The destruction of the Public Records Office in June 1922 at the outset of the Irish Civil War has cast a long shadow over Irish genealogical research. Anyone who has sought their Irish ancestors has likely encountered frustration at the gaps in available records caused by this disaster. But how much do we really know about the events that caused the fire and were all our records really lost? This talk will explore the background to the Public Record Office fire and address some of the myths that have grown up around it. It will also examine how recent advances in conservation techniques and modern technology are allowing the recovery of some records previously believed lost, with a particular focus on the recent Virtual Record Treasury of Ireland Project.
In this compelling Down Under edition of Legacy Family Tree Webinars, Irish genealogist David Ryan presented “From the Ashes: The 1922 Irish Public Record Office Fire and Irish Genealogy.” Blending historical insight with practical research advice, Ryan revisited one of genealogy’s most infamous events—the destruction of Ireland’s Public Record Office during the Irish Civil War—and revealed how modern scholars have recovered, reconstructed, and reimagined much of what was thought to be lost. Through vivid storytelling and accessible examples, he demonstrated that Irish research is far from impossible and that new digital resources continue to bring Ireland’s documentary heritage back to life.
Key Takeaways:
Understanding the 1922 Fire and Its Context: Ryan traced the origins of the Public Record Office fire to the siege of the Four Courts during the early days of the Irish Civil War. He explained how the explosion that engulfed centuries of Irish history stemmed from a larger political struggle following the Anglo-Irish Treaty of 1921, which split the revolutionary movement into pro- and anti-treaty factions. His detailed background offered essential context for understanding both the tragedy and its long-term impact on genealogical research.
What Was Lost—and What Survived: While the fire destroyed critical records such as the 1821–1851 censuses, Church of Ireland registers, and wills, Ryan emphasized that not everything perished. Fragments, indexes, and alternative sources remain, including some materials saved from the reading room. He highlighted the enduring importance of Herbert Wood’s 1919 guide, which documented the holdings of the Record Office before the fire, enabling researchers to identify surviving duplicates and substitutes across Ireland and abroad.
Rebuilding Through the Virtual Record Treasury of Ireland: A highlight of the presentation was Ryan’s walkthrough of the Virtual Record Treasury of Ireland (virtualtreasury.ie), a groundbreaking digital collaboration uniting archives from Ireland, the UK, and beyond. This resource virtually reconstructs the lost Public Record Office, offering free access to reconstructed collections such as census gleanings, salvaged records, and grand jury maps. Ryan advised researchers to search by place or parish, treat the platform as an archival tool rather than a genealogy database, and explore the “Gold Seam” collections—digitally restored materials that once lay in ashes.
Ryan’s talk was both sobering and inspiring, demonstrating that even from catastrophic loss, innovation and scholarship can reclaim history. His examples—from salvaged court rolls to the rediscovery of 17th-century land grants—illustrated how persistence and modern technology continue to reveal Ireland’s documentary depth.
For genealogists eager to deepen their understanding of Irish history and expand their research toolkit, viewing the full webinar provides invaluable guidance, demonstrations, and recommended sources. Be sure to explore the accompanying syllabus, which lists archival links, online databases, and reference works for Irish genealogy. Discover how, through collective effort and digital reconstruction, Ireland’s records—and its ancestors’ voices—are rising once again from the ashes.
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Syllabus
My husband and I were in Dublin in Sept.2013. We went to the Irish Records Office and had quite a time finding information on the massive big books indexes and then locate records on microfilm. Not easy research then. However we did find some baptismal records for Co. Wexford. Our next stop was the Church of Ireland Library records housed in a suburb of Dublin called Rathmines I think. It did contain books from my ancestral parish of Tuam. My 2x grandparents wedding date was recorded In 1752. Eureka,! So excited to have this record. We weren’t allowed to photograph it with cellphone or camera. Everything was left in lockers downstairs. Much control over anything which was the same as at the Public Records Office and the Library. I can appreciate their concern over records since many were lost but it sure is tough to navigate in person.
I am a descendent of Senator William Sears, who urged the acceptance of the Treaty. He wrote, The Candle and the Flame, about the process and the need
Excellent, thank you. A key topic, well-presented in an informed and balanced way, helping participants to understand our history and leading us all to use and enjoy available resources.
Incredible presentation gving us a wealth of information prior to accessing the Virtual Treasury! Very impressive. This presentation will save researchers hours and hours of time! Learned so much! Thank you David Ryan and Legacy
It helps to know when records are destroyed. Very interesting and informative.
Very informative with lots of websites, Thank you
An excellent talk, very informative.
was informative thank you.
The background information/history was interesting, but I would have liked more shown about what you can find and how with some demonstrations. Some of the more unusual items would have stirred me more to search. But I appreciate the free webinar as always, thank you