Research Sources for Leitrim History
Types of sources
Sources are divided into:
1. Books and published material, including digitised articles and other media
2. The revolutionary period
4. Land and land occupancy
3. Genealogy
4. Other sources of local social and cultural history including links to video and image sources
Each section includes relevant resources available from Leitrim Library Local Studies
Books, journals and articles
Books and journals
There are a number of wonderful books about Mohill and Leitrim. These range from novels to history, and all provide essential insights and knowledge about our people and our past.
A separate page lists a range of books.
Parish histories
Leitrim County Library has digitised and published a treasure trove of parish histories that can be read online.
These include histories of Annaduff and Dromod, Aughavas, Ballinagera, Carrigallen, Cloone, Dromahaire, Drumshanbo, Eslin Bridge, Glenfarne, Kiltoghert, Kiltubrid as well as the Church of Ireland Story.
See https://leitrimdoc.ie/leitrim-parish-histories/
Also see https://leitrimdoc.ie/ for access to books, articles, and other media
Leitrim Guardian
Ireland’s only County Magazine, the Leitrim Guardian has been published annually since 1968, and is produced by a voluntary committee. The publication includes a range of articles from poetry to memoirs, to history and heritage from professionals and amateurs alike.
Issues can be purchased online. More usefully, an archive of articles is available online at
https://www.leitrimguardian.ie/archive/
Leitrim Guardian articles
Separately, Leitrim County Library has a downloadable list of articles from various issues at https://leitrimdoc.ie/leitrim-guardian-journal-1969-1999/
The indexing and design of both sites are quite clunky, but a diligent and persistent researcher will unearth some hidden gems.
Newspapers
Leitrim Newspaper Index (1822–1905) and Local Studies Index
A range of newspapers were published in towns across Leitrim in the 19th century. Leitrim Library has a fantastic catalogue of articles and items in old Leitrim newspapers. Just enter a search term (eg Jimmy Gralton) in the search field opposite 'Library catalogue' and click Go (or press Enter). See
https://leitrimdoc.ie/
Note: the database search provides headline details only; the actual newspaper is available on microfilm at the library to get the full story.
Commercial sites
Sites like www.irishnewsarchive.com are excellent, and include the Leitrim Observer and Anglo-Celt, but require a paid subscription, though full free access is available in branch libraries. Similarly, The Irish Times online has a full archive at https://www.irishtimes.com/archive, again a subscription service.
Articles and documents
As part of its Decade of Centenaries Programme, Leitrim County Library digitised a range of commemorative content relating to County Leitrim during the War of Independence and Civil War.
Articles of historical interest, including ones on Selton Hill, have been reproduced with the support of the Leitrim Observer.
Other media
A collection of videos, podcasts and audio interviews is held here, including a talk by Dr Patrick McGarty and an interview with Frank McGrail.
See
https://leitrimdoc.ie/media/
A gallery of images from, for example, Selton Hill is held here https://leitrimdoc.ie/gallery/
See also Social and Cultural History sources below.
The revolutionary period
Decade of centenaries: War of Independence & Civil War
Bureau of Military History, 1913-1921
The Bureau of Military History, 1913-1921, is an outstanding collection of 1,773 witness statements; 334 sets of contemporary documents; 42 sets of photographs and 13 voice recordings that were collected by the State between 1947 and 1957, in order to gather primary source material for the revolutionary period in Ireland from 1913 to 1921.
It is also easy to search by keyword by clicking Search the Collection.
If you are search for reports from County Leitrim, for example, just enter Leitrim in the search bar. If you want to read statements relating to Cumann na mBan in Leitrim, just enter 'cumann na mban Leitrim'. If you have a name that might have been mentioned in a statement, enter the name in inverted commas.
If you want to find someone who
made a statement, i.e. a 'witness', search
Witnesses - where 10 names are listed (including two women an officer and a member of Cumann na mBan).
Military Archives (Military Service Pensions Collection)
The Military Service Pensions Collection contains a wealth of information about Brigade Activity Reports, Truce Period Fatalities and access to War of Independence and military service records.
Search by individual, organisation and membership, including pension applications and awards and medal applications.
Land occupancy and ownership
Tithe Applotment Books
Part of the
National Archives, the Tithe Applotment Books were compiled 1823-37 to determine how much occupiers of agricultural holdings over one acre should pay in tithes to the Church of Ireland (the main Protestant church and the church established by the State until its dis-establishment in 1871).
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. Unfortunately, the books provide only the names of heads of family, not other family members.
Griffith's Valuation
The primary valuation of Ireland or Griffith's Valuation was carried out between 1848 and 1864 to determine liability to pay the Poor rate (for the support of the poor and destitute within each Poor Law Union). It provides detailed information on where people lived and the property they possessed.
Griffith's Valuation is fully searchable online, free of charge on AskAboutIreland.
You can search by person name or place name. In my experience, it is easier to search by place.
Original notes by valuators are available on the National Archives of Ireland site and occasionally contain additional observations on the particular building or plot.
Do remember that Griffith's
Valuation continued to be updated. Records post-1860 have not been digitised, but can be viewed by appointment at
Tailte Éireann offices in Dublin.
Landlords and estates
Lough Rynn and Lord Leitrim
Most recently the NLI digitised and published rent books from the Lough Rynn estate of the Earl of Leitrim. They provide a fascinating and salutary insight into the lives of tenants on the estate.
Dating from the 1840s (and Famine years), and listed by townland, they record rent and comments on the farm and tenants. Some were ‘industrious’; some ‘poor’; some had been repossessed or served a ‘notice to quit’, some had fever and were ‘in great distress’.
See these here >>>
The image below is just an example.
Read more about Lord Leitrim and Lough Rynn
here >>>
Other estates and landowners
The Landed Estates database contains details of property and landowners in Ireland c. 1700 – 1914.
It is searchable by county, location, name, etc, but note that there are separate databases for estates, historic houses and key families. See https://landedestates.ie/
Maps
Dynamic maps
Build your own map based on Historic 6" and 25" maps of towns, counties and country, at https://heritagedata.maps.arcgis.com/
Historic maps
The people at Leitrim-Roscommon.com have done huge work and have maps for Leitrim showing:
- Catholic Parishes
- Townlands
- Civil Parishes
- Baronies
- Poor Law Unions
Built and natural environment
The Historic Environment Viewer (also available via the National Monuments Service) is a free-to-use digital service provided by government that enables identification of national monuments, archaeological sites, and built, cultural and natural heritage around Ireland.
A further set of geospatial resources and databases is given here >>>
Buildings of Ireland
The
National Built Heritage Service has a database of buildings and gardens around Ireland and is easy to search by county, town, etc. It is particularly useful for understanding the architectural heritage of the country, including houses, shops, churches, etc.
Genealogy
Researching your Leitrim family
The
Leitrim Library Local Studies is based in Ballinamore and holds an extensive collection material relating to the history, archaeology, genealogy, literature, culture and heritage of the county. It is the focal point for local history research in County Leitrim, containing an extensive collection of primary and secondary sources. It is open to visitors and researchers by prior appointment.
Guidance videos
In 2021, Mary Conefrey at Leitrim Library Local Studies made six videos on researching your Leitrim ancestors. A Heritage Week project, Mary shows how to research your place – townland, home, and family. Using Lisgillock Glebe as an example, Mary includes instructions on how to adapt the format for any other townland. >>>
Free genealogy sources and guidance
Census returns
The National Archives of Ireland: Census of Ireland 1901 & 1911 (also 1821, 1841, 1851, 1861).
Tracing ancestors
The General Register Office (GRO) hosts
IrishGenealogy.ie and provides a free search of all official records of Irish births, deaths and marriages from 1864 and of non-Catholic marriages from 1845. Click here to search.
Some good guidance on tracing ancestors at Irish Heritage News.
Workhouse ancestors
Leitrim Library Local Studies holds minute books from Carrick-on-Shannon and Mohill workhouses. They may be viewed by appointment.
Irish Heritage News has a good blog on tracing people who may have spent time in a workhouse.
Between 1848–50, more than 4,000 orphan girls (Earl Grey Orphans) were sent from Ireland to Australia, including girls from Carrick-on-Shannon and Mohill: at least twenty-two girls from Mohill workhouse landed in Sydney in 1849 and 1850. The names of some are listed in the Orphan Database of the Irish Famine Memorial, Sydney.
Leitrim-Roscommon resources
If doing genealogical research on your Leitrim (or Roscommon) ancestors, your first port of call needs to be
Leitrim-Roscommon.com
These unsung heroes have compiled an incredible list of key online resources including databases of Surnames, Townlands, Maps.
The entire 1901 Census is searchable here, as is Griffiths Valuation.
Commercial genealogy
Sites like findmypast.com and ancestry.com provide access to personal records, including registries of birth, marriage, etc.
They are not free, and while subscriptions are expensive, they often run free 14-day trials during which you can unearth a wealth of information and determine the site's usefulness. Note that the site draws on resources like IrishGenealogy.ie.
Leitrim-specific genealogist
Tom Coughlan is a professional genealogist who lives in Co Leitrim. He has a book
'Tracing Your Leitrim Ancestors' and a
website. His older website (at time of writing) –
Your Leitrim Ancestors – includes indices on individual people and places >>>
Social and cultural history
Irish Folklore Commission: The Schools’ Collection
Between 1937 and 1939, approximately 740,000 pages (288,000 pages in the pupils’ original exercise books; 451,000 pages in bound volumes) of folklore and local tradition were compiled by pupils from 5,000 primary schools in the Irish Free State.
More than 50,000 schoolchildren from 5,000 schools in the 26 counties collected 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.
Entries are searchable at the Dúchas.ie website: for entries for Leitrim, click here >>>
You might find the handwritten entry of a family member, but it's also a treasure trove of history as told by the children and community in which they lived.
Culture and heritage
Leitrim Library online resources
Leitrim Library has a range of material online, including various heritage projects and videos. It's home page includes links to built heritage, archaeological heritage and historic graveyards.
Material is not the easiest to find, but the archive is vastly informative and rewarding.
Material is added regularly and can mostly be accessed from
https://www.leitrim.ie/council/services/heritage-and-conservation/
Cultural heritage projects
Cultural heritage projects including Leitrim Chair and Leitrim Basket.
The
Sweathouse Project (2021–22) was delivered through significant and enthusiastic participation from volunteer researchers. The project identified 19 new sweathouse, bringing the total number of recorded sweathouses in the county to 117, more than 2.5 times that of any other county.
Images and Photographs
The National Library has a large number of categorised images that are searchable online at http://catalogue.nli.ie.
Have a look through images related to Leitrim by entering Leitrim in the catalogue.nli.ie page, or here >>>
Video
'Connecting Through Heritage’ is a Leitrim County Council heritage awareness raising project funded by the Heritage Council.
A series of videos aims to celebrate the natural, built and cultural heritage of the area by interviewing heritage experts who know it best.
Videos cover a range of topics, including: Early Medieval Archaeology in Leitrim; Swifts in Leitrim; Bats in Leitrim; Farming for Nature in Leitrim; Mumming and Wren Boy Traditions in Leitrim; and Geological Heritage of Leitrim.
https://www.youtube.com/@connectingthroughleitrimsh9903/videos
Images and Photographs
The National Library has a large number of categorised images that are searchable online at http://catalogue.nli.ie.
Have a look through images related to Leitrim by entering Leitrim in the catalogue.nli.ie page, or here >>>
Video
'Connecting Through Heritage’ is a Leitrim County Council heritage awareness raising project funded by the Heritage Council.
A series of videos aims to celebrate the natural, built and cultural heritage of the area by interviewing heritage experts who know it best.
Videos cover a range of topics, including: Early Medieval Archaeology in Leitrim; Swifts in Leitrim; Bats in Leitrim; Farming for Nature in Leitrim; Mumming and Wren Boy Traditions in Leitrim; and Geological Heritage of Leitrim.
https://www.youtube.com/@connectingthroughleitrimsh9903/videos
Young Historian award-winning local history
I lead the Young Historian programme, which was launched in 2020 to encourage young people to engage with their personal and local history and to develop the skills of history. The programme is designed for Transition Year students in Co Leitrim and is run in collaboration with Leitrim County Library.
The entries from Leitrim students are worth reading for their content, and the website includes links to a range of topics, from Jimmy Gralton to the 1798 Rebellion to emigrant stories - all told from a unique – and often personal – perspective.
All content written by Fiona Slevin, unless otherwise stated. © Fiona Slevin | All rights reserved: please do not use, copy or reproduce without citation. Notwithstanding CC Licence below, content not to be used for commercial purposes. | Last updated January 2025
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