By
By
Webinar Library
Down Under Series Places and Ethnicities Ireland

Irish Ancestors – 5 More Essential Websites You Need to Know About

Natalie Bodle
Jul 2, 2025
991 views
CC
Want to watch the full webinar?
Join now to access all 2,439 webinars and unlock all features.
Join now
Syllabus
Join now

Content

Play. Playing.
Welcome
1m 46s
Play. Playing.
Speaker's Introduction
1m 01s
Play. Playing.
Introduction
3m 13s
Play. Playing.
The National Archives- Kew
14m 09s
Play. Playing.
Griffith's Valuation
23m 04s
Play. Playing.
Registry of Deeds
13m 04s
Play. Playing.
Roots Ireland
10m 21s
Play. Playing.
British Newspaper Archive
7m 32s
Play. Playing.
Announcements / prizes
2m 41s
Play. Playing.
Questions / answers
6m 43s

About this webinar

Following on from the ‘Irish Ancestors – Top 5 Websites You Need To Know About’ webinar delivered in January 2024, this talk examines five more key websites. These websites, most of which are free to access, hold a wealth of information that can help to build your family tree and build a picture of their lives. We will examine the type of records held on each site and will include search hints and tips to get the most out of your research on the following websites: The National Archives, Griffith’s Valuation, The Registry of Deeds, Roots Ireland, The British Newspaper Archive.

About the speaker

About the speaker

Natalie Bodle
Natalie is a full-time professional genealogist, educator and tour guide and a member of the Association of Professional Genealogists (APG).  A native of County Antrim, her company Roots Revealed is based in Ballymena, County Antrim, Northern Irel
Learn more...

Key points and insights

In this insightful webinar presented by Natalie Bodle through Legacy Family Tree Webinars, genealogists are guided on a virtual journey through five indispensable websites that offer powerful tools for researching Irish ancestry. Building on a prior presentation that covered foundational resources, this session introduces additional online archives and platforms that are essential for anyone delving into Irish genealogical research. With a strong focus on maximizing access to free or lesser-known databases, Natalie’s expertise provides both beginner and advanced researchers with practical methods for uncovering elusive Irish family records.

Key Takeaways:

  • Strategic Use of the National Archives (UK)
    While based in England, The National Archives (TNA) holds a surprising wealth of Irish records, including wills, military service files, and church court probate documents. Researchers can benefit from the Discovery Catalogue and digitized collections, such as the British Army Medal Index Cards and pre-1858 wills, many of which are freely accessible with a free account.

  • Griffith’s Valuation: More Than Just Names and Maps
    The Ask About Ireland website hosts this essential mid-19th-century property survey, which serves as a vital census substitute. Natalie explains how to navigate it effectively—including interpreting by-names, understanding land plot coding, and using townland indexes—and demonstrates how to cross-reference with estate records or use modern tools like Irish Townlands and Google Earth to locate ancestral properties.

  • Uncovering Legal and Land Transactions Through the Registry of Deeds
    Though often underutilized due to complexity, the Registry of Deeds contains millions of legal documents such as wills, leases, and marriage settlements. Natalie showcases multiple access points, including FamilySearch Labs’ experimental full-text AI search, the Registry of Deeds Index Project, and Ireland’s Virtual Record Treasury, where color digitizations and searchable abstracts expand access to this rich archive.

To truly unlock the potential of these digital resources, viewing the full webinar is highly recommended. Natalie’s live demonstrations and expert tips make it easier to navigate each platform confidently, potentially uncovering details that were previously out of reach.

For those passionate about tracing Irish roots, the accompanying syllabus is packed with direct links, advanced research strategies, and further reading to deepen your knowledge. Explore the Legacy Family Tree Webinar Library to access this session and related Irish genealogy content—an invaluable toolkit for building your family history with clarity and confidence.

Comments (27)

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

1000 characters remaining
Cancel Submit

Sort by Newest
Sort by Close.
  • Newest
  • Oldest
  • Likes
  1. KK
    Kathleen Kelley
    7 days ago

    Wonderful Webinar! The live demonstrations were extremely helpful.

    Reply
  2. GD
    Georgia Draper
    1 week ago

    Excellent talk, very well presented. Each website was thoroughly explained

    Reply
  3. AF
    Ann Fitz-Gerald
    1 week ago

    A great reminder of how many sites are available to search, and excellent instructions on which records are available and how to search for them.

    Reply
  4. MB
    Michael Balog
    1 week ago

    A very nice webinar from Natalie. She went into each website and showed us how to navigate even when things got sketchy.

    Reply
  5. KM
    Kendra Marasco
    1 week ago

    Great coverage and detail of the information provided! Very helpful! Great presentation! Thank you

    Reply
  6. PG
    Pamela Gardner
    1 week ago

    Teacher obviously well versed in various resources and their respective nuances

    Reply
  7. AM
    Ann Marie LYNCH
    1 week ago

    Lots of good resources demonstrated! Looks like hours ahead of me at the computer! Thank you!

    Reply
  8. GD
    Georgia Draper
    1 week ago

    Excellent presentation, clear explanation of how to use each website

    Reply
Show all comments

Related Webinars

54:29
Places and EthnicitiesWebtember
Irish Landed Estates
Natalie Bodle
1.1K views
CC
Irish Landed Estates
Prior to the 20th century, the vast majority of Irish people lived in rural areas, leasing land and property from the landowners who owned large estates, some of which were thousands of acres in size. These estates, often managed by land agents, generated large amounts of records, a number of which are particularly useful for expanding the knowledge of your ancestors. If you have exhausted the civil registration and church records, these records could be very useful in providing further information about earlier generations who lived on an estate and where exactly they lived through records such as rentals, leases and estate maps. Other valuable documents within estate records include military muster rolls, correspondence, land agent notebooks, wage books, account books and emigration records, all of which have the potential to provide information about your ancestors. Following the Great Famine, many landlords fell into financial difficulty and the government established the Encumbered Estates Court which allowed for the sale of their estates. The records generated include information about tenants and their leases that often contain really valuable information to expand your family tree.
Places and EthnicitiesWebtember
Irish Landed Estates
CC
Natalie Bodle
1.1K views
Prior to the 20th century, the vast majority of Irish people lived in rural areas, leasing land and property from the landowners who owned large estates, some of which were thousands of acres in size. These estates, often managed by land agents, generated large amounts of records, a number of which are particularly useful for expanding the knowledge of your ancestors. If you have exhausted the civil registration and church records, these records could be very useful in providing further information about earlier generations who lived on an estate and where exactly they lived through records such as rentals, leases and estate maps. Other valuable documents within estate records include military muster rolls, correspondence, land agent notebooks, wage books, account books and emigration records, all of which have the potential to provide information about your ancestors. Following the Great Famine, many landlords fell into financial difficulty and the government established the Encumbered Estates Court which allowed for the sale of their estates. The records generated include information about tenants and their leases that often contain really valuable information to expand your family tree.
Fri, September 27 2024: 16:45 UTC
Register for free
1:28:45
Places and EthnicitiesO Canada
Irish ancestors – Top 5 websites you need to know about
Natalie Bodle
2.6K views
CC
Irish ancestors – Top 5 websites you need to know about
This webinar is a romp through the top 5 websites where you will find information on your Irish ancestors. Best of all most of them are free! This is ideal if you are at the start of your Irish ancestral research and will give you a good grounding before delving into the more obscure record sets.
Places and EthnicitiesO Canada
Irish ancestors – Top 5 websites you need to know about
CC
Natalie Bodle
2.6K views
This webinar is a romp through the top 5 websites where you will find information on your Irish ancestors. Best of all most of them are free! This is ideal if you are at the start of your Irish ancestral research and will give you a good grounding before delving into the more obscure record sets.
Fri, January 5 2024: 19:00 UTC
Register for free
50:19
Places and Ethnicities
Unearthing the treasures in the Irish Registry of Deeds
Natalie Bodle
1.2K views
CC
Unearthing the treasures in the Irish Registry of Deeds
The Registry of Deeds based in Dublin has been in existence since 1704 and manages the legal registration of property. Less well known is that it is also a repository for genealogical treasures such as wills, property leases and marriage agreements. People named in these records include the principal parties and also wider family members and witnesses. It is also possible to find records by location. These records are available as microfilms on the Family Search website although they are not indexed there. This webinar will cover different methods of searching within and accessing these valuable records.
Places and Ethnicities
Unearthing the treasures in the Irish Registry of Deeds
CC
Natalie Bodle
1.2K views
The Registry of Deeds based in Dublin has been in existence since 1704 and manages the legal registration of property. Less well known is that it is also a repository for genealogical treasures such as wills, property leases and marriage agreements. People named in these records include the principal parties and also wider family members and witnesses. It is also possible to find records by location. These records are available as microfilms on the Family Search website although they are not indexed there. This webinar will cover different methods of searching within and accessing these valuable records.
Fri, April 14 2023: 12:00 UTC
Register for free
47:16
Places and Ethnicities
Who were the Scots-Irish?
Natalie Bodle
1.0K views
CC
Who were the Scots-Irish?
Known in their homeland as Ulster-Scots, these mainly Lowland Scots left their homeland and settled in Ulster during the Plantation, sometimes staying only for a few generations and then many made their way to the New World. Why did these Scots come to Ulster and why did they then subsequently leave? What were the push and pull factors? Why did Presbyterian ministers have such sway over these people? We will look at the perils they faced on their transatlantic journey and what they found when they arrived in the new world. We will examine the range of records and sources where you may find your Ulster-Scots ancestors and that can tell you more about this pioneering ethnic group that produced a number of US Presidents and millions of descendants worldwide today.
Places and Ethnicities
Who were the Scots-Irish?
CC
Natalie Bodle
1.0K views
Known in their homeland as Ulster-Scots, these mainly Lowland Scots left their homeland and settled in Ulster during the Plantation, sometimes staying only for a few generations and then many made their way to the New World. Why did these Scots come to Ulster and why did they then subsequently leave? What were the push and pull factors? Why did Presbyterian ministers have such sway over these people? We will look at the perils they faced on their transatlantic journey and what they found when they arrived in the new world. We will examine the range of records and sources where you may find your Ulster-Scots ancestors and that can tell you more about this pioneering ethnic group that produced a number of US Presidents and millions of descendants worldwide today.
Fri, April 8 2022: 9:00 UTC
Register for free
1:01:08
Historical RecordsPlaces and Ethnicities
Finding your ancestors in Irish land valuation records
Natalie Bodle
671 views
CC
Finding your ancestors in Irish land valuation records
The Tithe records, the Townland Valuation and Griffith’s Primary Valuation records are used as Census substitutes for 19th century Ireland. Griffith’s Valuation was also updated on a regular basis up to the 1930’s and we’ll look at those records too. This webinar will cover the key elements of each record, teasing out valuable information, along with where you can access these records. We’ll include search tips and techniques and use a case study to trace a family home from the early 19th century up to the present day, including how to pinpoint your ancestors house on a map and discover if it is still standing today.
Historical RecordsPlaces and Ethnicities
Finding your ancestors in Irish land valuation records
CC
Natalie Bodle
671 views
The Tithe records, the Townland Valuation and Griffith’s Primary Valuation records are used as Census substitutes for 19th century Ireland. Griffith’s Valuation was also updated on a regular basis up to the 1930’s and we’ll look at those records too. This webinar will cover the key elements of each record, teasing out valuable information, along with where you can access these records. We’ll include search tips and techniques and use a case study to trace a family home from the early 19th century up to the present day, including how to pinpoint your ancestors house on a map and discover if it is still standing today.
Thu, March 24 2022: 0:00 UTC
Register for free
56:19
Bonus webinarsHistorical RecordsPlaces and Ethnicities
Getting the Most out of the Irish Census
Natalie Bodle
573 views
CC
Getting the Most out of the Irish Census
The National Census were undertaken in Ireland every ten years from 1821 although many only have fragments remaining. The webinar will examine what remains for those years where only fragments exist and look at examples that help to build a family tree, along with the differences in the information gathered. We’ll examine the different type of returns for the Census of 1901 and 1911, such as for lunatic asylums, army barracks and prisons and examples of each of these will be shown. These records can be difficult to pin down and we will cover practical tips to help you find them. The different census forms provided interesting additional background information about the type of home and outbuildings a householder had and help to build a picture of their lives. Tips on search techniques will help to ensure you can find your ancestor and we’ll look at why you might struggle to find them or their place of residence in the census. Census Search Forms are a useful census substitute for the 1841 and 1851 Census records that were used when applying for the Old Age Pension and we will look at different examples that can expand your family tree.
Bonus webinarsHistorical RecordsPlaces and Ethnicities
Getting the Most out of the Irish Census
CC
Natalie Bodle
573 views
The National Census were undertaken in Ireland every ten years from 1821 although many only have fragments remaining. The webinar will examine what remains for those years where only fragments exist and look at examples that help to build a family tree, along with the differences in the information gathered. We’ll examine the different type of returns for the Census of 1901 and 1911, such as for lunatic asylums, army barracks and prisons and examples of each of these will be shown. These records can be difficult to pin down and we will cover practical tips to help you find them. The different census forms provided interesting additional background information about the type of home and outbuildings a householder had and help to build a picture of their lives. Tips on search techniques will help to ensure you can find your ancestor and we’ll look at why you might struggle to find them or their place of residence in the census. Census Search Forms are a useful census substitute for the 1841 and 1851 Census records that were used when applying for the Old Age Pension and we will look at different examples that can expand your family tree.
Sat, November 27 2021: 0:00 UTC
Register for free
1:23:25
Places and EthnicitiesO Canada
My ancestors were Irish – or were they?
Natalie Bodle
1.9K views
CC
My ancestors were Irish – or were they?
The webinar examines the history and origins of Irish surnames – native Irish, Scottish, English, Welsh, Huguenot, Viking, Gallowglass and Jewish. If you don’t know where in Ireland your ancestors originated, we’ll include tips to help you to narrow down the location. First names often followed a traditional naming pattern...
Places and EthnicitiesO Canada
My ancestors were Irish – or were they?
CC
Natalie Bodle
1.9K views
The webinar examines the history and origins of Irish surnames – native Irish, Scottish, English, Welsh, Huguenot, Viking, Gallowglass and Jewish. If you don’t know where in Ireland your ancestors originated, we’ll include tips to help you to narrow down the location. First names often followed a traditional naming pattern...
Fri, October 15 2021: 18:00 UTC
Register for free
1:23:14
Historical RecordsPlaces and EthnicitiesO Canada
Using Irish newspapers and other printed material
Natalie Bodle
5.2K views
CC
Using Irish newspapers and other printed material
Newspapers are a great source of information about our ancestors, but how do we know what Irish newspapers are available and how can we access them? This webinar will include finding aids for newspapers to track down our Irish ancestors including the major repositories where they may be found. We'll…
Historical RecordsPlaces and EthnicitiesO Canada
Using Irish newspapers and other printed material
CC
Natalie Bodle
5.2K views
Newspapers are a great source of information about our ancestors, but how do we know what Irish newspapers are available and how can we access them? This webinar will include finding aids for newspapers to track down our Irish ancestors including the major repositories where they may be found. We'll…
Fri, July 16 2021: 0:00 UTC
Register for free
50:05
Places and Ethnicities
Townlands, Parishes and Baronies – understanding land administrative divisions in Ireland
Natalie Bodle
4.1K views
CC
Townlands, Parishes and Baronies – understanding land administrative divisions in Ireland
The townland, often with different and inconsistent spellings, is unique to Ireland and is a key feature of helping to tie down where your Irish ancestor came from. To confuse matters there are often townlands of the same name in different parts of the country, sometimes even in the same…
Places and Ethnicities
Townlands, Parishes and Baronies – understanding land administrative divisions in Ireland
CC
Natalie Bodle
4.1K views
The townland, often with different and inconsistent spellings, is unique to Ireland and is a key feature of helping to tie down where your Irish ancestor came from. To confuse matters there are often townlands of the same name in different parts of the country, sometimes even in the same…
Fri, April 9 2021: 0:00 UTC
Register for free