Family history: more sources

Once you have consulted the key archive sources for family history you will want to begin exploring other series of archives, particularly if you want to get back before 1800 or if your ancestors left Ulster in the 18th century.

However, you should be aware that sources for the 18th century and earlier are scant and often incomplete.  This is largely due to the massive destruction of the public records that were then housed in the Public Record Office of Ireland (Dublin) in 1922.

However, the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland (PRONI), from its establishment in 1924, has been highly successful in acquiring archives and documents of genealogical and historical interest from private individuals and organisations and in copying archives of Northern Ireland interest held in libraries and archives throughout the British Isles.