The Irish Genie

08/09/2025

The summer has flown by and tomorrow night is the last in my Irish Genealogy Talks Series, we will be looking at Irish Folklore, The Virtual Treasury and a recap on key Irish Repositories.

There are still some tickets available - it would be great to see you there.

Join us for a fun and informative genealogy workshop, where adults can learn the ins and outs of tracing their family history!

25/08/2025

Looking forward to seeing you at this session tomorrow.

We will be looking at how to get the most from newspapers archives and then looking at some occupational records.

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Join us for a fun and informative genealogy workshop, where adults can learn the ins and outs of tracing their family history!

07/08/2025

https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/genealogy-workshop-adults-3-of-5-tickets-1492314836849?utm_experiment=test_share_listing&aff=ebdsshios

Busy putting the final touches on my next workshop, we’re looking at Wills

There are still some places available…

Join us for a fun and informative genealogy workshop, where adults can learn the ins and outs of tracing their family history!

30/07/2025

🏇 Tracing Irish Roots at the Galway Races 🏇

As the sound of thundering hooves returns to Ballybrit, the Galway Races isn’t just a highlight of the summer—it’s a celebration of heritage. Behind every jockey, breeder, and punter lies a legacy shaped by generations of Irish families. For many, horse racing was more than sport—it was livelihood, identity, and community.

📜 Is there a racehorse trainer or stable hand in your family tree?

🏠 Did your ancestors farm the lands of Galway and attend race week as a rite of passage?

📸 Have you uncovered a photo from the races decades ago—flat caps, tweed coats, and all?

We want to hear your story. 💬 Share your connections to the Galway Races—whether it’s a treasured memory, a family link, or a mystery waiting to be uncovered.

28/07/2025

Really looking forward to talking about Church Records tomorrow night in Blanchardstown Library. There are still some tickets available.

Join us for a fun and informative genealogy workshop, where adults can learn the ins and outs of tracing their family history!

25/07/2025

Are you looking for census substitutes for the 1820-1830's in Ireland ? If so have you checked out the Tithe Applotment Books (1823–1838)??

Compiled between 1823 and 1838, the Tithe Applotment Books were created to determine the amount each landholder owed in tithes to the Church of Ireland—regardless of their own religious affiliation.

These records, arranged by parish and townland, typically include:

- The name of the landholder
- The townland and parish
- The size and quality of the land
- The assessed valuation
- The tithe amount payable

While not every occupier is listed—only those responsible for paying tithes—they offer essential insights into rural landholding patterns in the decades before the Famine.

Explore Ireland's rich historical records at The National Archives, preserving and providing access to vital documents from Ireland's past for all generations.

25/07/2025

Check out my latest blog ... Tracing Roots through the Land ...

As an Irish genealogist, I often remind clients that the land tells stories our ancestors couldn’t always write down. For many Irish families—particularly those in rural counties—the land was not just a livelihood but a legacy. In the fields they farmed, the rents they paid, and even the socia...

24/07/2025

Do you have ancestors from a farming background? Are you looking for a link back to pre civil registration ? Check our Griffith’s Valuation - its a great Irish census substitute

Between 1847 and 1864, Sir Richard Griffith oversaw one of the most significant land surveys in Irish history. Commonly known as Griffith’s Valuation, its primary purpose was to standardize land values across Ireland in order to fairly assess taxation to fund the Poor Law system.

Griffith’s team meticulously evaluated every parcel of land and property, ultimately compiling their findings into over 300 published volumes over 17 years. These records, organised by County, Barony, Poor Law Union, and Townland, provide a detailed snapshot of mid-19th-century Irish rural and urban landscapes.

Each entry typically includes:

- The occupier’s name and townland
- The name of the immediate lessor (landlord)
- A description of the property
- The area of land, given in statute acres (1 acre = 4,840 square yards), with roods (¼ acre = 1,210 sq yd) and perches (¹⁄₄₀th of a rood = 30 sq yd)
- The valuation of buildings and land

These records are especially valuable as they pre-date most civil registration records and often substitute for missing 19th-century census data.

15/07/2025

Looking forward to delivering my Valuations workshop tonight in the Blanchardstown Library

10/07/2025

The Jameson family were the subject of my thesis, if the walls of this house could talk …. Sine Metu

Developed in the early 1900s, Seamount House served originally as a summer retreat for the family behind the world-famous brand

09/07/2025

Where Irish Farming Meets the Horse Trade 🐴🌾

Long before tractors roamed the fields, it was the strength and spirit of the Irish horse that powered the farm.

From ploughing rich soil to pulling carts of hay, horses were the heart of Irish farming life—and when the work was done, they were proudly shown, traded, and celebrated at fairs like Ballinasloe and Spancilhill.

These weren’t just animals—they were partners, livelihoods, and family pride.

Today, we remember and honor that connection between Irish soil and Irish hooves. Whether you're a farmer, a horse lover, or someone with roots in rural Ireland, this legacy lives on in stories, photos, and traditions passed down through generations.

Do you have a memory, a photo, or a story about horses on the farm? Share it below—we’d love to see how the past still lives on. 💚

03/04/2025

Great insights from John Grenham Irish Ancestors

Catholic parishes are very different creatures from their cousins, administrative (civil) parishes. But if your Irish ancestors were Catholic, they are the single most important geographic division. This video gives the details.

https://youtu.be/31CwlzbYkZY