How to Find Irish Birth, Marriage, and Death Records for Your FBR Application
You need official Irish vital records for your FBR application. Here is exactly where and how to get them.
Civil Records (1864+)
The General Register Office (GRO) holds all civil birth, marriage, and death records from 1864 onwards. This covers the entire island of Ireland.
- Search free at irishgenealogy.ie
- Order certificates online at gov.ie/gro
- Cost: approximately EUR 20 per certificate
- Delivery: 2-4 weeks by post
Church Records (Before 1864)
Before civil registration, churches kept the records:
- Catholic parish registers go back to the early 1800s (some earlier)
- Church of Ireland registers can go back to the 1600s
- Many are digitized on the National Library of Ireland website (free)
- FamilySearch.org also has many Irish church records
Other Useful Sources
- Census records (1901 and 1911 are fully digitized at census.nationalarchives.ie)
- Griffith's Valuation (1840s-1860s property survey, helps locate ancestors)
- Tithe Applotment Books (1820s-1830s)
Tips
- Start with what you know and work backwards
- Irish names can have many spelling variations
- County and parish matter more than street addresses for older records
- The GRO search on irishgenealogy.ie is free but ordering costs money
Related
Related Resources
See all Irish citizenship guides: Irish Citizenship Hub →
