From The Ashes: The 1922 Irish Public Record Office Fire and Irish Genealogy

In this compelling Down Under edition of Legacy Family Tree Webinars, Irish genealogist David Ryan presented “From the Ashes: The 1922 Irish Public Record Office Fire and Irish Genealogy.” Blending historical insight with practical research advice, Ryan revisited one of genealogy’s most infamous events—the destruction of Ireland’s Public Record Office during the Irish Civil War—and revealed how modern scholars have recovered, reconstructed, and reimagined much of what was thought to be lost. Through vivid storytelling and accessible examples, he demonstrated that Irish research is far from impossible and that new digital resources continue to bring Ireland’s documentary heritage back to life.

Key Takeaways:

• Understanding the 1922 Fire and Its Context: Ryan traced the origins of the Public Record Office fire to the siege of the Four Courts during the early days of the Irish Civil War. He explained how the explosion that engulfed centuries of Irish history stemmed from a larger political struggle following the Anglo-Irish Treaty of 1921, which split the revolutionary movement into pro- and anti-treaty factions. His detailed background offered essential context for understanding both the tragedy and its long-term impact on genealogical research.

• What Was Lost—and What Survived: While the fire destroyed critical records such as the 1821–1851 censuses, Church of Ireland registers, and wills, Ryan emphasized that not everything perished. Fragments, indexes, and alternative sources remain, including some materials saved from the reading room. He highlighted the enduring importance of Herbert Wood’s 1919 guide, which documented the holdings of the Record Office before the fire, enabling researchers to identify surviving duplicates and substitutes across Ireland and abroad.

• Rebuilding Through the Virtual Record Treasury of Ireland: A highlight of the presentation was Ryan’s walkthrough of the Virtual Record Treasury of Ireland (virtualtreasury.ie), a groundbreaking digital collaboration uniting archives from Ireland, the UK, and beyond. This resource virtually reconstructs the lost Public Record Office, offering free access to reconstructed collections such as census gleanings, salvaged records, and grand jury maps. Ryan advised researchers to search by place or parish, treat the platform as an archival tool rather than a genealogy database, and explore the “Gold Seam” collections—digitally restored materials that once lay in ashes.

Ryan’s talk was both sobering and inspiring, demonstrating that even from catastrophic loss, innovation and scholarship can reclaim history. His examples—from salvaged court rolls to the rediscovery of 17th-century land grants—illustrated how persistence and modern technology continue to reveal Ireland’s documentary depth.

For genealogists eager to deepen their understanding of Irish history and expand their research toolkit, viewing the full webinar provides invaluable guidance, demonstrations, and recommended sources. Be sure to explore the accompanying syllabus, which lists archival links, online databases, and reference works for Irish genealogy. Discover how, through collective effort and digital reconstruction, Ireland’s records—and its ancestors’ voices—are rising once again from the ashes.