Find your ancestors in Ireland, Memorials of the Dead

Discover more about these records

The Association for the Preservation of the Memorials of the Dead in Ireland was created by Colonel Philip D. Vigors, to record details of memorials and gravestones across Ireland. Published annually between 1892 and 1934, the journals were compiled by volunteers dedicated to honouring Ireland’s dead. Details found within the journals were taken from graveyards, churches, parish registers, stained glass windows, and church ephemera. The tireless work of these volunteers ensured that, centuries later, when many memorials and graves have since been lost to history, Ireland’s dead are remembered and recorded, and that descendants can uncover important details about their ancestors. Not only do these journals include information about the deceased, such as their name and dates, but they may also have information regarding familial relationships, extended connections, and memorial and burial practices, helping to build a picture of our ancestors lives and deaths. These records also include invaluable information regarding baptisms and marriages.