Genealogy Centres in Limerick

Limerick Regional Archives

The Granary
Michael St
Limerick City
Ireland 

The Main Surnames of County Limerick

Ryan, Fitzgerald, O'Brien, O'Connor, Hayes, Walsh, Sullivan, Bourke, Madigan, Collopy and Wolfe.

Among Co. Limerick's most famous sons were the surgeon Sylvester O'Halloran and President McMahon a one-time ruler of France.

Services

The Limerick Regional Archives is the Irish Family History Foundation's designated centre for the City and County of Limerick. 

Church records in the Limerick Regional Archives area have various starting dates:

  • The earliest Roman Catholic parish records computerised at this centre start in 1745 and the latest start in 1851
  • The earliest Church of Ireland (Anglican/Episcopalian) records date from 1692 and the latest from 1845
  • The Centre has Presbyterian records which commenced in 1828
  • Methodist records commence in 1824

In addition to these church records, the Limerick Regional Archives also has access to:

  • Civil records
  • Comprehensive property records from the middle of the last century
  • Tithe records from the period before the Great Famine
  • The census of 1901

Other major genealogical sources used in genealogical research at the Limerick Regional Archives include:

  • Trade directories
  • Monteagle Estate records from 1830
  • City Hospital records from 1816 to 1820
  • Cemetery records from 1855 to 1920

A total of over one million genealogical records are at the disposal of staff at the Limerick Regional Archives.

Emigration from County Limerick

Co. Limerick experienced substantial emigration to Australia from the 1830s onwards. Large-scale emigration to the United States of America and Canada commenced in the 1840s. The Great Famine was less severe in Limerick in that it caused more emigration than death. The population of County Limerick dropped by 21% during the 1840s and continued to decline until 1900 as a result of continued emigration.

Chief Towns of County Limerick

The main towns in County Limerick include Limerick City, Rathkeale, Newcastle, Askeaton, Adare, Croom, Bruff, Hospital, Kilmallock and Kilfinane.