USEFUL SOURCES

Land records Griffith’s Valuation was published between 1847 and 1864. It consists of printed valuation books for each Poor Law union in Ireland, which include names of occupiers of land and buildings, the names of landlords and the amount and value of the property held. Along with tithe applotment books, which cover 1823 and 1837, these are a good substitute for the Irish census. For details, visit the National Archives of Ireland website at nationalarchives.ie. Ordnance Survey (OS) maps The initial survey took place from 1825- 46, when teams of surveyors traversed Ireland recording the rapidly changing landscape and culture. Usefully, even the modern OS maps show you the boundaries of the townlands, so if you know that an ancestor farmed in a particular place you can get a sense of exactly where that was. Some early surveys also included local information, including George O’Mullan’s stories. Oral history Ireland has a very strong oral tradition with ‘seanchaís’ or storytellers keeping a community’s history alive. Stories, myths, folklore and history were all fused together to give the people a sense of identity and of belonging, and were passed down through the generations. George O’Mullan was a storyteller and he told the legends of his own ancestors to the Ordnance Survey researcher, who then recorded them. Livery company records If you have ancestors who were tenants in County Derry, they possibly rented from a London livery company. Their records can be accessed at the Guildhall Library in London. They include official reports on the estate. You’re more likely to find references to people if they were working for the companies, but even if they were just tenants you can find some interesting detail. The records also mention sales that went through with the land acts and minutes from meetings in London where disputes were raised. For more on researching your Ulster ancestors, turn the page