It used to be that you had to know what townland your ancestors came from, in order to be able to find them on the Irish census records that were kept in Dublin and Belfast. Then, to the great joy of all those with Irish ancestors, the 1901 and 1911 Irish census records were made available online.
You can search the 1901 and 1911 census records for free at http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/.
Unfortunately, earlier census records no longer exist, but there are a number of substitutes, of which the Griffiths Valuation is the best known. You can search it free at http://www.askaboutireland.ie/griffith-valuation/
Published between 1847 and 1864, Griffiths was the first full scale valuation of property done in Ireland (to determine liability to pay the Poor rate for the support of the poor and destitute within each Poor Law Union) and provides detailed information on where people lived in mid-nineteenth century Ireland and the property they possessed.
Griffiths can help you identify a parish and townland in which your ancestors may have lived, thus helping you identify church records to consult for further information.
You can search the 1901 and 1911 census records for free at http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/.
Unfortunately, earlier census records no longer exist, but there are a number of substitutes, of which the Griffiths Valuation is the best known. You can search it free at http://www.askaboutireland.ie/griffith-valuation/
Published between 1847 and 1864, Griffiths was the first full scale valuation of property done in Ireland (to determine liability to pay the Poor rate for the support of the poor and destitute within each Poor Law Union) and provides detailed information on where people lived in mid-nineteenth century Ireland and the property they possessed.
Griffiths can help you identify a parish and townland in which your ancestors may have lived, thus helping you identify church records to consult for further information.