Roscommon Roots is the County Roscommon Heritage and Genealogy Centre, the official genealogy research centre for County Roscommon and the designated centre of the Irish Family History Foundation. We have been offering a professional research service to people with family roots in County Roscommon since 1988. Each enquiry is individually researched by one of our team of experienced researchers, who have in-depth knowledge of the county and the sources for each area.
We offer a full suite of genealogy research services, laid out in four packages:
1. Individual Record Search – This is the most basic package and consists of a single record search involving research in any one source for one record. For example, research in the church baptismal records for one record.
2. Family Search – This package is a little more detailed and covers research in the available church and civil records for the marriage of a couple and for the available birth/baptismal records of their children.
3. Assessment – This is the first step towards obtaining your Family History Report. On receipt of your assessment fee, our researchers will carry out a preliminary search for your ancestors in the relevant source material. Once completed, we will be able to provide you with an Assessment Report, which will list the information found, and a quote for a Family History Report.
Occasionally, our research does not yield a positive result; in this instance, full details of all research undertaken will be outlined in our report and we will advise on any further research that can be done.
4. Family History Report – Following the Assessment Report, you can opt for a full Family History Report, the cost of which will vary according to our findings at the assessment stage. This report typically consists of all available information of the paternal side of the family (unless we have been specifically requested to follow the maternal line). Typically, a report will provide details of all relevant birth, baptismal, marriage and death records; where appropriate, it will also include census and land records. In addition, the report will contain maps of the area and any other relevant information found in ancillary sources.
The success of any search depends on the availability of records and the quality of the information provided. We would advise any applicants to gather as much information as possible prior to requesting a research service, as our fees are non-refundable.
We use a variety of reliable sources; since our beginnings in 1988, we have collected, indexed and computerised all the major sources for family history research – this work is ongoing. Our team of experienced researchers therefore have extensive knowledge of our sources.
Our main sources are:
Other records are also indexed; these may not be relevant for all research and vary from parish to parish.
Your first step is to gather as much information as possible before beginning a research request, as this plays a significant role in the success of a request. Please also remember that genealogical research takes time, sometimes up to 12 weeks, and seasonal demand may increase this waiting period. If you are planning on using your research for a trip to County Roscommon, please begin the research request in plenty of time.
Your next step is to choose a research service and send us your ancestry and contact details. One of our experienced researchers will then look into our sources, and compile a report of relevant findings. This will be sent to you along with advice on any further research.
Our current fees can be found on our Research Services page. Please be aware that our fees are non-refundable, and a successful search depends on the availability of records and the quality of the information provided. Therefore we always advise applicants to gather as much information as possible prior to initiating a research request. We are non-profit making and all fees go the upkeep of our services.
The Irish Family History Foundation has been the coordinating body for a network of county genealogy centres and family history societies for over 30 years. Its website, RootsIreland.ie, offers a unique database of more than 22 million Irish records from 34 county genealogy centres on the island of Ireland. The main sources on the site are Irish Catholic and other church records of baptisms, marriages and deaths which are the most important source for tracing Irish ancestry. The County Roscommon Heritage and Genealogy Centre is the designated centre of the Irish Family History Foundation.
As part of the Irish Family History Foundation, our latest development is trying to make records more accessible by providing some of our databases online for research. RootsIreland.ie contains birth, baptismal, marriage and death records pre 1900 from 34 county genealogy centres on the island of Ireland. The work is ongoing and more records will be added when available. In order to use the online service, you will need to register on the site and purchase credits, which will in turn allow you to search the indices and purchase records. See RootsIreland for more information.