Information on Irish Birth, Marriage, and Death Certificates (National Institute)

Birth

 * Full name of child and its sex.
 * Date and place of birth.
 * Full name and residence of father and his rank or profession. NB The mother was not legally obliged to name the father of an illegitimate child.
 * Full maiden name of mother. Where the entry states Mary Blake formerly Kennedy late Kearney it means that she is now married to Blake, her maiden name was Kennedy, and she was first married to Kearney.
 * Signature, qualification e.g. parent, or someone present at the birth and residence of informant.

Births had to be registered within 3 months and an example of a birth certificate from Kilkenny is given in Chart 14.

Chart 14: An Early Irish Birth Certificate

Marriage

 * Date and place of marriage.
 * Name, age, marital condition, rank or profession and residence of groom.
 * Name and rank or profession of his father.
 * Name, age, marital condition, rank or profession and residence of bride.
 * Name and rank or profession of her father.
 * Signatures of bride and groom, and of two witnesses.

Death

 * Date and place of death.
 * Full name, sex, marital condition, age last birthday and rank or profession of deceased. The inclusion of marital condition is an improvement over English certificates.
 * Certified cause of death and duration of illness.
 * Signature, qualification and residence of informant.

A death certificate from the very first month of civil registration is shown in Chart 15.

Chart 15: An Irish Death Certificate

English Sources for Irish Civil Registration
Many Irish migrated to and from England and Wales for varying lengths of time. Births, marriages and deaths occurring there from 1 July 1837 will be registered at the Family Records Centre in London. Those serving in the British Army, or abroad for any reason could also be found in the Overseas Indexes at the same place. The indexes for all these events may be consulted at FSCs.

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