Claire Bradley is a Dublin-based genetic genealogist specialising in ancestry from Ireland
In an effort to declutter, I’m tackling one area or job every week. This morning it was the turn of clearing out old magazines. I’m not much of a magazine buyer but do like a subscription here or there. Getting something in the post is always exciting. They generally fall into the categories of yoga,…
As I posted earlier this week, we got the annual update to Irishgenealogy.ie with 1925 births, 1950 marriages and 1975 deaths. Annoyingly, the press release mentioned that the site had deaths from 1864 onwards, yet contradicts itself by stating further down that they only have deaths from 1871. At some point last autumn, even the…
Last week I posted on social media with my annual plea for releasing the Irishgenealogy.ie update. It seems they were listening to me! The site now contains All of these records are available for free!
Clients frequently ask me to collaborate with them on their family history. People have usually done a little bit themselves and then get stuck. I come in to help untangle and correct their homework! The proliferation of hint systems in online commercial genealogy sites means that it’s very easy for an error to be replicated,…
I’ve been remiss with my book reviewing schedule. So I took the time to read Researching Farming Ancestors in Ireland by William J. Roulston. Originally published via the Ulster Historical Foundation in 2021, I only bought a copy before Christmas. I picked it up intending to make a start but found it so accessible and…
As I look forward to a new year, as a small business owner and professional genealogist, here are a few things I’m hoping for. Thanks to my clients for their business and newsletter subscribers & blog commenters for their engagement this past year. I love my work & long may it last.
It’s not even Christmas yet but I’m prepping for January work. I’m kicking off 2026 with a talk called “Demystifying your Irish Ancestors” for the Phyllis Court Social & Family History Society. I won’t be visiting Henley on Thames in person so this members-only talk is on Zoom on Monday 12th January. On Tuesday 13th…
Earlier this year, I reported that the Valuations Office had moved. It’s now reopened in its new home at the Registry of Deeds on Henrietta St (Eircode: D01 EK82). I had reason to visit today, so here’s the lowdown. Though the building is much more beautiful, it is now in a less convenient location. It’s…
You know I love a bit fresh research to round off the year. Having talked about famous Noels and Christmas traditions in the past, this time I thought I’d look at people whose surname was Christmas. It’s not a very common name. The 1911 census finds just 14 people, mostly one family in Co. Louth,…
Happy Halloween! Here’s a class I did for the International Institute of Genealogical Studies this month on Halloween’s Irish origins. In it, I talk about the Schools’ Collection of folklore, which you see here. Just keyword search Halloween. Oíche Shamhna Shona Daoibh!