Every branch of your family tree holds a story waiting to be told. Discover your Irish roots with the support of the expert genealogists at the Irish Family History Centre.

Whether you’re beginning your family history journey or looking to uncover new details about your ancestry, our experienced team has been helping people trace their Irish heritage since 1998. Through personalised one-to-one consultations, commissioned research, and guidance on citizenship enquiries, we provide expert support tailored to your unique family story.

All services are available both online and in person.

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The Irish Family History Centre at EPIC

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Give the Gift of Genealogy

Looking for a unique gift idea? Give the gift of their family story with a one-to-one genealogy consultation or research package.

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How to Start Tracing Your Irish Ancestry

While everyone’s journey is unique, some common steps can help you get started.

1. Collect existing information like names, important dates, and family knowledge.

2. Identifying the homeplace of your ancestors like a county, parish, or town

3. Gather existing documents like certificates, old letters and photographs

4. Check key Irish sources for census returns, parish registers and civil records

Our genealogists can help you make sense of whatever information you have.

      EXCELLENT  
   Based on 12005 reviews 
    
 
 
 
   
 
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Coralie Wegner 
 100 days ago
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. We walked in at 10 when they opened and were able to meet with a Historian. I would recommend making a reservation if you are looking into your genealogy. We were able to track down my husband's great, great, great parents and where they came from in Ireland. Highlight of our trip!
  
 
     Posted on Google  
   
   Linda Kennedy 
 168 days ago
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I opened your email at 1.10am yesterday and my heart started beating faster as I realised a search that my mother began in 1979/1980 was finally complete. I cannot believe that we finally have found my great-grandmother Mary Doyle [b. 1842]. Several Irish researchers could not make progress due to my limited information and the frequency of the Doyle surname. I will always be beyond appreciative for your assistance.

Juli Goldstein, Sydney, Australia
  
 
     Posted on Google  
   
   Edward Daily 
 191 days ago
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. On April 2d I had a Zoom consultation session with a genealogist at EPIC, I wish I remembered her name, she was phenomenal! Her ability to take what limited knowledge I had on my ancestors and provide valuable information for me to use in my own research has already helped me tremendously. She provided me with one Message board URL that has literally exploded with information I can use when I visit Ireland later in April. With any luck, I will be able to thank her in person when I visit EPIC.
  
 
     Posted on Google  
   
   Josh Hynes 
 235 days ago
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I had a 50 minute genealogy consultation with Dave and it was amazing.  Dave worked so hard to put together the missing pieces.  He even emailed me a day later as he was able to find some more information.  I can’t recommend him and this service enough!
  
 
     Posted on Google  
   
   Stacie Schmidt 
 241 days ago
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I mainly wanted to visit the EPIC museum to do a genealogy consult (which was amazing and I highly recommend, my consultant gathered a lot of great new information and resources for me), but the exhibits are amazing. The design of the museum is artistic and touching. The exhibits give you a good history lesson and a sense of the culture. It is very moving.
  
 
     Posted on Tripadvisor  
   
   Paul C 
 378 days ago
 
 
 Verified Exploring Dungarvan history with Laura.
Our genealogist, Laura, was wonderful. She was engaged and relentlessly curious. We learned about our family history in Dungarvan and sent us links for further exploration.
  
 
     Posted on Tripadvisor  
   
   Connie A 
 434 days ago
 
 
 Verified Excellent passionate resource
Laura was a fabulous resource. I have done much research but hit the brick wall. Laura provided my homework and shared some resources and ways to research that I had not tried. She was very thorough and you can tell she loves her work. It was time well spent and I am hoping to uncover more details about my Irish family. Thank you, Laura and the Irish Family Center.
  
 
     Posted on Google  
   
   Brendan McGinty 
 714 days ago
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. My wife and I set an appointment to learn of my Irish heritage. We asked if the appointment could be moved earlier and was easily accommodated. Genealogist Fiona provided a very friendly welcome and from there, we were amazed by her ability to dig into my paternal generational lineage. It was a journey from Ireland to Scotland to the US and it was a challenging dig. Fiona was patient, determined, so obviously talented in the databases from Ancestry, Ireland and Scotland. In the end, we discovered where we are from, what more to learn and how, and simply enjoyed her and the experience so very much. She provided screen shots and background via email, a gift to be enjoyed by other family members. Questions were answered that had lasted a lifetime, and we owe Fiona a debt of gratitude.
  
 
     Posted on Tripadvisor  
   
   David M 
 769 days ago
 
 
 Verified Genealogy session
Our time at EPIC was spent with Dr. Declan Brady. He was a wealth of Knowledge about Irish & American history. He provided me with some tantalizing clues about my hard to locate great-grandmother. Thanks!!
  
 
     Posted on Google  
   
   Mary Cunningham 
 781 days ago
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I had a consultation with the genealogy department. She was very helpful and friendly efficient. I enjoyed the museum. I want to go back and spend more time there.
  
 
     Posted on Google  
   
   Maddi Raine 
 788 days ago
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I’ve seen other visitors complain about the center 'simply sitting you down in front of Ancestry' or searching certain family history websites. The thing is, these websites aren’t just research tools for laymen, they are databases that contain many vital records that experts know how to navigate better than the average enthusiast.

I’ve also seen other visitors complain that sessions felt like a ‘rip off’ because the genealogists weren’t able to help them. If you are looking into this experience expecting a guarantee, rather than support from an expert to enhance your chances of finding more information, then maybe you should forego genealogy services, because that’s not how they work.

Our session did begin with our genealogist searching ancestry but it went so far beyond that. The genealogist we spoke with introduced us to additional resources I wouldn't have found on my own, with access to a variety of Irish records. She expertly cross-checked between multiple sources and was a wealth of knowledge on what records to specifically search for, based on when Ireland started recording births as well as baptisms, whether certain records were known to be destroyed, and so on. She also provided a very clear list of next steps we could take to try and discover more with the data we currently have. She emailed every single resource, link, and screenshots of any potentially helpful information she found, and made sure we knew where to go from there.

We really enjoyed learning from her and even though our lack of surviving records meant we weren't able to make any huge discoveries, I learned so much that I can apply to my family history work moving forward. I'm excited to see if the next steps she gave us lead to anything new!!
  
 
     Posted on Tripadvisor  
   
   Maddi R 
 789 days ago
 
 
 Verified Incredible Genealogy Services - Would Go Back!
I wanted to add a positive review about the genealogy services and to counter some of the negative comments I've seen about what they offer.I'm an amateur who has been continuing my great-grandmother's research into my family's genealogy for almost 10 years. Our Irish ancestors have been the most difficult to track down and verify, so my mom and I were thrilled to find this service before traveling to Ireland. I was a little nervous about the price after reading some of these negative reviews, but I'd like to say that the session was incredibly worth it, and we're glad we paid for 80 minutes. We opted for a zoom session.I’ve seen other visitors complain about the center 'simply sitting you down in front of Ancestry' or searching certain family history websites. The thing is, these websites aren’t just research tools for laymen, they are databases that contain many vital records that experts know how to navigate better than the average enthusiast.Our session did begin with our genealogist searching ancestry but it went so far beyond that. The genealogist we spoke with introduced us to additional resources I wouldn't have found on my own, with access to a variety of Irish records. She expertly cross-checked between multiple sources and was a wealth of knowledge on what records to specifically search for, based on when Ireland started recording births as well as baptisms, whether certain records were known to be destroyed, and so on. She also provided a very clear list of next steps we could take to try and discover more with the data we currently have. She emailed every single resource, link, and screenshots of any potentially helpful information she found, and made sure we knew where to go from there. She genuinely seemed to care.She was able to decipher a mother's Irish surname we've been puzzling over for decades, that ended up being very rare. She was able to confirm that our family surnames were, indeed, common in the county we believed our immigrant ancestor came from. She was able to tell us which parish they likely belonged to. And, she told us where we could upload our ancestry DNA information to potentially find more matches in Ireland (and sent instructions)!I’ve also seen other visitors complain that sessions felt like a ‘rip off’ because the genealogists weren’t able to help them. If you are looking into this experience expecting a guarantee, rather than support from an expert to enhance your chances of finding more information, then maybe you should forego genealogy services, because that’s not how they work. It's important to know going in that if you don't have your ancestors' approximate birthdays and parents' names, they probably can't do much for you; research can only go so far. That isn’t the center’s fault, it’s the nature of genealogy. We came to the session with that information for one ancestor, but also another for whom we only knew the birth year and a potential mother's name. Our genealogist spent a lot of time on both and genuinely seemed to want to get concrete information for us. I really appreciated the thoroughness.Yes, the session essentially consists of a genealogist searching records for you, but they have so much historical and practical expertise to search and cross-check in ways that the layman can't. We really enjoyed learning from her and even though our lack of surviving records meant we weren't able to make any huge discoveries, I learned so much that I can apply to my family history work moving forward. I'm excited to see if the next steps she gave us lead to anything new!!
  
 
     Posted on Google  
   
   helen mary fitzsimons 
 975 days ago
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Amazing researchers .You must book in advance.
  
 
     Posted on Google  
   
   Daniel Rainey 
 1048 days ago
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. During my appointment I realized how important it is to utilize a professional to research your family history.  Public documents are often hard to uncover because of changed names, missing data, and other issues.  In an hour, My specialist was able to trace back four generations and find the specific property lots where my relatives might still reside.  Road trip ahead!  Thanks
  
 
     Posted on Tripadvisor  
   
   Sarah F 
 1821 days ago
 
 
 Verified A highlight of our trip to Ireland!
My mom and I had an amazing and insightful session with Patrick at the Irish Family History Centre. The family information and history he was able to access blew us away and filled our hearts with joy! Because of our time with Patrick, we were able to confirm years and years of research but even more so, uncover information we never knew. We will use this information when we return to Ireland and visit our family's farm.Patrick is the ultimate investigator in genealogy. Watching him work was thrilling -- he does not give up and was just as excited by the discoveries as we were! I highly recommend a visit to the centre if you have any interest in learning more about your Irish roots.

Why Irish Genealogy Can Be Challenging

Gaps in Irish historical records, like the ones lost in the 1922 fire, mean some documents no longer exist. Many Irish surnames are also widespread and repeated, making individuals harder to distinguish.

Add in migration, name variations, and inconsistent spellings, and it’s easy to hit roadblocks. Knowing these challenges is important, and where expert genealogists can help you navigate your unique family history.

old photo of fire in dublin in 1922 — 1922 fire at the Four Courts, Dublin, a major loss of Irish records

photo of woman and man with donkey black and white

What You Can Discover

Our genealogists can help you make sense of the people, places, and stories that shaped your family’s Irish past through:

• Certificates of birth, marriage and death
• Census locations, occupations and more
• Land holdings and tenancy documents
• Maps and historical locations connected to your ancestors

Why choose the Irish Family History Centre?

Our expert genealogists have been helping people trace their Irish roots since 1998, bringing decades of experience and specialist knowledge to every consultation.

Drawing on deep expertise of Irish records and archives, they can help you uncover your family history and make sense of even the most challenging research questions.

two people pointing at a map of ireland on wall

Our Services

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Genealogy Consultation

Explore one or two family lines with an expert genealogist. Learn more.

Research Packages

Get an in-depth look at your Irish family history. How it works.

image of hand holding Irish passport outside EPIC

Citizenship Enquiry

Step one of a two-step process to check eligibility for an Irish passport.

Commissioned Research

Ideal for complex family histories and VIP clients.

A custom, in-depth research project led by a dedicated senior genealogist. You will receive a detailed, evidence-based narrative of your family story using online archives and original records, including parish registers, census returns, land deeds, newspapers and emigration records, along with recommendations for next steps.

Learn more about Genealogy Research Projects

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Visit EPIC for the Story of Irish Emigration

The Irish Family History Centre is located in EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum, which tells the story of Irish emigrants’ global impact.

This interactive and immersive experience was voted Europe’s Leading Attraction three years in a row, and is located in the heart of Dublin’s Docklands.

The west entrance of the CHQ building in Dublin's Docklands with a large exterior EPIC sign.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I start tracing my Irish family history?

Start by gathering what you already know, including family names, dates of birth, marriage and death, locations, photographs, letters and family stories.

What information do I need before booking a genealogy consultation?

Any information you have is useful, but names, dates, places of birth or residence, and family relationships can help our expert genealogists make the most of your consultation.

Can you help if I know very little about my Irish ancestors?

Yes. Many clients begin with only a few family names or stories. Our expert team can advise on the best records and research strategies based on the information available.

How far back can Irish genealogy research go?

It depends on the location, surname and surviving records. In some cases, family lines can be traced into the eighteenth century or earlier, while other families may be limited by gaps in historical records.

Why is Irish genealogy research sometimes challenging?

Many historic Irish records were destroyed in the 1922 Four Courts fire, while common surnames, migration and variations in spelling can also make individuals difficult to identify. Experienced genealogists can help navigate these challenges.

Do I need to visit Dublin to use your genealogy services?

No. Consultations, research packages and genealogy support are available online and can be accessed from anywhere in the world.

Can you help with Irish citizenship by descent?

Yes. The Irish Family History Centre offers citizenship enquiries to help determine whether you may be eligible to apply for Irish citizenship through your ancestry.

What records do genealogists use to trace Irish ancestry?

Research may involve civil birth, marriage and death records, census returns, parish registers, land records, valuation records, newspapers, emigration records and other historical sources, depending on the family being researched.

Trace Your Irish Family History with Expert Genealogists