It’s easier than ever to find out if you have Irish background.  Ancestry.com today released a definitive collection of Irish genealogical records in celebration of St. Patrick’s Day, and the list includes data regarding famous personalities such as Walt Disney, Conan O’Brien, and US President Barack Obama. The collection gives wonderful insight into eighteenth and nineteenth century life in Ireland and spans the period from 1824 – 1910 making it a must have resource for anyone searching their Irish roots.

The collection includes:

• Griffith’s Valuation – A collection of over two and a half million property records from Ireland covering the period 1847 – 1864.
• The Tithe Applotment Books – Contains over 600,000 records of land holders who paid a tax in the form of a tithe to the Church of Ireland (regardless of religious affiliation) between 1824 and 1837. Details of property acreage, names of tenants and land owners, and the amount of their tithe are included.
• Ordnance Survey Maps – The very first maps detailing Ireland during the peak of the Great Famine from 1824 – 1846.
• The Lawrence Collection – Contains twenty thousand images and photos from the albums of William Lawrence and cover the entire country from east too west and north to south.

The collection which can be viewed at Ancestry.com is comprehensive and cross-referenced so that subject matter such as photographs and other records can be viewed in relation to specific names. Some of the data regarding famous personalities that can be viewed is:

• John F. Kennedy’s great-grandfather Patrick Kennedy rented a home in County Wexford.
• President Obama’s great-grandfather Fulmuth Donavan was living in Tipperary in 1829.
• Conan O’Brien’s great-grandfather Daniel O’Brien had both a residence and a business in County Limerick.
• The great-grandfather of Walt Disney – Arundel Disney – had several residences in Kilkenny and Rathbeagh in County Kilkenny and Clone in County Tipperary.

These records are especially useful to genealogist searching their Irish ancestry as they may provide the earliest records of their ancestors which can be used to trace forward to establish current connections. Nearly 100 million people around the world claim Irish ancestry, and this collection is a valuable resource for those doing so. Why not read some of our informative articles on tracing your Irish ancestry in our section for Searching Ancestors to get started in tracing your own Irish ancestors.