"Ireland's most active genealogical society"

The Genealogical Society of Ireland was founded in October 1990 in Rochestown, Dún Laoghaire, Co. Dublin, by four neighbours Joan Merrigan, Frieda Carroll, Jean Reddin, RIP and Michael Merrigan.
Its members changed the name of the organisation from the Dún Laoghaire Genealogical Society to the Genealogical Society of Ireland in 1999 to more appropriately reflect its activities and its nationwide and international membership.
It promotes the study of genealogy, heraldry, vexillology, one-name studies and social history at home and overseas
It was a founding member of the ad-hoc ‘GRO Users’ Group’ which was established in 1992 to campaign for the retention of the General Register Office in Dublin. The Society published the Group’s position paper on the relocation of the GRO ‘The General Register Office Dublin – The Future? – A Proposal by the G.R.O. User’s Group’ in April 1993.
It was a founding member of the Council of Irish Genealogical Organisations (CIGO) which was established in Dún Laoghaire in July 1994, however, differences on public policy matters led to the Society terminating its membership in 1998.
It was the first genealogical or heritage organisation in Ireland to adopt the ‘Principle of Public Ownership and Right of Access’ to our heritage, including our genealogical heritage, in October 1997.

The Genealogical Society of Ireland:

• has a democratically elected Board of Directors which deals with the day-to-day operation of the Society
• is an independent voluntary non-governmental educational heritage organisation
• is entirely funded through its membership subscriptions and occasional donations
• hosts two Open Meetings each month, except December where there is no Morning Open Meeting.
• is a membership based organisation
• also has an international membership and an Irish based membership.
• publishes a monthly newsletter – “Ireland’s Genealogical Gazette”
• publishes an annual journal and occasional publications, including memorial inscriptions.
• organises group projects – recording memorial inscriptions etc.
•  initiates and conducts national campaigns on various heritage related matters, including the drafting of legislative measures. [See ‘Campaigns’ on Home Page]
• was the first Irish genealogical organisation to propose the early release of the 1926 Census during the debate on the Statistics Bill in Seanad Éireann which came into force in July 1993.
• has charitable status in Ireland (CHY 10672)
• is a Nominating Body for Seanad Éireann (Educational & Cultural Panel)
• is a company limited by guarantee registered in Ireland under the Companies Acts
• has a growing Archive and operates a Research Centre—An Daonchartlann.
• has a Grant of Arms, Heraldic Banner and Badge from the Chief Herald of Ireland
• is Ireland’s premier publisher of genealogy
• restored the Martello Tower at Seapoint, but it vacated the building as it was atmospherically unsuitable for the storage of the Society’s archival collections and now has its own Archive and Research Centre, An Daonchartlann, in Loughlinstown, Dún Laoghaire.
• is a member of the international Federation of Family History Societies and affiliated to over 200 organisations world-wide
• is also a member of The Wheel, the Holyhead-Dún Laoghaire Link and Integrating Ireland.
• is committed to social inclusion and has adopted a Social Inclusion Policy
• has a Social Club which organises social events and functions for the enjoyment of its members, their families and friends of the Society.