21 December 2020
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Find your Irish ancestors with a new and online exclusive collection of 1.6 million Irish directories at FindMyPast.
The directories cover the years 1890-1947 and consist of both transcripts and images of the original directory. The records chart the transformation of Northern Ireland and the province of Ulster as the Irish Free State was formed and were published by the Belfast Newsletter to showcase the city's industrial excellence.
What can I find in historical directories?
Directories were published annually and provided a comprehensive list of the names, addresses and occupations of a significant proportion of the residents of a region. The detail you will find on each page will depend on which part of the directory the information comes from. Each volume is divided into:
- Civil establishment (government, courts, institutions, etc.
- Street directory (for Belfast only)
- Residents list (for larger towns)
- Trades and professional directory
Each volume also provides a description, as well as important statistical, economic and social information for each place, with a special emphasis on Belfast city. While directories are not comprehensive and generally exclude women (unless they were in a profession), and many of the labouring poor, they cover a wide proportion of the population.
Explore on the FindMyPast website.
QUICK LINK: How do I find old photos of my street?
