About Irish Ancestry

The Irish branch is resting at the moment and looking for someone new to take over the reins, but our project and educational work has continued. Our members give talks at the Society's beginners' classes and have continued and completed a valuable transcription of more Catholic Register Indexes.

Working with the Society, our volunteers have transcribed thousands of names and records from Catholic Registers in and around the Manchester area, creating a valuable and unique resource. The Indexes are free to search in the database and transcriptions are also sold in the MLFHS shop as CDs or downloads.

The records may be old, but our home at Manchester Central Library has provided access to dedicated scanning and transcription facilities. This has enabled us to transcribe as a group, helping each other, at the Library, and to work from scanned documents at home, using our own computers.

Our branch has always worked with the Society's Irish-related records and projects and, in doing so, our volunteers have acquired considerable skills in transcribing and translating older English/Latin church registers. We have been pleased to work with many archives including Archives+, Lancashire Archives and Catholic church archives

Everything we do is driven by a desire to open up Irish records to our members and to non-members. Ever since Manchester grew industrially there has been a regular influx of new Irish families which in turn creates the demand from our members for information that will convert 'Ireland', on a census return, to a more precise Irish location. 

We need new hands! A hands-on person - or people - to continue the work of the branch. What are the requirements? The enthusiasm and ability to lead a small team of volunteers, to work together to arrange meetings, to give talks to beginners and to inspire the continuing work of the branch. Time, enthusiasm and a computer! Volunteers