Planning a Genealogy Research Trip to Ireland – Dublin Repositories – Part 2

When I was in Dublin visiting family in October 2015 there was of course time set aside for research. There were six repositories I wanted to visit in Dublin but I wasn’t sure I would get to them all. You can read more about my plan here. The first two posts of my Irish trip here and here.

The next repository I visited was the General Register Office. This is where you can pay €20 and search the indexes all day. You can only order five certificates in one day and either come back or arrange to have them mailed on to you.

My research plan for the GRO wasn’t very big. I was trying to find out more about a particular branch of my Toomey family as I heard a few of their sons were WWI soldiers and I wanted to know more. This was my chance to get the birth, marriage and death information on this family.

Chester Beatty Library Dublin Castle Ireland
Chester Beatty Library Dublin Castle Ireland

The GRO Research room is tucked away in a nondescript corner of Dublin and it can be hard to find. I walked passed it twice. It was a long walk from St. Stephen’s Green to the GRO but I took a detour through the Castle trying to decide which window my collateral ancestor may have looked out of and then wandered through the Chester Beatty Library on my way past. The GRO is not the prettiest place and the office is very neutral. You have a table and chair and access to the indexes. The people are very friendly and helpful.

General Register Office Research Room - Dublin Ireland
General Register Office Research Room – Dublin Ireland

When you find your entry you fill in an order form and leave it at the enquiry window then wait for your name to be called. Once you receive your document then you pay for it. It is €4 per certificate which is not bad considering how much it costs to get some certificates at home and abroad. I only ordered one certificate that didn’t seem to fit.

 

I then had to revisit the National Archives to check on the wills I ordered and get copies.

National Archives of Ireland
National Archives of Ireland

The last repository I visited in Dublin was the Land Valuation Office on Lower Abbey Street. The Land Valuation Office is located in a regular office tower and is rather nondescript. There were some tables and chairs and you went to a main reception area with your question. You chose a chair and they brought the valuation books to you so you could search them. Here I wanted to find out more about the property my Great Grandparent’s owned called Roebuck Lodge which was in Taney Parish in Dundrum. Found out there were two properties in this area called Roebuck Lodge. Another property of interest was the Toppin land in Buffanagh and the Kelly property Calverstown House in Kildare. I wanted to know if they owned it and how long did they own it. This is the first part of the research. The next step will be the Registry of Deeds but that will have to wait for another trip.

The one repository I didn’t make it to was the Representative Church Body Library of the Church of Ireland. I was close by but didn’t get in the doors. There were lots of family events and visits to make and that was just as important to me. What was I going to say no to – having coffee with my 102 year old Grand Aunt! Yes I did that and she is as spry and quick as ever.  She loves her cappuccino.

During my trip I found all these wonderful records and they are still waiting to be transcribed and entered into my family tree. When I got home there were a few lectures that I presented and client work. The next thing you know it is Christmas and things need to be done for that. Next month I am looking forward to sitting down and revisiting these documents and am hoping that I will find some new information in them which will lead me to my next adventure.

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