Kildare Genealogy
Kildare County Archives and Local Studies is based at Harbour View, Naas, Co. Kildare, W91 A997. The service, which incorporates the three related departments of Archives, Local Studies and Genealogy, provides those who wish to learn about their ancestry in County Kildare with advice and assistance from researchers with extensive local knowledge and expertise. Visitors are welcome but it is necessary to make an appointment. For contact details please see: https://kildarecoco.ie/library/KildareCountyArchivesandLocalStudies/Archives/
The service has computerised many sources including church records of baptisms, marriage and burials, gravestone inscriptions, Griffith’s Valuation and census returns. Many of these records are searchable online on www.kildare.rootsireland.ie (Daily, monthly, and annual subscriptions are available).
County Archives Opening Hours
Thursday and Fridays, 10.00 - 13.00 and 14.00 - 17.00
By prior appointment only, subject to availability.
Contact:
Local Studies Opening Hours
Wednesday – Saturday, 10.00 - 13.00 and 14.00 - 17.00
By prior appointment only, subject to availability.
Contact:
localhistory@kildarecoco.ie or 045 906 103 / 045 906 104
Online Genealogy Page
Our Genealogy page at has links to:
Online Resources
Freely accessible online resources for Co. Kildare which may be useful for family history research include:
Digitised records of Burial Grounds, the County Kildare Grand Jury, Poor Law Unions, Kildare County Council and Naas Urban District Council Minutes are available at https://kildarecoco.ie/library/KildareCountyArchivesandLocalStudies/Archives/OnlineArchives/
Newspapers can be useful for notices of births, marriages and deaths, sales of land, or court cases in which people may have been involved. We have provided free access to The Kildare Observer newspaper which was published from 1880-1935 at http://archive.irishnewsarchive.com/olive/apa/KCL.Edu/#panel=home
Online journals which deal with all aspects of Co. Kildare’s history, heritage and people can be accessed freely at Kildare eHistory Journal and the Journals of the Kildare Archaeological Society 1891-2019
Access to sources such as maps, gravestone inscriptions, trade directories, local histories and publications is available to researchers in our Reading Room by appointment. Free access to subscription sites, the Irish Newspaper Archive, British Newspaper Archive and FindMyPast is also provided.
General Irish Research
Catholic parish registers are held in the individual parishes. However, researchers can search Catholic parish records on microfilm up to 1880s (unindexed) at https://registers.nli.ie/ while access to later parish registers is only via the individual parish.
Church of Ireland parish registers are in the custody of the RCB Library in Dublin - https://www.ireland.anglican.org/cmsfiles/pdf/AboutUs/library/registers/ParishRegisters/PARISHREGISTERS.pdf
Civil records of births, deaths and marriages are available to search and view freely online at www.irishgenealogy.ie
The indexes to the civil records of Irish Births, Deaths, and Marriages date from 1864 with non-Roman Catholic Marriages recorded from 1845. The years covered by the release of these indexes to the civil records of Births, Marriages and Deaths are:
Births: 1864 to 1922 Marriages: 1845* to 1947 Deaths: 1871** to 1972
*non-Roman Catholic Marriages are recorded from 1845, Roman Catholic Marriages are recorded from 1864.
The 1901 and 1911 Census returns are freely searchable and viewable at www.census.nationalarchives.ie
The Tithe Applotment books (1830s), wills and Valuation Records can be found at https://genealogy.nationalarchives.ie/
Griffith’s Valuation (mid-19th century property valuation) is freely available at https://www.askaboutireland.ie/griffith-valuation