- 19:30 to 20:30
Talk
Family history: tracing your Irish ancestors
Join experts from The National Archives and the Virtual Record Treasury of Ireland to start tracing your Irish ancestry.
- Date
- 21 April 2026
- Location
- Online
About this image
Reproduced by kind permission of the Director of the National Archives, Ireland; 1841 Census form for Bawn, Killeshandra Civil Parish, Co. Cavan
In 1922, millions of Irish census records were lost when the Public Record Office of Ireland was destroyed in a catastrophic explosion and fire. This presents a major obstacle for anyone tracing their Irish ancestors prior to 1901. Now, The National Archives is a leading partner in the Virtual Record Treasury of Ireland (VRTI), a project working to track down surviving copies of the records destroyed a century ago.
Family history specialists Jessamy Carlson (The National Archives) and Brian Gurrin (VRTI) will explain how family historians can use newly identified census transcripts, and earlier census records in the VRTI, as well as how to combine them with other collections, to help you find your Irish ancestors.
Event details
- Date
- 21 April 2026, 19:30 to 20:30
- Price
-
Free
- Location
- Online, Live-streamed on Vimeo
- Part of series
- Getting started with family history
This event has sold out.
Dates for this event
How to join online
What you need to join
This event will be live streamed on the website of our streaming service, Vimeo.
When you book, you will receive an email that includes the link you need to join the event. This link will also be shared with you in a reminder email in advance of the event.
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Help during the event
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- If you have a query that has not been answered above, please email us at whatson@nationalarchives.gov.uk
Watch after the event
This talk will be available to watch after the event, using the same link you will receive to join it live. It will remain available for a limited period of 48 hours after the event has finished, unless otherwise stated.
Speakers
Series
Getting started with family history
Join our experts to learn how you can begin your journey into family history.