Monaghan County Libraries holds a collection of material on the history of county Monaghan. The collection contains books, newspapers, journals, periodicals, manuscripts, microfilm, maps and photographs. We aim to preserve these materials and make them available to researchers and to the public.
We hold a range of genealogy records that can help with the study of your family history. Many of these are available online but some, such as the obituaries from the local newspaper ‘The Northern Standard’ have been compiled by Monaghan County Libraries and are only available at Library Headquarters, Clones.
Local History & Genealogy Research Facilities:
Our local history and genealogy collection is held at Library Headquarters, Clones. The local history facilities include:
- A reading room
- Microfilm readers (x3) and printer*
Our opening hours are Monday, 11am-8pm and Tuesday-Friday, 11am-5pm.
*Please book in advance to use the microfilm reader. Contact Clones library on 047-74712 to book in advance.
How to Trace Your Ancestors in County Monaghan
We’ve published a guide to tracing your ancestors in county Monaghan. This is designed to help get your started. It lists the primary and secondary source material that is available for county Monaghan and gives up-to-date contact details for parish records. It also lists useful websites and contact details for relevant organisations.
How to trace your ancestors in County Monaghan (PDF)
Expert Guidance from Library Team
We provide guidance for your local history and genealogy queries. Please note that our local history and genealogy service is available by appointment only so please book ahead. Contact details:
Email: localhistory@monaghancoco.ie
Tel: (047) 74713
Hours of service: Monday-Friday, 11am-4pm.
Tips for Interviewing
For those of you who are blessed with living elderly relatives, you still have access to a treasure trove of memories and more when it comes to your genealogy research. You can supplement all your online and other methods of research with interviews specifically geared toward these elderly relatives so you can gain valuable information. OurPublicRecords.org have published this really useful article to help you with the interview process. See: ‘How to Interview Elderly Relatives for Genealogy Research’.
Index to Obituaries
Monaghan County Libraries maintains an index of death notices and obituaries from local newspapers since 1839. This is a live, ongoing project and more indexes will be added over time.
Every branch library in county Monaghan holds copies of the full text of the notices. If you are unable to visit one of the branch libraries, you can request a copy by contacting us. Contact details:
Email: localhistory@monaghancoco.ie
Tel: (047) 74713
Hours of service: Monday-Friday, 11am-4pm.
Census of Ireland 1901 and 1911
A Census of Ireland was taken every 10 years from 1821. Complete sets of enumerator’s returns (the original manuscript forms from which the printed census reports were compiled) survived for two years only; 1901 and 1911.
The 1901 and 1911 census for county Monaghan are available online from the National Archives. They are also available on microfilm at Library Headquarters, in Clones.
The census returns are an invaluable resource. For every household, the census records the names, ages, relationship to head of household, marital status and county or country of birth. The years of marriage, number of children born alive, ability to read and write as well as languages spoken (English/ Irish) is also recorded. Details are also given for some hospitals, boarding schools, barracks, workhouses and other institutions.
Griffith’s Valuation 1847-1864
Griffith ’s Valuation is the name widely given to the Primary Valuation of Ireland, a property tax survey carried out in the mid-nineteenth century under the supervision of Sir Richard Griffith. The survey involved the detailed valuation of every taxable piece of agricultural or built property on the island of Ireland and was published county-by-county between the years 1847 and 1864.It is one of the most important surviving 19th century genealogical sources.
There is a printed valuation book for each barony or poor law union in the country, showing the names of occupiers of land and buildings, the names of those from whom these were leased, and the amount and value of the property held. The printed valuation available to search free of charge online at www.askaboutireland.ie.
Tithe Applotment Books 1823-1837
The Tithe Applotment Books are a vital source for genealogical research for the pre-Famine period, given the loss of the 1821-51 Census records. They were compiled between 1823 and 1837 in order to determine the amount to be paid in tithes to the Church of Ireland, which was the established church until 1871. A tithe was one tenth of the produce of agricultural land levied for the support of the official, state-established Church of Ireland and its clergymen.
There is a manuscript book for almost every civil (Church of Ireland) parish in the country giving the names of occupiers of each townland, the amount of land held and the sums to be paid in tithes. Because the tithes were levied on agricultural land, urban areas are not included.
The Tithe Applotment Books from 1823 to 1837 have been digitised and are available on the National Archives Genealogy website.
Local Studies Collections
Monaghan County Libraries holds a comprehensive collection of published material relating to the history of the county. The list below is indicative of the type of material held. Search the library catalogue for the full collection and specific titles.
National Folklore Collection 1930s (Monaghan)
Throughout the 1930s more than 50,000 schoolchildren from 5,000 schools in the 26 counties of the Irish Free State were enlisted to collect folklore in their home districts. This included oral history, topographical information, folktales and legends, riddles and proverbs, games and pastimes, trades and crafts. The children recorded this material from their parents, grandparents and neighbours.
The scheme resulted in the creation of over half a million manuscript pages and is generally referred to as ‘Bailiúchán na Scol’ or ‘The Schools’ Collection’.
The collection has been digitised and transcribed and is freely available online at dúchas.ie. You can search the full collection or go directly to records collected by schoolchildren in Monaghan.
Useful External Organisations and Services (no affiliation)
Clogher Historical Society aims to promote the study of local history in the diocese of Clogher; in Monaghan, Fermanagh, Tyrone and other counties.
Fáilte Romhat is a website that contains genealogical information extracted from various census, directories, cemeteries and newspapers.
Catholic Parish Registers contains images from the National Library of Ireland’s collection of Catholic parish register microfilms. The registers contain records of baptisms and marriages from the majority of Catholic parishes in Ireland and Northern Ireland up to 1880.
Irish Graveyards is a website that allows you to search a number of Irish graveyards to locate a specific grave or simply to browse through a graveyard or number of graveyards. You can use the search engine or the graveyard locator on the website.