Irish Resources on the Internet
Nowadays you can find all sorts of helpful research resources on the Internet, and Irish research is no exception. Below we've described some of the links. And when it comes to your research, may the luck of the Irish be with you!
Research Guides
When it comes to Irish research methods, there's no sense in reinventing the wheel. Many Irish research guides are available on the Internet -- some with only short outlines, and others with quite detailed instructions. Whether you're a new researcher or a seasoned veteran, it doesn't hurt to take a look at these guides -- you just might learn something new:
- GENUKI: U.K. + Ireland Genealogical Information Service
- Public Record Office of Northern Ireland
- National Library of Ireland
Current News
If you are looking for news of the present instead of the past, take advantage of the many Irish newspapers that are currently online. Like their paper counterparts, online newspapers offer the latest news stories, weather, sports, entertainment information, and classifieds. Ireland enjoys many newspapers, including national, county, and local papers, so you have quite a few to choose from. Each one of these lists offers links to a slightly different group of newspapers:
- AJR NewsLink Newspapers: Ireland
- Ecola Newsstand: Newspapers: Ireland
- Ultimate Collection of News Links: Ireland
Facts, Facts, Facts
If it's information about Ireland's population, industry, climate, history, surnames, or size that you're after, try these online "fact books." They're also handy if you need a map of Ireland. These sites are similar to almanacs or encyclopedias, and each one offers something a little different:
Records Online!
In addition to the transport records from the National Archives, there are other, smaller sets of records online. These are generally from other researchers who have been kind enough to transcribe records that they've used and place them on the Internet for everyone to see. You may want to think about returning the favor sometime! Give these passenger and transport records a look if your ancestors left Ireland in the early 1800s:
Travel and Tourism
Planning a trip to Ireland? Whether it's for research or fun or a little bit of both, take a look at this online visitor guide. You will find information about accommodations, activities, places to visit, culture, and history:
Virtual Book Shops
Genealogically speaking, we're not quite to the point where everything you need is online -- give us a few years. ;-) However, for those occasions, several online bookstores are happy to show you their Irish offerings. In these stores you will find research guides, books of transcribed records, atlases, and much more:
About Helpful Web Sites
Helpful Web Sites had its roots in Helm's Genealogy Toolbox, which premiered on the Internet in February 1995 containing a mere 134 links in 12 categories. In December of 1997, Broderbund Software and Toolbox Internet Marketing Services, Inc. launched the Genealogy SiteFinder, a joint project to merge the content of Helm's Genealogy Toolbox with the technology of Broderbund Software. The goal of the Genealogy SiteFinder is to produce the most comprehensive and informative index of genealogical resources on the Internet.
Helm's Genealogy Toolbox is still maintained by Matthew, as well as his wife April Leigh Helm. Matthew is the creator of Helm's Genealogy Toolbox and a number of other Web sites. He holds an A.B. in History and M.S. in Library and Information Science from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and is the Director of Human Resources Information Systems for the University of Illinois. He is also Executive Vice-President and Chief Technology Officer for Toolbox Internet Marketing Services, Inc. and a company commander in the Illinois Army National Guard. April Leigh Helm is President of Toolbox Internet Marketing Services, Inc. and Editor-in-Chief of theJournal of Online Genealogy. She holds a B.S. in Journalism and Ed.M. in Higher Education Administration from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.