This year, 2026, heralds the 90th anniversary of the founding of the Irish Genealogical Research Society (IGRS) in 1936. This milestone anniversary will be marked over the course of the year through a global programme of events.
The IGRS, the world’s oldest organisation dedicated to the study and preservation of Irish family history, was founded in 1936 in response to the destruction of Ireland’s Public Record Office in 1922. The Society has spent nine decades championing the research, recording and understanding of Ireland’s documentary heritage.
John Grenham, one of Ireland’s foremost genealogists, described the IGRS in The Irish Times in 2011 as “the great granddaddy of all Irish family history societies”, a testament to the Society’s pioneering role and enduring influence on Irish genealogical research.
A Year of Global Celebration
In marking its 90th anniversary, the Society will deliver a worldwide programme of events across 2026, reflecting the Society’s international membership and deep connections with the Irish diaspora. This aspect of the celebrations will recognise the Irish heritage of people throughout the world, embracing all traditions that contribute to Irish identity.
Events are scheduled across Australia, Canada, the United States, England, Scotland, Ireland and Northern Ireland. Venues include prominent archives, libraries and genealogical institutions, with local Irish communities and diaspora partners playing a central role. The speakers include a wide range of experts foremost in their field and many with long years of experience.
Renewed Focus on Preservation, Access and Storytelling
Throughout the anniversary year, the Society will highlight three core themes:
Irish record survival: correcting the misconception that “all the records were destroyed,” by amplifying the message: “There are Irish records — you just need to know where to look.”
Preservation and digitisation: raising awareness of the IGRS Library, archival collections and the Society’s ongoing digitisation needs.
Global Irish identity: celebrating the international community of researchers, libraries and volunteers that has sustained the Society for nearly a century.
Looking Forward While Celebrating the Past
In launching the year-long celebrations, the Chairman of the Society, Steven Smyrl, said: “The Irish Genealogical Research Society has played a key role in preserving many rare and unique parts of Ireland’s genealogical record and, in each generation, making them meaningful for researchers. Marking the Society’s 90th anniversary is a moment of both pride and reflection, offering us an opportunity to renew our dedication to ensuring that the history of Ireland’s families remains discoverable for generations to come.”
Mary Casteleyn, a vice-president of the Society, said: “The IGRS’s entire library and archive is a living and vibrant collection as we continue to attract the papers of important research work. The basis of our library has always been donations given by outstanding Irish genealogists of their research and work, and collections of original manuscripts. These include research papers on Irish communities not just in Ireland and Britain but in places as disparate as North America, Australia, Spain, France, Russia and Argentina. And most importantly, much of our early material was collated before the destruction of the Irish public records in 1922.”
Membership
Membership of the IGRS is open to anyone with an interest in Irish genealogy, whether they be new to family history research or are a seasoned veteran. Members enjoy access to our unique online collections, expert guidance, the annual journal, The Irish Genealogist, a regular newsletter, online lectures, a growing collection of online Irish genealogy videos, and a global community of like-minded researchers.
Not an IGRS member? To become part of our thriving community click HERE now to check out the benefits of membership.
About the Irish Genealogical Research Society
Founded in 1936, the Irish Genealogical Research Society promotes the study of Irish family history and the preservation of historical records essential to that work. Its collections include unique early Irish birth, marriage and death indexes, transcripts of pre-1922 material (the originals of which were lost in the Public Record Office fire in that year), manuscript collections and an extensive specialist library. With members across the world, the Society supports research, advances scholarship and fosters community through publications, events and international partnerships.
For more information about our 90th anniversary events contact Paul Gorry on 00 353 (86) 330 1032 or via email at GorryP@IrishAncestors.ie
