The Public Record Office of Northern Ireland (PRONI)

The Public Record Office of Northern Ireland (PRONI) is the official place of deposit for all public records in Northern Ireland, many dating back to the early 19th century.

PRONI’s mission is to identify, preserve and make available Northern Ireland’s archival heritage as a unique information resource for the education and enjoyment of present and future generations. As many as possible of its 53 km of records are made available to the public for consultation and research.

Public Records held include those created by:

• Northern Ireland government departments
• the courts
• local authorities
• non-departmental public bodies

PRONI also holds the most extensive collection of private records in Northern Ireland, largely from the 17th century.

Private records held relate to, for example:

• landed estates
• churches
• businesses

PRONI is the main source of records for the family historian in Northern Ireland.

Sources for family historians

Because of the virtual absence of 19th century census returns, other alternative sources that PRONI can offer are the:

• valuation and tithe records from the early 19th century
• school records from the 1860s
• copies of records from almost all the main churches.

PRONI also holds copies of wills from 1858 to 1900 as well as all original wills from 1900 to 1995.

Microfilms of the most frequently consulted records for family history are available in PRONI’s Self Service Microfilm Room – mainly church records but also the 1901 census returns for the six counties of Northern Ireland, the 1858-1900 wills and the tithe applotment books.

Visiting PRONI

Admission for personal research is free and staff are on hand to advise. Visit the PRONI website for details of opening hours, how to get there and introductions to the major private archives. To help you prepare for a visit to trace your family tree, check PRONI Frequently Asked Questions section of the website and consult the PRONI family and local history leaflets.

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