Irish local histories

Date: [unknown] [unknown]
Location: Ireland
Surnames/tags: Ireland Irish_Roots

You are here: Early modern Irish sources / Irish local histories

This space lists various local histories relating to Ireland, some of which contain very useful information for genealogists. Beware: I have favoured works which are available free on line; newer histories may be more reliable/less biased.

The contents of this space are obviously only a fraction of the published works. Please send me a PM with suggestions on other volumes to include.

John Grenham's county by county listings have a section for 'Local history' under each county with detailed listings of books, papers and so on.

See also Irish local history societies' journals.

See also Early modern Irish sources.

Contents 1 Ancient and present state 2 Council books 3 Calendars of City of Dublin records 4 Londonderry corporation records 5 Church histories 6 Old records 7 Other local histories

Ancient and present state

• The Ancient & present state of Cork v 1 (1893) & 2 (1894) by Smith, C., Copinger, W. Arthur., Day, R., Caulfield, R., Croker, T. Crofton published Guy & co., ltd., Cork.
• The Ancient & present state of Down by Charles Smith, published Edward Exshaw, Dublin 1744.
• The Ancient & modern state of the county of Kerry, Charles Smith, Dublin, 1774. (Also see County Kerry Past and present : a handbook to the local and family history of the county, King, J. Hodges, Figgis & Co, Dublin, 1931. )
• The Ancient & present state of the county and city of Waterford, Charles Smith, Dublin 1774

Council books

• The Town Book of the Corporation of Belfast (1613-1816), Robert M Young (ed), Marcus Royal & co Ltd, Belfast, 1892
• Acts of the Corporation of Coleraine 1623-1666, Brid McGrath (ed), Irish Manuscripts Commission, Dublin, 2017. Not available free on line. Will have to be bought or consulted in a library.
• The council book of Cork from 1609 to 1643, and from 1690 to 1800. Ed. from the original, with annals and appendices compiled from public and private records. By Richard Caulfield. (Printed by J. Billing and sons, Guildford, Surrey 1876.)
• The council book of the Corporation of Drogheda (limited access - original edition not found on line) (by T Gogherty, Drogheda 1915 reprinted by County Louth Archaeological and Historical Society, Dundalk, Co. Louth, 1988.)
• Kilkenny city records. Liber primus Kilkenniensis: the earliest of the books of the Corporation of Kilkenny now extant. Ed. by Charles McNeill, Dublin, Stationery Off. for the Irish Manuscripts Commission, 1931. (Limited access),
• The council book of Kinsale from 1652 to 1800. Ed. from the original, with annals and appendices compiled from public and private records. By Richard Caulfield. (Printed by J. Billing and sons, Guildford, Surrey, 1879.)
• The Government and the People of Limerick The history of Limerick Corporation/City Council, 1197 - 2006, Matthew Potter, published Limerick City Council 2006.
• The Council book of the province of Munster c.1599-1649 by Margaret Curtis Clayton, Irish Manuscripts Commission, Dublin, 2008 (limited access)
• Louth Old Corporation Records, by RW Goulding, publisher JW Goulding, Louth, 1891.
• The council book of Youghal from 1610 to 1659, from 1666 to 1687, and from 1690 to 1800 ... Ed. from the original, with annals and appendices compiled from public and private records, by Richard Caulfield Printed by J. Billings and Sons, Guildford, Surrey, 1878.)

Also see under Ormond Deeds for papers on the corporations of Waterford and Galway.

Calendars of City of Dublin records

Calendar of ancient records of Dublin, in the possession of the municipal corporation of that city – 18 vols

• Vol 1 (1447-1558) John T Gilbert (ed)
• Vol 2 (1558-1610) John T Gilbert (ed)
• Vol 3 (1610-1653) John T Gilbert(ed)
• Vol 4 (1651-1671) John T Gilbert (ed)
• Vol 5 (1671-1691) John T Gilbert (ed)
• Vol 6 (1692-1715) John T Gilbert (ed)
• Vol 7 (1716-1730) John T Gilbert (ed)
• Vol 8 (1730-1740) John T Gilbert (ed)
• Vol 9 (1740-1751) Rosa M Gilbert
• Vol 10 (1752-1760) Rosa M Gilbert (ed)
• Vol 11 (1761-1768) Rosa M Gilbert (ed)
• Vol 12 (1769-1778) Rosa M Gilbert (ed)
• Vol 13 (1778-1786) Rosa M Gilbert (ed)
• Vol 14 Rosa M Gilbert (ed)
• Vol 15 Rosa M Gilbert (ed)
• Vol 16 (1807-1814) Rosa M Gilbert (ed)
• Vol 17 (Limited search only) ) Rosa M Gilbert (ed)
• Vol 18 (1823-1831) Rosa M Gilbert (ed)

Londonderry corporation records

PRONI has recently put on line a vast set of records from Londonderry Corporation including Freemen recordsfrom 1675-1945, details of citizens who died in WWI and a complete set of minute books from 1673 to 1901.

Church histories

• Records relating to the Dioceses of Ardagh and Clonmacnoise Very rev Canon John Monaghan, M.H. Gill and Son, Dublin, 1886.
• Armagh Clergy and Parishes, Rev James B Leslie, William Tempest, Dundalk, 1911.
• Clogher Clergy and Parishes, Rev James B Leslie, the author, Enniskillen, 1929
• Clerical and parochial records of Cork, Cloyne and Ross taken from diocesan and parish registries, mss. in the principal libraries and public offices of Oxford, Dublin, and London, and from private or family papers (in three volumes), W. Maziere Brady, Longman, Green, Longman, Roberts, and Green, London, 1864.
• Annals of St. Fin Barre's Cathedral, Cork : compiled from records in the British Museum; the Bodleian Library, Oxford; the Public Record Office, London; the chapter book of the Cathedral; the council books of the Corporation of Cork; and other authentic sources, Richard Caulfield, Purcell & Co., Cork, 1871.
• Annals of the cathedral of St. Coleman-Cloyne : compiled from public records, the chapter books and archives of the Cathedral, etc, etc,, Richard Caulfield, Purcell & Co., Cork, 1882.
• An historical account of the diocese of Down and Conor ancient and modern (in five volumes), Rev James O'Laverty, J. Duffy, Dublin, 1878-1895. (Link to the left has vols 1, 3 & 5; vol 2, vol 4.)
• Clergy of Dublin and Glendalough: Biographical Succession Lists, compiled J B Leslie, edited W J R Wallace, Ulster Historical Foundation, 2001. (Not available to consult on-line; can be bought here.)
• History of Enniscorthy : the cathedral, St. John's priory, Franciscan friary, St. Senan's church, the castle, religious and educational establishments, Bormount manor, Brownswood castle, Ferns castle, Edermine, Macmine, Wilton, Castleboro, with the episcopal succession in the diocese of Ferns, antiquities, holy wells, & c, by W H G Flood, Enniscorthy, 1898.
• History of the diocese of Ferns, W H Grattan Flood, Downey & Co, Waterford, 1916.
• Ferns Clergy and Parishes Rev James B Leslie, The author, Dublin, 1936. (Not found in the usual places; the link is to a microfilm copy on FamilySearch which is not searchable. The initial link is to a cover page; there appears to be no index.)
• Fethard, its abbey etc by Rev JA Knowles, an Augustinian priest (James Duffy & Co, Dublin, 1903).
• Fingall and its churches a historical sketch of the foundation and struggles of the Church of Ireland in that part of the County Dublin which lies to the north of the river Tolka, Robert Walsh, W. McGee, Dublin, 1888.
• Collections relating to the Dioceses of Kildare And Leighlin (in three volumes), Rev Michael Comerford, James Duffy and Sons, Dublin, 1883-1886. (Vols 1&2 also on HathiTrust.)
• The Diocese of Killaloe from the Reformation to the close of the Eighteenth Century, Philip Dwyer, Hodges, Foster and Figgis, Dublin, 1878.
• The diocesan history of Killaloe, Kilfenora, Clonfert, and Kilmacduagh (A.D. 639-A.D. 1886), Edward Alexander Cooke, E. Ponsonby, Dublin, 1886.
• The Diocese of Kilmore its history and antiquities, Philip O'Connell, Browne and Nolan Ltd., Dublin, 1937.
• The history and antiquities of the diocese of Kilmacduagh, Jerome Fahey, M. H. Gill & son, Dublin, 1893.
• The Diocese of Limerick in two volumes (Ancient and medieval & 16th and 17th century), John Begley, Browne & Nolan, Dublin, 1906 & 1927
• History of Kilsaran union of Parishes in the county of Louth, Rev James B Leslie, William Tempest, Dundalk, 1908.
• The ecclesiastical history of the Diocese of Meath : ancient and modern / compiled from original documents and other authentic sources, A. Cogan, W.B. Kelly, Dublin, 1874.
• The History And Antiquities of the Diocese of Ossory, William Carrigan (four volumes), Sealey, Bryers & Walker, Dublin, 1905
• A history of the Diocese of Raphoe (in two volumes), Very Rev Canon Michael Maguire, Browne & Nolan Ltd., Dublin, 1920.
• The parish of Taney: a history of Dundrum, near Dublin, and its neighbourhood. Francis Elrington Ball and Everard Hamilton, Hodges, Figgis, & co., ltd., Dublin, 1895.
• History of the Archdiocese of Tuam (in two volumes), Monsignor John D'Alton, Phoenix Publishing Co. Ltd., Dublin, 1928.
• A History of the Presbyterian Church In Ireland: Comprising the Civil History of the Province of Ulster From the Accession of James the First: with a preliminary sketch of the progress of the reformed religion in Ireland during the sixteenth century and an appendix consisting of original papers (in two volumes), James Seaton Reid and William Dool Killen, 2nd ed. London: Whittaker, 1853.

See also Fasti Ecclesiae Hibernicae in Irish Quaker sources and resources and clericus.ie, a database of Irish Catholic priests in the modern and early modern periods.

Old records

• Selections from Old Kerry Records historical and genealogical : with introductory memoir, notes and appendix, by Mary Agnes Hickson, published Watson & Hazell, London, 1872.

See also Collectanea Curiosa or Miscellaneous Tracts Relating to the History and Antiquities of England and Ireland.

Other local histories

• Historical memoirs of the city of Armagh : for a period of 1373 years, comprising a considerable position of the general history of Ireland ; a refutation of the opinions of Dr. Ledwich, respecting the non-existence of St. Patrick; and an appendix, of the learning, antiquities, and religion of the Irish nation / By James Stuart, Longman, Newry, 1819
• The history of Bandon, and the principal towns in the West Riding of County Cork / by George Bennett ; with two chromo-lithographic illustrations by George Bennet, Cork, Francis Guy, 1869.
• A History of the Town of Belfast : from the earliest times to the close of the eighteenth century ; with maps and illustrations, George Benn, Marcus Ward, London, 1877.
• The Early History of the Town of Birr, or Parsonstown, Thomas Lalor Cooke, Dublin: Robertson & Co., 1875.
• The history and antiquities of the county of Carlow by John Ryan, Dublin : R.M. Times, 1833.
• The history and antiquities of Carrickfergus from the earliest times until 1839 also a statistical survey of the said county, (2nd Ed), Samuel McSkimin, Mullen & Sons ..., Belfast 1909
• The History and Topography of the County of Clare, James Frost, the author, Dublin, 1893
• History of Clare and the Dalcassian Clans, Rev P White, Dublin: M.H. Gill & Sons, 1893.
• The history of Clonmel by Rev William P Burke. Printed in Waterford by N. Harvey & Co. for the Clonmel Library Committee, 1907.
• History of the City and County of Cork, Mary Francis Cusack, Dublin: McGlashan & Gill, 1875
• Historical and topographical notes, etc. on Buttevant, Castletownroche, Doneraile, Mallow, and places in their vicinity (all in county Cork) by White, James Grove, Cork Historical and Archaeological Society, 1905. The link above is to volume one. There were in total four volumes. All were serialised the the Journal of the Cork Historical and Archeaological Society and can be found here. The whole series is reproduced as volume 16 of The Casey Collection and is available to browse on Ancestry.com.
• Two Centuries of Life in Down (1600-1800), Stevenson, J, The Linen Press, Belfast, 1820.
• The history of Drogheda with its environs, and an introductory memoir of the Dublin and Drogheda railway (in two volumes), by John D'Alton, Dublin : J. D'Alton, 1844.
• A history of the City of Dublin (in three volumes), Gilbert JT, Dublin, James Duffy, 1861
• A History Of The County Dublin (in five volumes), Ball FE, Dublin: Alexander Thom & Co. Ltd., 1902-1917. Vol. 1, Vol. 2, Vol. 3, Vol. 4 and Vol. 5.
• A History of the City of Dublin from the earliest accounts to the present time; containing its annals, antiquities, ecclesiastical history, and charters; its present extent, public buildings, schools, institutions, &c., to which are added, biographical notices of eminent men, and copious appendices of its population, revenue, commerce and literature, John Warburton, Robert Walsh and James Whitelaw (two volumes), London, T. Cadell and W. Davies, 1818.
• A History Of The County Dublin John D'Alton, Dublin, Hodges and Smith, 1838.
• The parish of Taney: a history of Dundrum, near Dublin, and its neighbourhood Ball, F.E. and Hamilton, E, Dublin : Hodges, Figgis, & co., ltd., 1895
• The History and Antiquities of Tallaght in the County of Dublin, William Domville Handcock, Hodges, Figgis & Co, Dublin, 1899
• The History of Dundalk, John D'Alton and J.R. Flanagan, Dublin: Hodges, Smith & Co., 1864.
• Enniskillen long ago : an historic sketch of the parish of "Inishkeene, in Lacu Ernensi," now called Enniskillen in the Diocese of Clogher, William H Bradshaw, G. Herbert, Dublin, 1878.
• History of Enniskillen, with reference to some manors in co. Fermanagh, and other local subjects, William Copeland Trimble, the author, 1919-21, vol 1 and vol 2
• The History of the Town and County of the Town of Galway, James Hardiman, Dublin: W. Folds and Sons, 1820.
• A History of the Kingdom of Kerry, Mary Francis Cusack, Kerry, Longmans, Green & Company, 1871
• County Kerry Past and Present, Jeremiah King, Hodges, Figgis & Co, Dublin, 1931.
• History of Kilbyrne, Doneraile (co Cork), James Grove White, Cork: Guy, 1915 (Includes the Grove and White families of Kilbyrne in Cork Co., Ireland, between about 1600 and 1914)
• History and Antiquities of Kilkenny (county and city) with illustrations and appendix, compiled from inquisitions, deeds, wills, funeral entries, family records, and other., William Healy, Kilkenny: P.M. Egan, 1893.
• The History of the Queen's County, (Laois) John O'Hanlon and David O'Leary, Dublin, Sealy, Bryers & Walker, 1907, vol 1 and vol 2
• The History of the Queen's County (Laois), Daniel O'Byrne, Dublin: John O'Daly, 1856.
• The History of Limerick, James Ferrar, Limerick: A. Watson & Co., 1787.
• Limerick, its history and antiquities; ecclesiastical, civil, and military,from the earliest ages, with copious historical, archaeological, topographical, and genealogical notes. Compiled from the ancient annals, the most authentic MS. and printed records, recent researches, etc., etc. by Maurice Lenihan, Dublin, Duffy, 1884.
• The Cromwellian Settlement in the County of Limerick, James Green Barry, Limerick, Guy & Co. Ltd., 1900.
• History of the County Longford, James P. Farrell, Dublin: Dollard, 1891.
• History of Magherafelt, Ireland WH Maitland, Cookstown, Ireland, Mid-Ulster Print, 1916.
• The History of the County of Mayo, Hubert Thomas Knox, Dublin: Hodges, Figgis & Co., 1908.
• A History of Monaghan For Two Hundred Years: 1660-1860, by Denis Carolan Rushe, 1921.
• The History of the County of Monaghan, Evelyn Philip Shirley, Pickering & Co, London, 1879
• The History, Topography and Antiquities of the County and City of Waterford, Reverend Richard Hopkins Ryland, London: John Murray, 1824.
• History of Sligo (in three volumes), William George Wood-Martin, Dublin: Hodges, Figgis & Co., 1882.
• The Social State of the Southern and Eastern Counties of Ireland in the Sixteenth Century, Royal Historical and Archaeological Association of Ireland , Kilkenny and South -east of Ireland Archaeological Society, The University Press, Dublin, 1870.
• History of the Town and County of Wexford by Philip Herbert Hore, in six volumes, Elliot Stock, London, 1900-1911. Volume 1 (Old and New Ross), Volume 1 (Tintern Abbey, Rosegarland and Clonmines, Volume 3 (Dunbrody Abbey, the Great Island, Ballyhack etc), Volume 4 (Duncannon Fort, Fethard etc ), Volume 5 (The Town of Wexford etc). Vol 6 (Ferns, Enniscorthy & northern Wexford). Herbert Francis Hore, son of the above, wrote a series of articles on the barony of Forth available on JSTOR. (The papers of the Hore family on the history of Wexford are held by Ferns Diocesan Archives. Some of these have been scanned and are available to view on Ireland's Virtual Record Treasury. The material available there most relates to memoranda and exchequer rolls, although there is some other sundry material. The record treasury also lists the Hores' copy of a Cromwellian survey of Wexford, but unfortunately this is not availalbe to view on line.)
• Chronicles of the county of Wexford by George Griffiths, Wexford, 1890.

Beyond 2022 - Ireland's Virtual Record Treasury lists several other local histories. Use the browse function and navigate to PUB LOC.